Editing Januarius (section)

==Life==
Little is known of the life of Januarius,<ref name="cathenc">{{Cite CE1913 | wstitle =St. Januarius | author =Herbert Thurston}}</ref> and what follows is mostly derived from later Christian sources, such as the ''Acta Bononensia'' (BHL 4132, not earlier than 6th century) and the ''Acta Vaticana'' (BHL 4115, 9th century), and from later folk traditions.

===Legend===
[[File:Napoli-Ribera-San-Gennaro.jpg|thumb|left|Ribera, ''[[Saint Januarius Emerges Unscathed from the Furnace]]'', Naples Cathedral]]
According to various [[hagiographies]], Januarius was born in [[Benevento]] to a rich patrician family that traced its descent to the [[Caudini]] tribe of the [[Samnites]]. At a young age of 15, he became local priest of his parish in Benevento, which at the time had only a small Christian community. When Januarius was 20, he became [[Bishop of Naples]] and befriended [[Juliana of Nicomedia]] and [[Saint Sossius|Sossius]] whom he met during his studies for the priesthood. During the {{frac|1|1|2}}-year-long persecution of Christians by Emperor [[Diocletian]], he hid some of his fellow Christians and prevented them from being caught. But while visiting Sossius in jail, he too was arrested. He and his colleagues were condemned to be thrown to wild bears in the [[Flavian Amphitheater (Pozzuoli)|Flavian Amphitheater]] at [[Pozzuoli]], but the sentence was changed due to fear of public disturbance, and they were instead beheaded at the [[Solfatara (volcano)|Solfatara]] crater near Pozzuoli.{{refn|group=n|For further details on these locations, see the ''[[Catholic Encyclopedia]]''{{'}}s article on "Saint Januarius".<ref name="cathenc"/>}} Other legends state either that the wild beasts refused to eat him, or that he was thrown into a furnace but came out unscathed.

===History===
The earliest historical reference to Januarius is contained in a letter by Uranius, [[bishop of Nola]], dated to c.e 432 on the death of his mentor [[Paulinus of Nola]],<ref name=yuri>Uranius Nolanius (432), ''De Vita et Obitu Paulini Nolani''.  Published by [[Surius]] as ''Epistola "De Obitu Sancti Paulini" ''[http://www.documentacatholicaomnia.eu/04z/z_0432-0432__Urbanus_Presbyter__Epistola_%27De_Obitu_Sancti_Paulini%27_%5BEx_Surio%5D__MLT.pdf.html Online version] accessed on 2009-06-20.</ref><ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20091106143025/http://www.ancientlibrary.com/smith-bio/3617.html "Uranius"]}} in ''Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities'' edited William Smith (1870).</ref> where it is stated that the ghosts of Januarius and [[Martin of Tours]] had appeared to Paulinus three days before his death in 431. About Januarius, the account says only that he was "bishop as well as martyr, an illustrious member of the Neapolitan church".{{refn|group=n|Latin: ''{{lang|la|Ianuarius, episcopus simul et martyr, Neapolitanae urbis illustrat ecclesiam}}''.<ref name=yuri/>}}  The Acta Bononensia says that "At Pozzuoli in Campania [is honored the memory] of the holy martyrs Januarius, Bishop of Beneventum, Festus his [[deacon]], and Desiderius [[lector]], together with [[Saint Sossius|Sossius]] deacon of the church of [[Misenum]], [[Proculus of Pozzuoli|Proculus]], deacon of [[diocese of Pozzuoli|Pozzuoli]], Eutyches, and Acutius, who after chains and imprisonment were beheaded under the emperor [[Diocletian]]".<ref name="cathenc"/>