Sixtus II, pope and martyr, and Companions, martyrs - August 7th
St Sixtus II (d. 258, Rome, Italy) (Relics: Rome, Italy)
First Class Relics
San Sisto Vecchio
(Old Saint Sixtus)
Piazzale Numa Pompilio 8
Rome, Italy
*This church is south of the Colosseum.
*The relics of St Sixtus II were moved from the Catacombs of San Callisto to this church. A small stone located within the wall on the left side of the nave marks their location.
*Pope Honorius III gave this church to the Dominican order with the issue of a Papal Bull dated December 3, 1218. This was the first Dominican monastery in Rome.
*The Miracle of the Bread attributed to St Dominic occurred within the refectory of this monastery. This room can be visited.
Churches of Honor in Rome
Catacombs of San Callisto
Via Appia Antica 110/126
Rome, Italy
*These catacombs are located south of the Aurelian Walls.
*It was at this location in the year 258 that Roman soldiers burst into a chapel and arrested St Sixtus II and four other deacons while they were celebrating the liturgy. St Lawrence (d. 258) was not among this group; however, a legend holds that St Lawrence was able to speak to St Sixtus just before the pope was martyred. In this conversation St Sixtus said to St Lawrence, “You shall follow me in three days.” St Lawrence then in three days went on to suffer his own martyrdom by being burnt alive on a gridiron.
*St Sixtus II, St Pontian (d. 235), St Fabian (d. 250), St Cornelius (d. 253) and a number of other early popes were originally buried here within the Papal Crypt. The remains of St Sixtus II were later moved to San Sisto Vecchio, the remains of St Fabian to San Sebastiano Fuori Le Mura, and the remains of St Cornelius to Santa Maria in Trastevere.
*St Cecilia was also buried in these catacombs. In 821 her remains were removed and taken to Santa Cecilia in Trastevere.
Santi Domenico e Sisto
(Saints Dominic and Sixtus)
Largo Angelicum 1
Rome, Italy
*This church is connected to the Angelicum University. It is dedicated to St Dominic (d. 1221) and to St Sixtus II.
