Saint Januarius of Naples

Also known as

• Gennaro of Naples

Memorial

• 19 September
• 16 December

Profile

Fourth century bishop of Benevento, Italy during the persecutions of Diocletian. Arrested while visiting imprisoned deacons, and then martyred with them.

His blood was preserved, and dried. Since at least 1389, on his feast day, and on the Satuday before the first Sunday in May, the blood liquefies.

Born

• Benevento, Italy or Naples, Italy (records vary)

Died

• martyred c.304 at Naples, Italy or Pozzuoli, Italy (sources vary)
• first thrown to wild beasts
• when the animals would not attack him, he was beheaded

Canonized

• Pre-Congregation

Patronage

• against volcanic eruptions
• blood banks
• Naples, Italy, archdiocese of
• Naples, Italy, city of

Storefront

• medals and pendants

Additional Information

• Acts of the Hieromartyr Januarius,
• Book of Saints, by the Monks of Ramsgate
• Catholic Encyclopedia
• Lives of the Saints, by Father Alban Butler
• New Catholic Dictionary
• Non-Stop New York
• Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints
• Pictorial Lives of the Saints

MLA Citation

• “Saint Januarius of Naples“. Saints.SQPN.com. 11 April 2013. Web. 19 May 2013. <>