CHURCH OF S. SEBASTIAN "IN CATACUMBIS."
I. Inscription of Pope Damasus in Honor of S. Eutychius, the Martyr, in twelve verses (on the left hand on entering the church). These inscriptions are very numerous in the catacombs, and all of this beautiful calligraphy, and usually in Latin verse, not without elegance of style, though the construction of the sentences is sometimes not clear. Damasus restored all the catacombs, after they had been damaged during the persecution under Julian the Apostate.
EVTYCHIVS. MARTYR. CRVDELIA. IVSSA. TYRANNI
CARNIFICVMQ. VIAS. PARITER. TVNC. MILLE. NOCENDI
VINCERE. QVOD. POTVIT. MONSTRAVIT. GLORIA. CHRISTV
CARCERIS. INLVVIEM. SEQVITVR. NOVA. POENA. PER. ARTVS
TESTARVM. FRAGMENTA. PARANT. NE. SOMNVS. ADIRET
BISSENI. TRANSIERE. DIES. ALIMENTA. NEGANTVR
MITTITVR. IN. BARATHRUM. SANCTVS. LAVAT. OMNIA. SANGVIS
VVLNERA. QVAE. INTVLERAT. MORTIS. METVENDA. TOTESTAS
NOCTE. SOPORIFERA. TVRBANT. INSOMNIA. MENTEM
OSTENDIT. LATEBRA. INSONTIS. QVAE. MEMBRA. TENERET
QVAERITVR. INVENTVS. COLITVR. FOVET. OMNIA. PRESTANS
EXPRESSIT. DAMASVS. MERITVM. VENERARE. SEPVLCHQVM F
"That Eutychius, the Martyr, was able to overcome the cruel orders of the tyrant, and equally at that time the executioners' thousand ways of torment, the glory of Christ shewed. A new punishment follows the filth of the prison. They provide breaking of tiles on his limbs, to prevent sleep approaching. Twice six days passed, food is refused. The saint is thrown into a pit, blood bedews all the wounds which the dread power of death had caused. In night, which usually brings sleep, sleeplessness troubles his mind. The place of concealment which held the limbs of the innocent, manifested them(?). He is sought for, being found he is reverenced, he benefits all things. Damasus shewed forth his exceeding merit; venerate his tomb."
2. Another Inscription in the same Catacomb Church (over a door on the right-hand side, looking towards the altar).
VISITET. HIC. PIA. MENS. SCTORVM. BVSTA. FREQVENTER
IN. CRISTO. QVORVM. GLORIA. PERPES. ERIT
HIC. EST. CEMETERIV̄. BEATI. CHALIXTI. PAPE. ET. MARTIRIS INCLITI.
QVICV̄QVE. ILLVD. CŌTRICTVS. ET. CŌFESSVS. INGRESSVS FVERIT.
PLENAM. REMISSION̄E. OMNIV̄. PEC̄TORV̄. SVORV̄. OBTINEBIT
PER. MERITA. GLORIOSA. CENTV̄. SEPTVAGINTA. QVATVOR. MILIV̄
SC̄TORV̄. MARTIRV̄. QVORV̄. IBI. CORPORA. IN. PACE. SEPVLTA.
SV̄T̄ VNA. CV̄. QVADRAGINTA. SEX. PONTIFICIBVS. BEATIS. QVI.
OMNES EX MAGNA. TRIBVLATIONE. VENERV̄T. ET. VT. HEREDES. IN. DOMO
DOMINI. FIERĒT. MORTIS. SVPPLICIVM. PRO. CRISTI. NOMINE PERTVLERVNT
"Here let the pious mind often visit the tombs of the saints,
Whose glory will be everlasting in Christ."