E01272: The Liber Pontificalis, written in Latin in Rome in the 530s, and re-edited before 546, in its account of Felix II (bishop and, supposedly, martyr of Rome, ob. 365, S00493), tells how he condemned the emperor Constantius as a heretic, and suffered martyrdom; his body was secretly buried in the basilica which he (Felix) had built on the via Aurelia outside Rome, on 15 November [AD 365].

Liber Pontificalis 38

First edition (as reconstructed by Duchesne)

Felix, natione Romanus, ex patre Anastasio, sedit ann. I m. III d. II. Hic declaravit Constantium hereticum et rebaptizatum secundum. Hic martyrio coronatur. Hic fecit basilicam via Aurelia, miliario ab Urbe II, ubi et requievit ... Qui etiam capite truncatur cum multis clericis et fidelibus occulte iuxta murus urbis ad latus forma Traiani III id. nov. Et exinde rapuerunt corpus eius nocte christiani cum Damaso presbitero et sepelierunt in basilica supra dicta eius via Aurelia XVII kal. decemb.

'Felix [II], born in Rome, son of Anastasius, held the see 1 year 3 months 2 days. He proclaimed Constantius to be a heretic and to have undergone a second re-baptism. He was crowned with martyrdom. He built a basilica on the via Aurelia, at the second mile from the city, where he also rests ... He was beheaded with many of the clerics and faithful in secret close to the city wall, alongside the aqueduct of Trajan, on 11 November. Straightaway the Christians with the priest Damasus got hold of his body at night and buried it in that same basilica of his on the Via Aurelia, on 15 November.'


Second edition
Felix, natione Romanus, ex patre Anastasio, sedit ann. I m. III d. II. Hic declaravit Constantium filium Constantini hereticum et rebaptizatum secundo ab Eusebio Nicomediense iuxta Nicomedia in villa qui appellatur Aquilone. Et pro hoc declaratum ab eodem Constantii praecepto Augusti, filii Constantini Augusti, martyrio coronatur et capite truncatur. Hic fecit basilicam via Aurelia cum presbiterii honore funeretur... Qui etiam capite truncatur cum multis clericis et fidelibus occulte iuxta muros Urbis, ad latus forma Traiana, III id. novemb. Et exinde rapuerunt corpus eius christiani cum Damaso presbitero et sapelierunt in basilica supradicta eius, via Aurelia, XVII kal. decemb. in pace.

'Felix [II], born in Rome, son of Anastasius, held the see 1 year 3 months 2 days. He proclaimed Constantius son of Constantine to be a heretic and to have undergone a second baptism by Eusebius bishop of Nicomedia near Nicomedia at the villa called Aquilone. For making this proclamation he was crowned with martyrdom by beheading on the instruction of the emperor Constantius son of the emperor Constantine. He built a basilica on the via Aurelia while he still discharged the office of the priesthood... He was beheaded with many of the clerics and faithful in secret close to the city walls, alongside the aqueduct of Trajan, on 11 November. Straightaway the Christians with the priest Damasus got hold of his body and buried it in peace in that same basilica of
his on the Via Aurelia, on 15 November.'


Text: Duchesne 1886, 85 and 211. Translation: Davis 2010, 28.