Nazarius was a citizen of
Rome whose father was
Jewish or
pagan. His mother was
Perpetua. Nazarius was a student of the apostle
Peter and was baptized by
Pope Linus. During the persecutions of
Nero, Nazarius fled Rome and preached in
Lombardy, visiting
Piacenza and
Milan, where he met the brothers
Gervase and Protase, who had been imprisoned and who inspired Nazarius by their example. Nazarius was whipped and condemned to exile by the authorities. He traveled to
Gaul, where a young boy of nine, Celsus, was entrusted to his care after the boy's mother asked Nazarius to teach and baptize her son. Nazarius raised him as a Christian. The two were arrested, tortured, and imprisoned for their faith. They were released on condition they would not preach at this place any longer. They preached in the
Alps and built a chapel at
Embrun, and then continued on to
Geneva, and then
Trier. They preached in Trier, and converted many to
Christianity, and they were imprisoned once again there. Celsus was entrusted to the care of a pagan lady, who attempted to make him abjure his faith. Celsus refused, and was eventually returned to Nazarius. '' (1497) An additional legend that describes their time at Trier states that they were tried by Nero there, who ordered the two to be drowned. Nazarius and Celsus were taken in a ship and thrown overboard, but a storm suddenly arose, frightening the sailors. The sailors pulled the two back on board. Nazarius and Celsus left Trier and reached
Genoa, and then returned to Milan, and were arrested again. They refused to sacrifice to the
Roman gods, and were
beheaded. ==Historicity==