Gratilian of Falerii Novi

Holy Martyr Gratilian (Gratilianus) of Falerii Novi was a young man martyred on 12 August 269 at Falerii Novi in Italy. He is patron of the town of Bassano Romano and of the diocesan branch of Catholic Action of Civita Castellana. Our sources show him venerated in the Catholic Church, as a local saint; they do not show an Orthodox glorification. The Russian source places his life in the time of the Tetrarchy, under Diocletian, although the year 269 comes before the reign of Diocletian (which began in 284), which does not fit.

He was from a noble family of Falerii Novi, and his father, Maximian, was a friend of the governor of the city. A friend of Saint Lanno, the defender of Bassanello, Gratilian learned of the Christian faith and, without his parents' knowledge, was baptized by Eutychius, apostle of the area. At that time, by order of Diocletian, for the restoration of the religious unity of the empire, fierce persecutions were carried out against Christianity and the oriental religions. Despite the entreaties of his parents and of the governor, Gratilian refused to renounce Christianity. He was seized, brought to the first interrogation and then thrown into prison. But because of his noble origin he could not be condemned as a mere plebeian, since at the trials of aristocrats the emperor himself had to take part. The governor of Falerii sent the emperor a letter asking his advice, and he answered that, if the young man would not renounce his faith, he must be condemned to death.

In the meantime, in prison, Gratilian turned to the Lord and baptized Felicissima, a girl blind from birth, to whom, according to tradition, sight was given. In prison Gratilian was visited by his parents and acquaintances, who urged him to renounce Christianity to save his life, but he refused. The day of the trial came and, seeing that neither Gratilian nor Felicissima would renounce the faith, the governor ordered the soldiers to knock out their eyes and teeth with stones and then put them to death. On 12 August 269, on the bank of the stream called the River of Purgatory (Rio Purgatorio), which flowed through Falerii Novi (today Fabrica di Roma) and Falerii Veteres (today Civita Castellana), Gratilian and Felicissima were beheaded. At the place of execution there is a spring bearing the name of Saint Gratilian. In the same year the persecution ceased, and the governor, accused of corruption, was condemned to death in Rome. According to tradition, three days after the death, in the dead of night, Saint Gratilian appeared together with Felicissima to his parents, announcing the approaching death of the governor of Falerii.

The people of Bassano Romano, in recognition of Saint Gratilian as the patron of their town, raised in 1546 a church in his honour. On 12 August they celebrate his commemoration. He is also venerated as patron of the diocesan branch of Catholic Action, proclaimed by Bishop Roberto Massimiliani on 15 September 1951. According to the tradition of veneration at Bassano Romano, in 1489 Gratilian appeared to a hermit who guarded the church at Capranica, where the saint's head rested, and commanded him to bring it to Bassano Romano. On arrival at Bassano, the urn containing the head opened and the holy head fell out of it in the place where the church in honour of the saint was later raised. Since then those who venerate the saint go to the cathedral, where they bring gifts and embrace the bronze head which represents the holy treasure.