St. Nazarius was an early Christian martyr who learned the faith from St. Peter himself and then traveled far and wide to share it with others.

Nazarius’ father was an officer in the Roman army, and his mother was a Christian. Through her, Nazarius was connected to the Christian community in Rome, and he was instructed in the faith by Peter.

Filled with zeal to share the good news with others, Nazarius left Rome to teach the faith to others and enlisted the help of another young man, Celsus. When they arrived in Milan, they were arrested under a new persecution ordered by the emperor. They were both beheaded and buried in a garden.

Several centuries later, St. Ambrose discovered their remains. In Nazarius’ tomb, Ambrose found bright red, flowing blood that looked as though it had just been spilled. He moved the bodies of these saints into a new church, and a woman who was suffering from possession was exorcised and liberated at that place through their intercession.

Relics of St. Nazarius rest in the reliquary chapel in the Basilica.

St. Nazarius, you were the young man who learned the faith from St. Peter and were killed for sharing it with others—pray for us!