These two martyrs from Rome are authentic. The extensive praise in the Roman Martyrology, based on the Acts – which are fictitious – contradicts the poem by Saint Damasus, which states that Nereus and Achilleus were soldiers converted to the faith. If we are to believe a depiction found on a 4th-century column in the Domitilla Cemetery, Nereus (at least) was beheaded. This column undoubtedly belonged to the Church of Saint Petronilla in the same cemetery on the Via Ardeatina, where both martyrs were venerated by ancient pilgrims.
In the 6th century, a church titled «Fasciola,» near the Baths of Caracalla, was dedicated to them. This church was in charge of the Domitilla Cemetery, and Cardinal Baronius was its titular. The cardinal transferred the relics of the two saints to this church; however, it must be noted that the relics from this transfer are highly suspect, as they were attached to those of Flavia Domitilla, who appears only in the legendary passion and was not previously venerated.
