Theonestus, Tabra and Tabratha, Saints, Martyrs

THEONESTUS, Tabra and Tabratha, Saints, Martyrs. - The information concerning them is uncertain and obscure.

The Roman Martyrology, following a late recension of the Passio, commemorated them on 30 October and states that they died at Altino in the 5th century, as victims of the Arians. According to the older Passio, however, they were killed on 22 November by pagans, in the time of the emperor Theodosius I. Neither account has any historical foundation, since no ancient and trustworthy document knows of a Theonestus as bishop of Altino. Probably this is the martyr Theonestus of Vercelli, on whose tomb St. Eusebius built a church in which he himself was later buried, but of whom nothing is known. He was venerated in various cities of northern Italy and especially at Altino, where the presence perhaps of relics led people to think that his whole body was there and that he had therefore been a bishop. Of the two companions of Theonestus nothing further is known beyond what the Passio relates; it is not excluded, however, that they were two Gothic martyrs who perished in Thrace in the 5th century and were arbitrarily associated with Theonestus by the hagiographer. According to the Passio, composed before the 9th century, Theonestus was bishop of Philippi; together with the chorepiscopus Albanus, the deacons Tabra and Tabratha and the cleric Ursus he went to Rome on pilgrimage to the tombs of the Apostles. From there he went to Milan, where he was received by St. Ambrose, who also presented him to the emperor Theodosius I. He then passed into the Galilaei, and at Augusta Ursus was killed by the pagans, while Albanus perished at Mainz. Theonestus, with the two survivors, was put into a boat that landed at Altino, where, while they were preaching, they were captured and beheaded.

Agostino Amore