E00853: The Life of *Ambrose (bishop of Milan, ob. 397, S00490) by Paulinus of Milan, tells how its hero discovered the relics of the martyrs *Agricola and Vitalis (master and slave, martyrs of Bologna, S00310) in Bologna (northern Italy) where they were buried, transferred them to Florence (central Italy), and deposited them in a new basilica which he built in this city, all c. 394. Written in Latin, probably in North Africa, c. 422.

Paulinus of Milan, Life of Ambrose 29

In eadem etiam civitate basilicam constituit, in qua deposuit reliquias martyrum Vitalis et Agricolae, quorum corpora in Bononiensi civitate levaverat; posita enim erant corpora martyrum inter corpora Iudaeorum, nec erat cognitum populo christiano, nisi se sancti martyres sacerdoti ipsius ecclesiae revelassent. Quae cum deponerentur sub altari, quod est in eadem basilica constitutum, magna illic totius plebis sanctae laetitia atque exsultatio fuit, poena daemonum confitentium martyrum merita.

'In the same city [Florence] he also established a basilica, in which he placed the relics of the martyrs Vitalis and Agricola, whose bodies he had raised in the city of Bologna. There, the bodies of the martyrs had been buried among the bodies of the Jews, and this would not have become known had not the holy martyrs revealed themselves to the bishop of that church. And when they were placed under the altar which was in the same basilica, there was great joy and exultation in the hearts of the entire flock, but punishment for the demons as they confessed the merits of the martyrs.'

Text: Bastiaensen 1975, 90. Translation: Lacy 1952, 51.