FELIX and FORTUNATUS, saints, martyrs. — Remembered today in the Roman Martyrology on 11 June, they were solemnly venerated in Aquileia on the 14th of the aeg[ysen], in accordance with the Hieronymian Martyrology; in the Milanese liturgy, however, on 14 May together with St Victor. The acts concerning them are fabulous. Venantius Fortunatus, recalling the most illustrious martyrs of certain cities, makes mention of Felix for Vicenza and of Fortunatus for Aquileia (Carmina, VIII, 3, vv. 165-66); in honour of these cities there arose a cemetery basilica dedicated to the two martyrs together, and their cult spread elsewhere in the Veneto and beyond along with their relics.
BIBL.: Acta SS. Iunii, 11, Antwerp 1688, pp. 460-63; Ann., Storia dei s. F. e F., Venice 1825; P. Paschini, La Chiesa anglicana nel periodo delle origini, Udine 1909, p. 54 ff.; Lanzoni, pp. 872, 917-18; Martyr. Hieronymianum, pp. 315-43; G. Lorenzoni, La basilica dei SS. F. e F. in Vicenza (Vicenza-Pio Paschini 1938).