E00363: The Liber Pontificalis, written in Latin in Rome in the 530s, and re-edited before 546, in its account of *Felix I (bishop of Rome, S00200), tells how he instituted the custom of celebrating mass at the tombs of martyrs, and records Felix's burial in his own cemetery on the via Aurelia outside Rome (the second edition states that this was in a basilica he had built there), on 30 May [AD 274].

Liber Pontificalis 27

First edition (as reconstructed by Duchesne)

Felix, natione Romanus, ex patre Constantio, sedit ann. IIII, m. III d. XXV. Martyrio coronatur. Fuit autem temporibus Claudi et Aureliani, a consulatu Claudi et Paterni usque ad consulatu Aureliani III et Capitulini. Hic constituit super sepulcra martyrum missas celebrare ... Qui sepultus est in cimiterio suo, via Aurelia, miliario II, III kal. iun.

'Felix, born in Rome, son of Constantius, held the see 4 years 3 months 25 days. He was crowned with martyrdom. He was bishop in the time of Claudius and Aurelian, from the consulship of Claudius and Paternus [AD 269] to the third consulship of Aurelian and that of Capitolinus [AD 274]. He decreed that mass be celebrated over the tombs of martyrs ... He was buried in his own cemetery on the 3rd day before the Kalends of June [30 May], on the via Aurelia at the 2nd mile from Rome.'


Second edition

Felix, natione Romanus, ex patre Constantio, sedit ann. IIII, m. III d. XXV. Martyrio coronatur. Fuit autem temporibus Claudii et Aureliani, a consulatu Claudii et Paterni usque ad consulatu Aureliani et Capitulini. Hic constituit supra memorias martyrum missas celebrare ... Hic fecit basilicam in Via Aurelia, ubi et sepultus est, III kal. iunias, miliario ab urbe Roma II.

'Felix, born in Rome, son of Constantius, held the see 4 years 3 months 25 days. He was crowned with martyrdom. He was bishop in the time of Claudius and Aurelian, from the consulship of Claudius and Paternus [AD 269] to that of Aurelian and Capitolinus [AD 274]. He decreed that mass be celebrated over the memorials (memoriae) of martyrs... He built a basilica on the Via Aurelia, where he was buried on the 3rd day before the Kalends of June [30 May], at the 2nd mile from Rome.'


Text: Duchesne, 71 and 158. Translation: Davis 2010, 11, lightly modified.