Comments to: David Woods
Last Updated: August 1999

The Marble Calendar of Naples

[Introduction][Bibliography][Translation]

Introduction

In 1742, during reconstruction work in the Church of San Giovanni Maggiore in Naples, workmen discovered two marble plaques which each bore 6 months of a full church-calendar inscribed upon its surface. The place of their discovery, together with the contents of the calendar itself, prove that this was the church-calendar as celebrated at Naples. The fact that the calendar includes commemorations for many of the bishops of Naples - e.g.Paul II c.757-67 (3 March), Stephen II c.768-800 (11 April) - allows us to date its composition with some certainty. In particular, since the last bishop of Naples whom it commemorates is Paul III c.800-21 (17 February), it was presumably composed during the rule of his successor Tiberius c.821-41. A brief introductory remark, quoting a psalm, runs along the top of the plaque containing the first 6 months of the calendar, and provides an insight into the bishop's motivation in erecting it.

One of the most noteworthy features of this calendar is the number of repetitions. The majority of these may be explained in two ways. One group of repetitions results from the misreading of the correct dates of the relevant feasts at some point in the tradition at Naples. This explains why saints Metrophanes (4 Jan. & 4 June), Epiphanius (5 Jan. & 5 June), Cyril of Alexandria (7 June & 7 July), Irenaeus (27 Apr. & 27 Jun.), and Thecla (22 Feb. & 22 Aug.) are each commemorated on two dates. However, the second and far larger group of repetitions results from the combination of Greek and Latin sources in the composition of this calendar. Hence Ss. Adrianus and Natalia (2 Mar. & 26 Aug.), Ambrose (3 Nov. & 7 Dec.), Christopher (7 May & 24 July), Chrysanthus and Daria, Cosmas and Damian (27 Sept. & 22 Oct.), Eleutherius (18 Apr. & 15 Dec.), Gervasius and Protasius (19 July & 14 Oct.), Ignatius (27 Jan., 19 Oct., 18 Dec, 20 Dec.), John the Evangelist (26 Sept. & 27 Dec.), the apostle Jude (26 May & 1 July), Mark the Evangelist (25 Apr. & 17 May), the apostle Matthaeus (6 May & 16 Nov.), the apostle Philip (1 May & 14 Nov.), Silvester (2 Jan. & 31 Dec.), Thecla (22 Feb. & 24 Sept.), and Thomas (3 July, 18 Sept., 21 Dec.) are all celebrated both on the traditional Greek dates of their feasts and on the traditional Latin dates also. A small group of repetitions remain more difficult to classify.

Bibliography

Translation

The translation is based on the edition by Delehaye (1939). In the cases of the more famous saints, their names have been rendered in their more familiar form. Otherwise, terms have been translated consistently, so that, for example, depositio becomes "laying-to-rest", natale becomes "feast", and passio becomes "passion".

[January] [February] [March] [April] [May] [June] [July] [August] [September] [October] [November] [December]

Your friends have been very greatly honoured, O God, (and) their power has been very greatly strengthened: "I will number them and they will be multiplied beyond (the grains of) sand" (Ps. 139, 18)

THE MONTH OF JANUARY: 31 DAYS
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
 The Circumcision of the Lord and the laying-to-rest of St. Basil
The laying-to-rest of Pope Silvester
The feast of the martyr St. Gordius
The feast of St. Metrophanes, Patriarch of Constantinople
The feast of St. Epiphanius, Patriarch of Constantinople
The Epiphany
The passion of Ss. Julian and Basilissa
The laying-to-rest of St. Severinus
The laying-to-rest of bishop St. Agnellus
The laying-to-rest of St. John Chrysostom
The feast of the monk St. Theodosius
The feast of Ss. Marcian and Theodore
The feast of St. Potitus
The (feast) of St. Felix of Nola
The feast of bishop St. Elpidius
The feast of St. Galatianus
The feast of the monk St. Anthony
The feast of bishop St. Athanasius
The feast of the hermit St. Paul
The (feast) of Ss. Euphemius (and) Sebastian
The feast of St. Agnes
The feast of Ss. Anastasius and Vincent
The feast of St. Agathangelus
The feast of St. Philonus
The laying-to-rest of St. Gregory the Theologian
The (feast) of the monk St. Xenophon
The feast of St. John Chrysostom
The (feast) of St. Ephraeim
The feast of St. Ignatius
The laying-to-rest of St. Peregrinus
The passion of Ss. Cyrus and John

