Tammarus

Saint Tammarus was a bishop in North Africa, driven out by the Vandals, and died around 490. He is venerated in the Catholic Church and commemorated on 16 January. His veneration is local, in Campania.

According to tradition, he was a bishop in North Africa. Driven out by the Vandals, he came to Campania, where, it is believed, he was bishop at Atella or at Benevento in the second half of the fifth century.

According to the Life of Saint Castrensis, Saint Tammarus, with the other twelve North African bishops, was persecuted by the Vandals between 439 and 440. To wipe out the memory of the holy men, they were put in a boat and sent to sea. The Life tells in detail how the bishops were put in the boat and gives their names: the eldest of all, Rosius, the noble Secundinus, then Heraclius, Benignus, Priscus, Elpidius, Marcus, Augustus, Canion and Vindonius. Saint Castrensis was in charge and sat at the stern, while Saint Tammarus sat at the prow.

Guarded by a holy angel, the boat crossed the Mediterranean safely and reached the Volturno, from where the holy bishops dispersed through Campania, preaching the word of God.