Sanctuary of Saints Ottato and Policamo: Faith and History in the Catacombs of Rome

The Sanctuary of Saints Ottato and Policamo represents a corner of faith and history nestled within the complex of the Roman catacombs. Although the exact location of the veneration site within the catacombs has not yet been precisely identified, devotion to these martyr saints has endured through the centuries. The difficulty in pinpointing the exact location prevents further precise definition of the nature of the cult.

A Doubt About the Burial Site: Between Africa and Rome

A persistent question concerns the nature of the venerated objects: are they the remains of the two martyrs transferred from Africa, their land of origin, or their original tombs located in Rome? This uncertainty adds an aura of mystery to the sanctuary’s history. The chronology referring to the period 428-440 is primarily linked to the relics of Saint Quirinus.

The crypt of Saint Cecilia in the Catacombs of Callixtus

Ottato and Policamo: An Ancient Cult

The sanctuary’s history begins around the mid-5th century. This period includes both the accounts of the death of Saint Ottato, the African bishop of Vescera (sometimes believed to have died in Rome and buried in Callixtus, other times to have died in Africa and later transferred to Rome), and the painting in the crypt of Saint Cecilia, which depicts both saints. This interpretation was recently confirmed by F. Bisconti (Il lucernario di S. Cecilia. Recenti restauri e nuove acquisizioni nella cripta callistiana di S. Cecilia, Rivista di Archeologia Cristiana 73, 1998, pp. 307-339).

The Translation of the Relics: A New Chapter

The sanctuary’s history took a significant turn with the transfer of the relics to the church of San Silvestro in Capite, by order of Pope Paul I (757-767). Later, another retrieval of Saint Ottato’s relics from Callixtus is attributed to Pope Paschal I (Liber Pontificalis II, p. 64), who placed them alongside the remains of other martyrs in the Basilica of Santa Prassede. This event marked a shift in the centrality of the original place of worship.

The Basilica of Santa Prassede, where other relics of Saint Ottato were transferred

Saint Ottato: A Venerated Bishop

Saint Ottato enjoyed particular devotion, as evidenced by his depiction in the early medieval paintings of Pope Cornelius’s crypt (cf.). During 19th-century excavations in the crypt of the popes, fragments of his epitaph were uncovered. Also of interest is his epistolary correspondence with Saint Augustine, bishop of Hippo, regarding the question of the generation of souls (Valentini – Zucchetti, II, p. 149, n. 1).

An Adventure Between Faith and Archaeology

The search for the precise location of the veneration of Ottato and Policamo in the catacombs represents a true adventure for enthusiasts of Christian history and archaeology. Imagine walking through the ancient tunnels, armed with faith, curiosity, and perhaps a good flashlight, searching for clues that might unravel the mystery. Every fragment of a fresco, every inscription, could be the key to better understanding the devotion of the past.

Research Ideas:

• Analysis of historical sources: Delve into the study of ancient texts that mention the sanctuary and the saints, such as the Liber Pontificalis and the works of Saint Augustine.
• Archaeological investigations: Participate in authorized excavation campaigns or support existing research in the Catacombs of Callixtus.
• Comparative study: Compare the sanctuary’s characteristics with other similar places of worship from the era to identify common elements and significant differences.

Through these investigations, we could reconstruct a more complete and fascinating picture of the history of the Sanctuary of Saints Ottato and Policamo, rediscovering a treasure of faith and culture that continues to illuminate our path.

Via Appia Nuova, Rome, Italy