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THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY: 28 DAYS
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
 The feast of St. Tryphon
The Purification of St. Mary (and) the feast of Symeon
The feast of St. Blasius
The feast of the monk St. Claudius
The passion of St. Agatha
The feast of St. Fausta
The passion of St. Saturninus
The laying-to-rest of bishop Victor
The passion of St. Nicephorus
The feast of St. Scholastica
The feast of St. Castrensis
The day on which St.Peter was chosen as Pope
The feast of the patriarch St. Timothy
The feast of St. Valentinus
The feast of St. Pantaleon
The feast of St. Juliana
The laying-to-rest of bishop Paul the Younger
The feast of St. Pimenius
The laying-to-rest of bishop Quodvultdeus
The feast of St. Acindynus
The laying-to-rest of our bishop Ursus
The feast of St. Thecla
The passion of bishop St. Polycarp
The finding of the head of St. John the Baptist
The (feast) of bishop St. Theodosius
The feast of St. Porphyry
The feast of St. Gerontius
The feast of bishop St. Marcellus from Syria

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THE MONTH OF MARCH: 31 DAYS
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
 The feast of the monk St. Sophronius
The feast of St. Adrian and Natalia
The laying-to-rest of bishop St. Paul the Elder
The feast of abba St. Marcus
The feast of St. Gerasimus
The passion of St. Basil, Bishop of Cherson
The feast of bishop Arcadius

The passion of the 40 saints
The feast of St. Publius, bishop (and) martyr
The feast of the martyr St. Pionius
The laying-to-rest of Pope St. Gregory
The passion of St. Christina

The feast of St. Nicodemus
The feast of the martyr St. Montanus
The passion of bishop Onesimus
The feast of St. Cyril, Bishop of Jerusalem
The passion of Ss. Chrysanthus and Darus
The laying-to-rest of our bishop St. Calvus
The laying-to-rest of abba St. Benedict
The feast of the patriarch St. Thomas
The passion of the martyr St. Castulus
The feast of the 8 saints
The Annuntiation of the Lord Jesus
The feast of St. Sabinus
The passion of St. Isaacius
The laying-to-rest of bishop Eutychius
The laying-to-rest of bishop Redux
The feast of St. Menander
The feast of the martyr St. Glycerius

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THE MONTH OF APRIL: 30 DAYS
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30

 The passion of the martyr St. Callinicus
The feast of St. Polycarp
The laying-to-rest of our bishop St. John
The passion of the martyr St. Theodulus
The passion of the martyr St. Thermus
The feast of the patriarch St. Eutychius
The passion of the martyr St. Rufinus
The laying-to-rest of Pope Celestinus of Rome
The laying-to-rest of Mary the Egyptian
The passion of Ss. Terentius and Africanus
The laying-to-rest of our bishop Stephen
The passion of the martyr St. Gerontius
The Translation of Blessed Januarius
The feast of Ss. Tiburtius and Valerian
The passion of the martyr St. Theodore
The passion of the martyr St. Leonidas
The feast of Pope St. Agapitus of Rome
The feast of St. Eleutherius
The feast of St. Philip, bishop and martyr
The feast of the monk St. Paphnutius
The feast of St. Maximus, Bishop of Constantinople
The passion of Pope St. Gaius at Rome
The feast of the martyr St. George
The passion of Pope St. Innocent of Rome
The passion of St. Mark the Evangelist
The passion of the bishop St. Basileus
The passion of the martyr St. Irenaeus
The feast of St. Vitalis
The laying-to-rest of our bishop St. Severus
The laying-to-rest of our bishop Pomponius

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THE MONTH OF MAY: 31 DAYS
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31

 The feast of Ss. James and Philip
The feast of the patriarch St. Athanasius
The Discovery of the Holy Cross
The passion of St. Aphrodisius and his congregation
The feast of the apostle St. Ananias
The feast of the apostle St. Matthew
The feast of the holy prophet Samuel
The apparition of St. Angelus
The feast of St. Christopher and of the prophet Isaiah
The laying-to-rest of our bishop Eustathius
The feast of the monk St. Hilarion
The feast of the bishop St. Epiphanius
The feast of the bishop St. Polybius
The feast of the martyr St. Boniface
The feast of the holy prophet Zechariah
The feast of St. Restituta
The feast of St. Mark the Evangelist
The feast day of the bishop St. Epaphroditus
The passion of the martyr St. Patricius
The passion of the martyr St. Thallaleus
Memorial of the emperor Constantine
The passion of St. Basiliscus
The laying-to-rest of the bishop St. Ephebus
The feast of St. Symeon
The feast of the apostle James
The passion of the apostle Jude
The passion of St. Anastasia
The passion of the martyr St. Criscentius
The passion of the martyr St. Theodosia
The feast of the monk St. Isaacius
The passion of St. Christina

