PANCRAS, Saint, Martyr. — He is commemorated in the *Martyrologium Hieronymianum* on 12 May, and his sepulchre is indicated at the second milestone of the Via Aurelia. The *Sacramentaria Gelasiana* and *Gregoriana* also recall him on the same date.
The details regarding the personality and martyrdom of P. were transmitted by a highly legendary *Passio*, probably composed in the 6th century by one of the priests in charge of the martyr’s cult in the basilica on the Via Aurelia, with the aim of making him better known to pilgrims. Son of pagan parents, he is said to have been born in a city of Phrygia; after being orphaned, he was entrusted to the care of his uncle Dionysius, who took him to Rome. There, hearing of the wonderful conversions effected by Pope Cornelius, uncle and nephew went to the Pontiff to be instructed in the Christian religion; thirty days later they received Baptism, and shortly afterward Dionysius died, while P. was arrested following a decree of persecution against Christians issued by Diocletian. Because of his youth (he was said to be only fifteen years old) and his family situation, he was brought before the tribunal of the Emperor, who tried every means to induce him to apostatize and spare his life. But P. remained steadfast in the faith, even mocking and deriding the gods, until he provoked Diocletian’s wrath, who condemned him to be beheaded.
SEPULCHRE AND CEMETERY. — The martyr P., like many other Roman martyrs, was buried in an open area, where, during the renovation of the pavement of the present basilica, remains of sepulchral cells were identified, showing both cremation and inhumation rites. Symmachus (498-514) built or enlarged the basilica erected over his sepulchre (Lib. Pont., I, p. 262); Gregory the Great (590-604) delivered a homily there (PL 76, 1210) and founded a monastery called that of St Victor or of the SS. Victor and P. (F. Schiaparelli, in *Arch. soc. rom. di st. patria*, 24 [1901], p. 450 n. 8). Honorius I (625-38) rebuilt it (Lib. Pont., I, p. 324), constructing the confessio in such a way that the altar stood above the martyr’s body (G. B. De Rossi, *Inscriptiones Christianae Urbis Romae*, II, Rome 1888, pp. 24, 156). The basilica of St P. concludes the series of the Easter stations.
The underground cemetery, much devastated, developed beneath and around the open area. In an arcosolium there is a black-painted Greek inscription dated to the year 454 (G. B. De Rossi, *Inscriptiones Christianae*, I, Rome 1857-61, p. 527). Among the inscriptions there are those of a group of Galatians in Greek, as well as another of a *NOPYC XPICTANOC*. The cemetery and the basilica, which was under the care of a *praepositus*, were dependent on the titulus of St Chrysogonus, as is shown by two inscriptions from the years 521 and 522 (G. B. De Rossi, *Inscriptiones Christianae*, I, Rome 1857-61, pp. 440 and 442). In the cemetery, pilgrims of the 7th century venerated the tombs of the martyrs Artemius, Paulinus, Sophia with her daughters, Agape, Elpis and Pistis (G. B. De Rossi, *Roma sotterranea*, I, Rome 1864, pp. 140-41, 183).