Boniface of Tarsus
Boniface of Tarsus (* probably in Rome ; † around 306 in Tarsus (Turkey) ) was a Roman, early church martyr who was killed around 306 AD in Tarsus. Until well into the 19th century he was also referred to as Boniface in German .
Born in Rome , Boniface was not originally a Christian, but was sent to find relics of Christian martyrs in the region around Tarsus and to bring them back to Rome. In Tarsus he had to witness the horrors of the persecution of Christians under Emperor Galerius . Impressed that the people tortured to death did not hesitate in their faith, he was baptized and publicly professed his faith, for which he suffered martyrdom through boiling bad luck. According to tradition, his companions brought his body back to Rome, where he was buried on the Via Latina .
The name Boniface comes from Latin and means benefactor . Winfried Bonifatius , the apostle of the Germans, named himself after him .
Boniface of Tarsus is one of the ice saints and is often depicted as a youth or a bearded old man and suffering from martyrdom in hot bad luck.
His relics are venerated in Rome in the Basilica dei Santi Bonifacio e Alessio on the Aventine. In the small Saxon town of Wittichenau there has also been a relic of the saint since 1700.
- Catholic May 14th
- orthodox: 19./20. December
See also
swell
Individual evidence
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Boniface of Tarsus |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | early Christian martyr and saint |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 3rd century |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | uncertain: Rome |
| DATE OF DEATH | at 306 |
| Place of death | Tarsus (Turkey) |