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THE MONTH OF JUNE: 30 DAYS
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30

 The passion of the philosopher St. Justin
The passion of Ss. Erasmus, Marcellinus, and Peter
The passion of St. Lucian
The feast of bishop St. Metrophanes
The passion of St. Zenaidos
The feast of bishop St. Anthimus
The feast of bishop St. Cyril
The feast of bishop St. Alexander
The passion of St. Nicasius
The feast of the apostle St. Barnabas
The laying-to-rest of Maximus and Antoninus
The passion of St. Zeno
The passion of St. Aquilina
The laying-to-rest of our bishop Fortunatus
The laying-to-rest of our bishop Maro and of St. Vitus
The passion of St. Athenogenes
The feast of St. Nicander
The feast of Ss. Marcus and Marcellianus
The passion of Ss. Gervasius and Protasius
The passion of the martyr St. Asyncritus
The passion of the martyr St. Rufus
The laying-to-rest of bishop St. Paulinus
The passion of St. Aristocles
The feast of St. John the Baptist
The passion of St. Febronia
The passion of Ss. John and Paul
The passion of St. Irenaeus
The feast of Pope St.Leo
The feast of the apostle St. Peter
The feast of the apostle St. Paul

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THE MONTH OF JULY: 31 DAYS
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31

 The feast of the apostles Simon and Jude
The feast of Processus and Martinianus
The passion of the apostle St. Thomas
The feast of bishop St. Donatus
The (feast) of the archangel St. Michael
St. Polycarp
The (feast) of St. Cyril, Bishop of Alexandria
The (feast) of bishop St. Pancratius
The passion of Ss. Rufina and Secunda
The feast of Jason and Maurus
The feast of St. Euphemia
The feast of Gaudiosus and the rest
The feast of St. Myrope
The feast of St. Theodore
The feast of St. Cyriacus and Julitta
The (feast) of St. Antiochus
The feast of St. Speratus
The feast of St. Marcellus
The feast of St. Maurice
The feast of St. Felix of Nola
The (feast) of St. Symeon the Saved
The (feast) of the martyr St. Acacius
The feast of St. Apollinaris
The feast of St. Christopher
The feast of Ss. Eupraxia and Anne
The laying-to-rest of bishop Leontius
The feast of St. Pantaleon
The feast of St. Nazarius
The (feast) of Ss. Felix and Simplicius
The feast of Ss. Abdo and Sennes
The feast of bishop Germanus

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THE MONTH OF AUGUST: 31 DAYS
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31

 The passion of the Macchabees and of St. Felicity
The feast of bishop St. Stephen
The laying-to-rest of bishop Asprenas
The Council of the Holy Fathers in Ephesus
The passion of St. Eusignius
The Transfiguration of Our Lord Jesus Christ
The laying-to-rest of the confessor St. Dometius
The passion of ss. Donatus and Cyriacus
The feast of the patriarch St. Constantine
The feast of the passion of St. Laurentius
The feast of St. Tiburtius
The feast of the martyr St. Euplus
The feast of the passion of St. Hippolytus
The feast of the confessor St. Eusebius
The Assumption of St. Mary
The laying-to-rest of bishop Cosmas
The feast of the 7 saints from Ephesus
The (feast) of St. Agapitus
The soldier St. Andrew
The feast of the apostle St. Thaddaeus
The laying-to-rest of St. Chrysanthus
The feast of the pasion of St. Thecla
The laying-to-rest of bishop St. Paul
The feast of Titus, Bishop of Crete
The feast of the passion of the apostle St. Bartholomew
The passion of Ss. Adrian and Natalia
The feast of the martyr St. Rufus
The laying-to-rest of St. Augustine
The passion of St. John the Baptist
The passion of bishop St. Felix
The feast of Alexander

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THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER: 30 DAYS
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30

 The feast of St. Priscus and St. Adiutor
The passion of St. Mamas
The feast of St. Vitalianus
The passion of St. Alexander
The passion of Ss. Thouthael (and) Probus
The passion of St. Christina
The passion of Festus and Desiderius
The Birth of St. Mary
The (feast) of St. Joachim and Anne
The passion of the apostle St. Simon
The feast of Protus and Hyacinthus
The passion of Autonomus, bishop (and) martyr
The feast of St. Nicetas
The passion of St. Cyprian and the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

