Cassius and Florence

Cassius and Florence, martyrs of Bonn (c.300). In the 4th century a church was built in their honour in the cemetery area outside the town walls, and there is written evidence for its existence from the 7th. In 1166 Bishop Rinaldus translated their relics to the present Romanesque church, and these were discovered in 1929. The identity of these martyrs is not entirely clear. Some believe they suffered in the persecution of Diocletian (303); others believe they were among the companions of Maurice and the Theban Legion, who suffered about a decade earlier. According to this tradition, they escaped the massacre of Agauno, but were recaptured at Bonn, where they were executed with seven companions. Artistic tradition at Bonn favours this attribution. Feast: 10 October. They are patron saints of Bonn.

Bibliography
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• AA.SS. Oct. V (1868), 14–67
• Bibl. SS., iii. 923