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Januarius (ST or SAN GEN- NARO a martyr)

ST., or SAN GEN- NARO, a martyr of the Christian faith under Diocletian. Bishop of Benevento in the 3rd century. According to the Neapolitan tradition, he was taken prisoner at Nola; and the place of his martyrdom, in 305, was Pozzuoli. His body is preserved at Naples, in the crypt of the cathedral, and in a chapel of the same church are also preserved the head of the martyr, and two phials supposed to contain his blood. On three festivals of each year-the chief of which is the day of the martyrdom, Sept. 19, the others the first Sunday evening in May public danger or calamity, the head and the phials of the blood are carried in solemn procession to the high altar of the cathedral, or of the church of St.

Clare, where after prayer of longer or shorter duration, the blood, on the phials being brought into contact with the head, and Dec. 16, as well as on occasions of is believed to liquefy and is presented for the veneration of the people, or for the conviction of the doubter. It occasionally happens that a considerable time elapses before the liquefaction takes place, and sometimes it altogether fails.

The latter is regarded as an omen of the worst import.