The feast of St. Euphemia
The feast of St. Simon, the Lord's brother
The passion of the apostle Thomas
The feast of St. Januarius
The passion of St. Eustathius called the "Quiet"
The passion of Isaac, Bishop of Cyprus
The passion of Ss. Phocas and Crispus
The Conception of St. John the Baptist and the (feast) of St. Sossus
The passion of St. Thecla
The passion of St. Romanus
The Assumption of St. John the Evangelist
The passion of Ss. Cosmas (and) Damian
The passion of Ss. Ripsimia and Gaiana
The Dedication (of the Church) of St. Michael the Archangel
The feast of St. Jerome and of St. Gregory, a bishop from Armenia

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THE MONTH OF OCTOBER: 31 DAYS
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31

 The laying-to-rest of bishop Adeodatus and of St. Arethas
The feast of the bishop St. Dionysius
The feast of St. Dometius and of the bishop St. Dionysius
The passion of St. Theotecnus
The feast of St. Pelagia
The feast of St. Renatus in Surrentum
The feast of St. Marcellus and of Ss. Sergius and Bacchus
The passion of St. Artemon
The feast of the patriarch Abraham
The passion of Ss. Eulampius and Eulampia
The feast of St. Zenais
The passion of St. Florentius
The passion of Ss. Paul and Carpus
The passion of Gervasius, Protasius, (and) Fortunata
The passion of St. Sabinus
The passion of St. Longinus
The passion of bishop St. Ignatius
The feast of St. Luke the Evangelist and of Ss. Eutychius and Acustius

The feast of St. Cornelius
The feast of St. Hilarius
The passion of Ss. Cosmas and Damian
Memorial of St. Zechariah
The passion of St. Arethas
The passion of Ss. Chrysanthus and
The feast of St. Demetrius
The laying-to-rest of bishop Gaudiosus
The passion of St. Diomedes
The feast of the apostle St. Barnabas
The feast of st. Maximus and of St. Marcian
The feast of the saints (and) martyrs Heraclius and Epimachus

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THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER: 30 DAYS
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30

 The feast of St. Caesarius
The passion of Ss. Acindynus (and) Pegasius
The feast of St. Ambrose
The passion of St. Theodotus
The feast of St. Methodius
The passion of St. Paul, Bishop of Constantinople
The passion of the 33 saints
The passion of St. Coronatus
The feast of St. Agrippinus
The feast of the emperor St. Theodosius
The feast of Ss. Menas and Martin
The passion of Ss. Arsacius and Victor
The laying-to-rest of St. John Chrysostom
The feast of the apostle St. Philip
The (feast) of the apostle St. James and St. Samona
The feast of St. Matthew the Evangelist
The laying-to-rest of Gregory Thaumaturgus
The feast of bishop St. Calvus
The feast of St. Philotheus
The passion of Ss. Dasius and Proclus
The laying-to-rest of St. Macarius
The feast of St. Cecilia
The feast of St. Clement
The feast of St. Chrysogonus
The passion of St. Peter, the Pope of Alexandria
The feast of the apostle St. Silas
The passion of St. James from Persia
The feast of the prophet Elisha
The feast of St. Saturninus
The feast of the apostle St. Andrew

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THE MONTH OF DECEMBER: 31 DAYS
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31

 The Dedication of (Bishop) Stephen's Basilica
The passion of bishop St. Gregory
The passion of Gregory from Armenia
The feast of St. Barbara
The laying-to-rest of St. Sabas
The feast of St. Nicholas
The laying-to-rest of bishop Ambrose
The (feast) of St. Martyrius
St. Anne's Conception of the Virgin Mary
The feast of St. Eulalia and of St. Eustratius
The passion of St. Terentius
The feast of St. Daniel the Stylite
The feast of the passion of St. Eustratius and of St. Lucia
The feast of bishop St. Spyridon
The passion of bishop St. Eleutherius
The passion of St. Patermuthius
The 3 Holy Boys and St. Daniel
The passion of Ss. Ignatius and Modestus
The passion of Ss. Promus and Elias
The passion of St. Ignatius from Syria
The feast of the apostle St. Thomas
The feast of Ss. Ephraem and Abramius
The passion of the 10 saints from Crete
The passion of Ss. Schino, Eususius (?), (and) Achaicus
The Birth of Our Lord Jusus Christ
The feast of St. Stephen
The feast of St. John the Evangelist
The Passion of the Innocents
The feast of the apostle St. James
The feast of bishop St. Anthony
The feast of Pope St. Silvester

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