Rufinus of Assisi
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Saint Rufinus of Assisi | |
---|---|
Born | unknown |
Died | 3rd Century |
Venerated in | Roman Catholicism |
Major shrine | Cathedral of San Rufino |
Feast | 30 July |
Patronage | Assisi |
Saints Portal |
According to legend, Rufinus of Assisi (sometimes Rufino) is the patron saint of Assisi, Italy, and was the first bishop of Assisi. He was responsible for converting Assisi to Christianity in 238 A.D. (it should be noted that there is some dispute as to whether these events took place in the first or third century). He is said to have died as a martyr at Costano, but there is no historical record of this. He is likely the same saint denoted in Latin as Episcopus Marsorum (Bishop of the Marche).
His remains were put to rest in a Roman sarcophagus. The front is sculpted in low relief with the myth of Diana and Endymion. It is now located under the main altar of the Cathedral of San Rufino, which is the third church to have been erected over his remains.
The feast day of this saint is 30 July.
[edit] References
- Bibliotheca hagiographica latina, II, 1068; Elisei (Latin)
- Studio sulla chiesa cattedrale di S. Rufino (Assisi, 1893) (Italian)
- D. de Vincentiis, Notizie di S. Rufino (Avezzano, 1885)] (Italian)
- Ekkart Sauser, Biographisch-Bibliographisches Kirchenlexikon, Band XXI (2003) Spalten 1284-1285 (German)
This article incorporates text from the public-domain Catholic Encyclopedia of 1913.