SS Carpophorus and Abundius

(10th December)

These saints appear as younger relatives of St Brictius in the Legend of the Twelve Syrians.  This extended family of Christians fled from Syria to Rome to escape the persecution of the Emperor Julian the Apostate (361-3).  SS Carpophorus and Abundius accompanied St Brictius to Spoleto, where the group fell foul of the Pagan authorities. 

All of them except St Brictius were captured in the home of a pious matron called Sincleta:

• Most of them were executed and Sinacleta buried them "in cimiterio Pontiani, non longe ab urbe Spoletana" on 25th September.  This seems to have been the early Cristian cemetery at San Ponziano.
  

• SS Carpophorus and Abundius were taken to Foligno and executed on 10th December, at the foot of "Monte Rotondo".  They may have been buried in the cemetery next to Santa Maria in Campis: a sarcophagus (6th or 7th century) that came from the church, which was believed to have contained their relics, was moved to Palazzo Trinci and destroyed in the bombing of 1944.