Feastday: March 3
Patron: of Benevento; kidnap victims, illness, people in exile, sick people, sickness
Birth: 544
Death: 560
Virgin and patron of Benevento, Italy. She is recorded as having fled Constantinople, to escape the attentions of Byzantine Emperor Justinian. Arthelais was the daughter of Proconsul Lucius and his wife, Anthusa. When Arthelais fled from the emperor, she went to her uncle, Narses, in Benevento. Tradition states that the entire population of the city welcomed her. Arthelais died at the age of sixteen.
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Saint Arthelais (Italian: Sant' Artellaide) (544–560) is venerated as a Christian saint. She is one of the patron saints of Benevento, with Saints Barbatus of Benevento and Bartholomew being the others. Her feast day is on March 3.
Narrative
A native of Constantinople, Arthelais was the daughter of an imperial proconsul named Lucius and his wife Anthusa. She is said to have been pursued by Justinian, who desired her; however, Arthelais had taken a vow of chastity. At her own request, she was sent with three servants to her uncle Narses in Italy, but was kidnapped by robbers along the way. Her servants had recourse to the Church of Saint Eulalia, where they prayed for their mistress' safe return, and gave alms to the poor from their expense money.
The robbers intended to sell their captive for immoral purposes, but an angel slew the goaler and freed her. The devil seized the rest of the robbers. Arthelais soon met her servants, and they proceeded to Siponto. From there she went to the Sanctuary of Monte Sant'Angelo to make an offering in thanksgiving. Her uncle Narses went to meet her and brought her back to Benevento. She later died of a fever at the age of seventeen.
