Primary source · Latin

The Passion of Saint Cecilia

Anonymous (Roman legendary) · c. AD 480–500

What this text is

The legendary Roman passio of Cecilia, Valerian, and Tiburtius — written some 250 years after the traditional martyrdoms, and the sole source for Valerian's story and the angel with the crowns.

Public-domain translations

Working translation (from the Latin)

Cecilia said to Valerian: 'There is a secret I would tell thee. I have as lover an angel of God, who guards my body with exceeding jealousy.'... And Valerian, baptized by Urban, returned and found Cecilia at prayer, and beside her the angel of the Lord with wings of flame, bearing two crowns of roses and lilies.

Manuscript witnesses

Roman legendary manuscripts

8th c. onward

The passio as carried in the great medieval legendaries; edited by Delehaye from the oldest copies.

SURVIVING WITNESSES

Bosio, Historia passionis B. Caeciliae

1600

Early modern edition made for the 1599 recognition of the relics.

PRINTED PROXY

Provenance

Rome; the founding legend of the titulus Caeciliae in Trastevere

Editions & scholarship

Critical editions and standard translations behind the text above.

Figures named in this text (2)