Dates

• Existence: 291 - 304

Biographical note

In 1802, the remains of a young woman were discovered in the catacomb of Saint Priscilla on the Via Salaria. The tomb was closed by three stones bearing the description LUMENA PAX TE CUM FI. The conclusion was drawn that here was buried a martyr called Philomena, and a shrine was set up at Mugnano, in the diocese of Nola. The cult spread throughout the world. Further archaeological investigation proved, however, that the disarrangement of the stones was a regular habit of the sextons in the 4th century when they reused materials already engraved, and intended to indicate that it was NOT the same person. The shrine was dismantled and cultus forbidden by decree of Rome, 1961.

(paraphrased from The Book of Saints : A Dictionary of Persons Canonized or Beatified by the Catholic Church. 5th edition. New York: Crowell, 1966.)

Alternate names

Philomena of Rome