Saints Gervasius and Protasius (also Saints Gervase and Protase, Gervasis and Prothasis and in French Gervais and Protais) are venerated as Christian martyrs, probably of the 2nd century.

They are the patron saints of Milan and of haymakers and are invoked for the discovery of thieves. Their feast day in the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church is on June 19, the day marking the translation of their relics. In the Eastern Orthodox Church and in the Eastern Rites of the Catholic Church, their feast takes place on October 14 (O.S.)/October 24 (N.S.), the traditional day of their death. In Christian iconography their emblems are the scourge, the club and the sword.

Gervasius and Protasius were theidenticaltwin sons of martyrs. Their father Saint Vitalis of Milan, a man of consular dignity, suffered martyrdom at Ravenna, possibly under Nero. The mother Saint Valeria died for her faith at Milan. Gervasius and Protasius were imprisoned, and visited in prison by Saint Nazarius.

When the parents died the twin brothers decided to follow the foot-steps of the parents They donated all their belongings to the poor of the locality. For ten years the twins were living in a small hutchanting prayers and meditating on the heavenly glories. As the Roman Governor waspassing through Milan in order to wage war against the Marcionists (the sect of Christian gnostics of the2nd and 3rd centuries A.D., who rejected the entire Old Testament and all in the New Testamentexcept the writings of St. Paul.) and against all Christians, the twins Gervasis and Prothasis were brought before the Governor accused of being Christians. The Governor asked them to denounce Christianity and to offer incense and offerings to the Roman Gods. As the twins refused to comply with the order of the governor, they were sentenced to death. Gervasis was beaten to death with lead tipped whip and Prothasis was beheaded.Their martyrdom might be during the reign of Emperor Dacius (249-251) or Valerian (253-260) who persecuted the Christians cruelly. This is the popular tradition; there is no de facto evidence.

St. Ambrose, the Bishop of Milan, while constructing his Cathedral searched for Holy Relics of saints to be installed within the Cathedral. He was guided by a vision that the Holy Relics of the identical twins – Gervasis and Prothasis – lay buried in the vicinity. The excavation was soon done in a cemetery named PORTA VERCELLINA on 7th June, 386 AD. As the digging was done deep, the remnants of two bodies of youngsters beheaded and stained with blood were found out which could be clearly and well identified as the bodies of Gervasis and Prothasis. On 18th June, 386 the holy relics were solemnly placed in the Fausta Basilica which was near the Cemetery. The choir of the Cathedral took initiative to chant melodies and prayers with a large crowd of the faithful. The holy bodies were transferred to the Basilica of St. Ambrose on 19th June.

St. Ambrose himself had designated the lower part of the altar of the Basilica for his own tomb. Yet the holy remains of Gervasis and Prothasis were shifted to the right side of the altar. Without delay the consecration of the Cathedral was conducted. St. Ambrose died in 397 AD and his body was buried at the left side of the altar.

In the fourth century the Basilica was in a dilapidated condition. Archbishop Angel Bertholl had the goodwill to reconstruct the Basilica. On that occasion, the bodies of these three saints Gervasis, Prothasis and Ambrose were enclosed in a glass-case and installed across the two tombs.

WhiIe Luigi Nazari was the Archbishop of Calabiana, the glass-case was opened for further scrutiny. lt was ascertained that the skeletons kept in glass were of men and their heights were 163 cm (St. Ambrose) 180 cm (St. Gervasis) and 181 cm (St. Prothasis). And the glass- case was officially sealed with wax on 14th may, 1874.

The holy relics of Ss. Gervasis and Prothasis alias Kantheesangal were installed in the Basilica of St. Ambrose on the 19th June, 386. This incident paved the way to spiritual advance and religious restoration in the European countries. These saints were honoured and venerated in the cities of Ravenna, Brescia and Rome in Italy. When Pope Innocent I (402 – 417AD) was in the throne of St. Peter, a pious lady named Vestina constructed a church in honour of these saints. Now this is known as St. Vitalis’ church in via Nazionale. These saints are specially venerated at Rouen and Vienne in France, at Carmona in Spain, and at Carthage in Africa (Bibliotheca Sanctorum Vol. Vl Rome, 1965).

Ss. Gervasis and Prothasis came to be known in Kerala only after the Synod of Diamper (1599). The churches of Udayamperoor (510 AD), of Kothanalloor (826 AD) and the Catholic Church of Akaparambu (1541 AD) are named after these twin saints.

The Roman Catholic Church celebrates the feast of Ss. Gervasis and Prothasis alias Kantheesangal in Malayalam, on 19th of June.