Location:Probably Vaucelles - Date:Shorlty before 1250 (incorporated in the first 'Passionaire français') (BHL 3517-3518) (Perrot, 1992: 20, 180-189) - Commission: /

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Saint Gervais and Protasius are the patron saints of Milan, the cathedrals of Soissons and of Breisach. In the twelfth century some relics were moved to Breisach (near Freiburg.

Life of S. Gervasius and Protasius (+ 2nd century), twin brothers from Milan and the children of martyrs, St. Vitalis and St. Valeria from Ravenna. According to legend, the two brothers were just like their parents persecuted during the reign of Emperor Nero. They were flogged and eventually killed by decapitation. Around 386, during the construction of the new basilica in Milan at the behest of Bishop Ambrosius, their relics were found under the floor of the Basilica of St. Felix and St. Nabor. Ambrose proclaimed them both proto-martyrs of the city and their remains were brought to the new church building, which later received the name San Ambrogio Maggiore. During the transportation of the relics many miraculous things happened. A blind man was healed. Subsequently a man who was possessed by the devil entered the tomb of the brothers but was thrown out with great violence because the devil could not compete against the Relics.

MEYER (P.), Notices et Extraits des Manuscrits de la Bibliothèque Nationale, XXXVI (1901), II 690 (fragment)

Bibliotheca Hagiographica Latina 3517-3518
LANÉRY (C.), 'Le dossier des saints Nazaire, Celse, Gervais et Protais. Edition de la Passion BHL 6043 (=3516)', Analecta Bollandiana 128 (2010) 241-280 393-458
MEYER (P.), Légendes hagiographiques en français, in: Histoire littéraire de la France, XXXIII (1906) 393-458
PERROT (J.P.), Le Passionnaire français au Moyen Age (Genève, 1992) 180-189
VAN DER LINDEN (S.), De Heiligen (Antwerpen, 1999) 349-350, 738