Saturninus of Cagliari
Encyclopedia
Saint Saturninus of Cagliari is venerated as the patron saint
of Cagliari
. According to Christian
tradition, Saturninus was a local martyr
–that is, he was killed at Cagliari by order of governor Barbarus. The legend states that he was beheaded
for refusing to offer sacrifices to Jupiter during the persecutions of Christians by Diocletian
.
However, scholars have determined that this tradition was invented centuries after the supposed martyrdom, and that the legend was devised a posteriori to attach a story to the name to whom the local ancient basilica
was dedicated.
Saint Saturninus may have been confused with Saturninus of Toulouse (Sernin). “Saturninus” was the name of several other martyrs, including some belonging to the group of the Martyrs of Abitina
, and close trading ties and communications between North Africa
and Cagliari may have resulted in the cult of a North African saint becoming attached to this Sardinian location.
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...
of Cagliari
Cagliari
Cagliari is the capital of the island of Sardinia, a region of Italy. Cagliari's Sardinian name Casteddu literally means castle. It has about 156,000 inhabitants, or about 480,000 including the outlying townships : Elmas, Assemini, Capoterra, Selargius, Sestu, Monserrato, Quartucciu, Quartu...
. According to Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
tradition, Saturninus was a local martyr
Martyr
A martyr is somebody who suffers persecution and death for refusing to renounce, or accept, a belief or cause, usually religious.-Meaning:...
–that is, he was killed at Cagliari by order of governor Barbarus. The legend states that he was beheaded
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...
for refusing to offer sacrifices to Jupiter during the persecutions of Christians by Diocletian
Diocletian
Diocletian |latinized]] upon his accession to Diocletian . c. 22 December 244 – 3 December 311), was a Roman Emperor from 284 to 305....
.
However, scholars have determined that this tradition was invented centuries after the supposed martyrdom, and that the legend was devised a posteriori to attach a story to the name to whom the local ancient basilica
Basilica
The Latin word basilica , was originally used to describe a Roman public building, usually located in the forum of a Roman town. Public basilicas began to appear in Hellenistic cities in the 2nd century BC.The term was also applied to buildings used for religious purposes...
was dedicated.
Martyrs of Abitina
The Martyrs of Abitina were a group of 49 Christians found guilty, in 304, during the reign of the Emperor Diocletian, of having illegally celebrated Sunday worship at Abitina, a town in the Roman province of Africa....
, and close trading ties and communications between North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
and Cagliari may have resulted in the cult of a North African saint becoming attached to this Sardinian location.