Theodorus

ON ST. THEODORUS, MARTYR AT CAGLIARI.

Theodorus, Martyr at Cagliari in Sardinia (St.)

Seraphinus Squirrus relates, in part 1, book 3, chapter 1 of his Sanctuarium Calaritanum, that when the underground basilica of St. Restituta was being cleaned and the earth was being cleared out, Inscription on the tomb of St. Theodorus. there was found, among other monuments of saints buried there, a marble tablet the size of a palm and a half, on which were inscribed these words:

Cross HERE LIES THE BLESSED MEMORY OF THEODORUS, THE BEST, WHO LIVED APPROXIMATELY 45 YEARS. HE RESTED IN PEACE ON THE NONES OF JANUARY, IN THE 4TH INDICTION. Cross

The same author observes that, just as the title "the Best" (Optimus) is here given to Theodorus, so elsewhere we read: "St. Restitutus the Faithful"; "the holy Acaius who lived pious and just"; "the holy Guisitanus the Pious." He conjectures that Theodorus was not only a Sardinian by race who suffered at Cagliari, but that he appears to have undergone martyrdom in the same period as St. Restituta, the mother of St. Eusebius of Vercelli. He is commonly called Santu Teru. Moreover, those churches that are seen in Sardinia dedicated from antiquity in the name of St. Theodorus, who is commonly called "Santu Teru," he says appear to have been erected in honor of this saint. Such a one exists in the town of Barumini, belonging to the most noble house of the Zapata family, which was handed over to the Capuchin Fathers, with a monastery built next to it by Leonora Zapata and her sons. Finally, the same Seraphinus puts it beyond doubt that the relics of St. Theodorus were buried in the same crypt of St. Restituta, Where he is buried. even though they have not yet been found. We shall treat of St. Restituta on the 15th of June.