Tarcisius

Tarzisius (also: Tharsicius, Tarcisius, Tarcisius and Tarkisius ) was, according to legend, a Roman boy, who was in the second half of the 3rd century to the then persecuted Christian community in Rome, and helped the priests in pastoral care. He is the patron saint of altar servers.

Life

According to legend, it was one of his tasks is to bring sick communion home. One day he was with consecrated hosts go. Pagan youth asked him to show what he carried in his robe with him. He refused the Horde tried to force him and killed him at the end. He is venerated as a martyr.

Representation

Tarzisius than lying on the floor young man, the Eucharist is represented mostly stoned by a crowd of boys and concealing her chest. He is usually dressed in ancient Roman boys costume, hands crossed over his chest. Sometimes he is also shown as possible, provided with Palm Tree, stones and host as a sign of his passing martyrdom. The boy appears clothed as a deacon dalmatic In other representations, stones in one hand reminiscent of the manner of his martyrdom and the palm in the other hand to the victorious passed martyrdom.

On the occasion of the 4th Mini festival ( " altar feast ") of the German Swiss altar on September 7, 2008 in Aarau, which was attended by more than 8,300 acolytes, designed the Basel goldsmith Bernhard Lang, a nearly five -meter-high bronze statue of Tarzisius that their final resting place for more stations has (among others Einsiedeln, Schmerikon, St. Gallen, Echternach, Györ ) found in Rome at the grave of the saint. The statue was donated to the Pope on August 4, 2010 at the International Ministrantenwallfahrt. The Tarzisius representation was erected at the St. Callistus catacombs, the supposed grave of the saint.

Honor

Pope Damasus ( 366-384 ) in a poem honoring the memory of the young people and reminded them of his martyrdom:

Others

Patronage: Patron Saint of altar ( because he was there on behalf of the municipality ), acolytes and the workers. Tarzisius is also still the patron of the First Communion.

Memory: August 15. As the Church celebrates the Solemnity of Mary's Assumption into heaven on the same day, came the Memorial of St. Tarzisius in the background.

Name Explanation: Greek, German the brave.

Relics are in Rome. Tarzisius was buried together with the Bishop Zephyrinus ( 217 ) in the catacombs of Callixtus on the Appian Way. Later the remains of the martyr Tarzisius were transferred to the Roman church of San Silvestro. Today they are in the church of San Lorenzo outside the walls at the side of St. Lawrence and St.. Stephen worshiped. He was taken under the date of August 15 in the Roman Martyrology.