GENESIO, Saint, Martyr. — Patron of stage artists. Hagiographic and martyrological sources record two martyrs of this name: one at Arles (feast day 25 Aug.), the other at Rome (feast day 24 or also 25 Aug.); venerated on the Via Tiburtina, near the cemetery of St Hippolytus, as can be gathered from the Itineraries, namely the Notitia ecclesiarum and the De locis, where there existed a small church restored by Gregory III (731–41: Lib. Pont., I, p. 419).
It is commonly believed today that these refer to a single historical figure, namely the martyr of Arles, who was also venerated at Rome and in Italy, as well as in Gaul and Spain; the profession of mime and the spectacular conversion of the Roman Genesius belong more to legend than to history. It is worth recalling, however, that this narrative, classified by Delehaye (Les légendes hagiographiques, 3rd ed., Brussels 1927, pp. 173–14) among imaginary romances, dates back to before the 6th century, since the Calendar of Carthage (early 6th century) contains this singular notice under 24 Aug.: ‘Saints Genesius mimi’. According to the aforementioned legend, Genesius’ conversion is said to have occurred while he was parodying the rites of Holy Baptism on the stage. Diocletian is said to have had him cruelly tortured and beheaded on 25 Aug. Similar tales are told of converted mimes: Gelasius of Ethiopia (27 Feb.), Ardalian (14 Apr.) and Porphyrius (15 Sept.).
For St GENESIO of Arles, we are better informed: his brief Passio, written in the early 5th century by a Paulinus who may also have been the bishop of Nola, is a faithful account, albeit with some embellishments (S. Cavallin attributes the Passio to the 6th century and Sermo no. 3306 of the BLH to Hilary of Arles, 429–49; for now, these datings remain hypothetical). Genesius, a stenographer, at the outbreak of a persecution (not further specified), throws down his wax tablets before the judge and flees. Still a catechumen, he hoped to receive Baptism, but when he was caught near the Rhône by the police, to save himself he leapt into the river and swam to the opposite bank; immediately captured, he was put to death on the spot. At Arles, a basilica arose on the site of his burial, a place of pilgrimage (there was also a chapel on the right bank of the Rhône, the site of the martyrdom; the Martyrologium Hieronymianum records on 16 Dec. the dedication in Arles of a basilica and an altar to St Genesius), and his cult spread rapidly. Prudentius (Peristephanon, IV, 35) and Venantius Fortunatus (Carmina, VIII, 3, 157) sing his praises with enthusiasm. It seems that the head of Genesius may be recognised in some sarcophagi (cf. Wilpert, Sarcofagi, I, pp. 47, 71 and pls. 37, 5; 39, 2; 55, 3; 149, 4 and 5).