Protasius
Archbishop of Milan
Wooden statue of St Protasius
ChurchCatholic Church
Eastern Orthodox Church
Appointed328 AD
Term endedc. 343
PredecessorMaternus
SuccessorEustorgius I
Personal details
Diedc. 343
Sainthood
Feast day24 November
Venerated inRoman Catholic Church
Eastern Orthodox Church
Lutheranism
Anglicanism
ShrinesOratorio di San Protaso

Protasius (Italian: Protaso) was Archbishop of Milan. He is honored as a saint in the Catholic Church, with his feast day celebrated on 24 November, the day of his death.[1]

Life

Almost nothing is known about the life of Protasius. He was elected bishop of Milan in 328, and served until his death, about 343.[2]

Athanasius of Alexandria, in his Apologia ad Constantium[3], mentioned that Protasius was with him when he spoke to the Roman Emperor Constantius II; this episode can be dated about 342 or 343.[4] In 343, Protasius attended the Council of Sardica and signed its decrees, standing up against the Arians and supporting the faith of the Council of Nicaea.[2]

Protasius died about 343 on 24 November. His body was buried in Milan in the Church of San Vittore al Corpo (Saint Victor Maurus), where it is venerated still. A late tradition, with no historical basis, associates Protasius with a Milanese family, the Algisi.[4]

Notes

  1. ^ Ruggeri, Fausto (1991). I Vescovi di Milano. Milano: NED. p. 9–10. ISBN 88-7023-154-2.(in Italian)
  2. ^ a b Pasini, Cesare (1992). "Protaso di Milano, santo (sec. IV)". Dizionario della Chiesa Ambrosiana. Vol. 5. Milano: NED. p. 2969–2971. ISBN 88-7023-102-X.(in Italian)
  3. ^ Athanasius. "Apologia ad Constantium, par 3". New Advent. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
  4. ^ a b Cazzani, Eugenio (1996). Vescovi e arcivescovi di Milano. Milano: Massimo. p. 15. ISBN 88-7030-891-X.(in Italian)


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