Life
Almost nothing is known about the life of Maternus. He was elected as bishop of Milan in c. 316 and reigned till about 328.
Maternus probably discovered the relics of the saints Nabor and Felix, who were martyred during the reign of Emperor Diocletian in 303, and translated them from Lodi Vecchio to Milano, where it was build a church (Basilica Naboriana) in their honor. Maternus completed the erection of the basilica vetus, started in 313, which was the first cathedral of Milan and that was placed on the area nowadays occupied by the present Cathedral of Milan.
Maternus died in c. 328 on the July 18, which was set as his feast day. His body was buried in Milan in the Basilica Naboriana. In 1258 his relics were moved to the church of Saint Francis of Assisi that was erected in place of the Basilica Naboriana. On 14 April 1798, shortly before the demolition of church of Saint Francis of Assisi, his relics were translated in the Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio (placed a few hundred meters southwards). His relics are placed today in an ancient sarcophagus in the Right-side nave of Sant'Ambrogio Basilica along with the relics of Saints Nabor and Felix, and of Saint Valeria.
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