Protasius (bishop of Milan)

For the twin saint martyrs, see Gervasius and Protasius.

Protasius
Archbishop of Milan
Wooden statue of St Protasius
Church	Catholic Church Eastern Orthodox Church
Appointed	328 AD
Term ended	c. 343
Predecessor	Maternus
Successor	Eustorgius I
Personal details
Died	c. 343
Sainthood
Feast day	24 November
Venerated in	Roman Catholic Church Eastern Orthodox Church Lutheranism Anglicanism
Shrines	Oratorio 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. 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. Cazzani, Eugenio (1996). Vescovi e arcivescovi di Milano. Milano: Massimo. p. 15. ISBN 88-7030-891-X.(in Italian)