Crescentinus
Saint Crescentinus | |
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A statue of Saint Crescentinus borne in procession in the streets of Urbino for his feast day. | |
Martyr | |
Died | ~303 AD |
Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church Eastern Orthodox Church |
Major shrine | Urbino |
Feast | June 1 |
Attributes | Military attire; depicted slaying a dragon |
Patronage | Urbino; Città di Castello; invoked against headache |
Saint Crescentinus (Italian: San Crescentino, Crescenziano) (died June 1, 303) is the patron saint of Urbino whose feast day is celebrated on June 1. Venerated as a warrior saint, he is sometimes depicted on horseback, killing a dragon, in the same manner as Saint George. However, as Martin Davies writes, "S. Crescentino’s story, so far as I am aware, excludes a Princess or other female victim."[1]
Legend[]
Crescentinus is traditionally said to have been a Roman soldier who converted to Christianity. To escape the persecutions of Diocletian, he fled to Umbria, and found refuge at Thifernum Tiberinum (present-day Città di Castello). His defeat of a dragon led to a successful evangelization of the region, together with his companions. His mission was confined particularly to the Tiber valley and the ancient Thifernum Tiberinum. He was subsequently beheaded.
Veneration[]
Wishing to enrich his cathedral, Blessed Mainard (Mainardo), the Bishop of Urbino, brought the saint's relics to the city in 1068.[1]
The coin known as the armellino (popularly called the volpetta) issued by the Duke of Urbino, Francesco Maria I della Rovere, featured Saint Crescentinus on horseback.[2]
He is still venerated in Urbino, where his statue is carried through the streets in a procession on his feast day. Another ritual involves tapping devotees’ heads with Crescentinus' relics, to free the supplicant from headaches. [2]
Gallery[]
San Crescenziano uccide il drago (Saint Crescentinus kills the dragon), Marco Benefial 1747–49. Cathedral of Città di Castello
External links[]
- (in Italian) San Crescentino
- (in Italian) L'omelia di S.E.R. il Cardinale Sergio Sebastiani
Notes[]
- ^ Martin Davies, "Uccello's 'St George' in London," Burlington Magazine, Vol. 101, No. 678/679 (Sep. - Oct., 1959), pp. 308-315
- ^ it:Monete italiane medioevali
Further reading[]
Information about this saint may be found in the Acta Sanctorum, as well as in Angelo Conti, Fiori Vaghi delle Vite dei Santi e Beati delle Chiese, e Reliquie della Città di Castello (1627), pp-45ff.
- 303 deaths
- 4th-century Christian martyrs
- 4th-century Romans
- Military saints