Constantius of Perugia
Encyclopedia
Saint Constantius (died ca. 170 AD) is one of the patron saints of Perugia
, Italy
.
(some sources say Marcus Aurelius) and whipped, and then forced into a stove along with his companions, from which all escaped unharmed. He was jailed and set free by his guards, whom he had converted to Christianity
. He sought refuge in a house owned by a Christian named Anastasius. But he, along with Anastasius, were arrested again and after being tortured in prisons at Assisi
and Spello
, were decapitated
near Foligno
.
Local tradition makes him the first bishop of Perugia. This tradition states that he became the first bishop of the city at the age of 30. He was active in evangelism and care for the poor.
. He was listed in the Martyrologium Hieronymianum
under the feast day of January 29.
The four variations of his legend are consistent in regards to the place of his martyrdom (Foligno). A church in Perugia dedicated to him was demolished in 1527. The accounts of his martyrdom state that his body was carried to Perugia and buried near the site of the present-day cathedral
there. His relics were translated
in 1825 with great solemnity to a new altar at the present-day church of San Costanzo.
On his feast day, "torcolo", a ring-shaped cake made of pine nuts, raisins, and dried fruit
, is a traditional food in Perugia.
In art, Costantius is often represented as a bishop wearing a mitre
and robe and bearing a crozier. He frequently appears in the company of another Perugian patron saint
, Sant'Ercolano (Herculanus of Perugia
). His feast day
is 29 January.
Perugia
Perugia is the capital city of the region of Umbria in central Italy, near the River Tiber, and the capital of the province of Perugia. The city is located about north of Rome. It covers a high hilltop and part of the valleys around the area....
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
Legend
According to his legend, of which four versions exist, he was arrested during the persecutions of AntoninusAntoninus
Antoninus is an Ancient Roman family name which derived from the given name Antonius the Latin form of Anthony.*Any of the Antonines, including:**Antoninus Pius **Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus *Caracalla...
(some sources say Marcus Aurelius) and whipped, and then forced into a stove along with his companions, from which all escaped unharmed. He was jailed and set free by his guards, whom he had converted to Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
. He sought refuge in a house owned by a Christian named Anastasius. But he, along with Anastasius, were arrested again and after being tortured in prisons at Assisi
Assisi
- Churches :* The Basilica of San Francesco d'Assisi is a World Heritage Site. The Franciscan monastery, il Sacro Convento, and the lower and upper church of St Francis were begun immediately after his canonization in 1228, and completed in 1253...
and Spello
Spello
Spello is an ancient town and comune of Italy, in the province of Perugia in east central Umbria, on the lower southern flank of Mt. Subasio. It is 6 km NNW of Foligno and 10 km SSE of Assisi.The old walled town lies on a regularly NW-SE sloping ridge that eventually meets the plain...
, were decapitated
Decapitation
Decapitation is the separation of the head from the body. Beheading typically refers to the act of intentional decapitation, e.g., as a means of murder or execution; it may be accomplished, for example, with an axe, sword, knife, wire, or by other more sophisticated means such as a guillotine...
near Foligno
Foligno
Foligno is an ancient town of Italy in the province of Perugia in east central Umbria, on the Topino river where it leaves the Apennines and enters the wide plain of the Clitunno river system...
.
Local tradition makes him the first bishop of Perugia. This tradition states that he became the first bishop of the city at the age of 30. He was active in evangelism and care for the poor.
Veneration
His cult was diffused beyond UmbriaUmbria
Umbria is a region of modern central Italy. It is one of the smallest Italian regions and the only peninsular region that is landlocked.Its capital is Perugia.Assisi and Norcia are historical towns associated with St. Francis of Assisi, and St...
. He was listed in the Martyrologium Hieronymianum
Martyrologium Hieronymianum
The Martyrologium Hieronymianum was a medieval list of martyrs, one of the most used and influential of the Middle Ages...
under the feast day of January 29.
The four variations of his legend are consistent in regards to the place of his martyrdom (Foligno). A church in Perugia dedicated to him was demolished in 1527. The accounts of his martyrdom state that his body was carried to Perugia and buried near the site of the present-day cathedral
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
there. His relics were translated
Translation (relics)
In Christianity, the translation of relics is the removal of holy objects from one locality to another ; usually only the movement of the remains of the saint's body would be treated so formally, with secondary relics such as items of clothing treated with less ceremony...
in 1825 with great solemnity to a new altar at the present-day church of San Costanzo.
On his feast day, "torcolo", a ring-shaped cake made of pine nuts, raisins, and dried fruit
Dried fruit
Dried fruit is fruit where the majority of the original water content has been removed either naturally, through sun drying, or through the use of specialized dryers or dehydrators. Dried fruit has a long tradition of use dating back to the fourth millennium BC in Mesopotamia, and is prized...
, is a traditional food in Perugia.
In art, Costantius is often represented as a bishop wearing a mitre
Mitre
The mitre , also spelled miter, is a type of headwear now known as the traditional, ceremonial head-dress of bishops and certain abbots in the Roman Catholic Church, as well as in the Anglican Communion, some Lutheran churches, and also bishops and certain other clergy in the Eastern Orthodox...
and robe and bearing a crozier. He frequently appears in the company of another Perugian patron saint
Patron saint
A patron saint is a saint who is regarded as the intercessor and advocate in heaven of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or person...
, Sant'Ercolano (Herculanus of Perugia
Herculanus of Perugia
Saint Herculanus of Perugia was a bishop of Perugia and is patron saint of that city. His main feast day is November 7; his second feast is celebrated on March 1...
). His feast day
Calendar of saints
The calendar of saints is a traditional Christian method of organizing a liturgical year by associating each day with one or more saints and referring to the feast day of said saint...
is 29 January.