Tryphon, Respicius, and Nympha
Encyclopedia
Saints Tryphon Respicius, and Nympha (Ninfa) are Christian
saint
s who were formerly celebrated jointly on 10 November in the liturgical calendar of the Roman Rite
of the Catholic Church from the eleventh century until the twentieth. Saint Tryphon continues to be celebrated (separately) on 1 February on both the Orthodox liturgical calendar
and the Roman Calendar of Saints
.
, now Turkey
, and as a boy took care of geese. His name is derived from the Greek
τρυφη (tryphe
) meaning "softness, delicacy". He acquired fame as a healer, especially of animals, and is considered one of the Holy Unmercenaries
, particularly invoked on farms.
During the Decian
persecution
he was taken to Nicaea about the year 250 and was torture
d in a horrible manner. He was beheaded
with a sword after he had converted the heathen prefect
Licius. Fabulous stories are interwoven with his hagiography
.
His relic
s were first buried in his native city of Campsada. Later on, they were translated
to Constantinople
, and then to Rome
. His feast day is on 1 February in both the Eastern Orthodox Church
and (now) in the Roman Catholic Church
.
He is greatly venerated
in the Eastern Orthodox Church, in which he is also the patron saint
of gardeners and winegrowers
. Many churches were dedicated to him, and the Eastern Emperor
, Leo VI the Wise
(d. 912), delivered a eulogy
in Tryphon's honour. He is the protector saint of the town of Kotor
in Montenegro
, and one of the patron saints of Moscow
. In Russian icons
of the saint, he is often shown holding a falcon
, a reference to a miracle
attributed to his intercessions. Prayers attributed to him are used against infestations of rodents and locusts; one such prayer appears in the Great Euchologion
.
The Cathedral of Saint Tryphon
in Kotor
is dedicated to him.
In about 1005, the monk
Theodoric of Fleury wrote, on the basis of earlier written legends, an account of Tryphon in which Respicius appears as Tryphon's companion. The relics of both were preserved, together with those of a holy virgin named Nympha, at the Hospital of the Holy Ghost in Sassia
. The church of this hospital was a cardinal's title, which, together with the relics of these saints, was transferred by Pope Pius V
to the Church of St. Augustine in 1566.
One tradition held that Nympha (Ninfa) was a virgin martyr from Palermo
who was put to death for the faith at the beginning of the fourth century. According to other versions of the legend, when the Goths
invaded Sicily
, she fled from Palermo to the Italian mainland and died in the sixth century at Savona
. The feast of her translation is observed at Palermo on 19 August. Some believe that there were two saints of this name. Before 1624 Palermo had four patron saints, one for each of the four major parts of the city. They were Saint Agatha
, Saint Christina
, Saint Nympha, and Saint Olivia
. Their images are displayed at the Quattro Canti
, in the centre of Palermo.
While Saint Trypho is still listed in the Roman Martyrology
(on 1 February, not 10 November), Respicius and Nympha have been omitted.
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...
saint
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
s who were formerly celebrated jointly on 10 November in the liturgical calendar of the Roman Rite
Roman Rite
The Roman Rite is the liturgical rite used in the Diocese of Rome in the Catholic Church. It is by far the most widespread of the Latin liturgical rites used within the Western or Latin autonomous particular Church, the particular Church that itself is also called the Latin Rite, and that is one of...
of the Catholic Church from the eleventh century until the twentieth. Saint Tryphon continues to be celebrated (separately) on 1 February on both the Orthodox liturgical calendar
Orthodox liturgical calendar
Orthodox liturgical calendar may refer to:*Eastern Orthodox Church liturgical calendar*A special Hebrew calendar, also called a luach, normally used in synagogues belonging to Orthodox Judaism which lists the Jewish liturgy and prayers and blessings to be recited during the week, Sabbaths, and on...
and the Roman Calendar of Saints
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...
.
Saint Tryphon
Saint Tryphon is said to have been born at Kampsade (Campsada, in PhrygiaPhrygia
In antiquity, Phrygia was a kingdom in the west central part of Anatolia, in what is now modern-day Turkey. The Phrygians initially lived in the southern Balkans; according to Herodotus, under the name of Bryges , changing it to Phruges after their final migration to Anatolia, via the...
, now Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, and as a boy took care of geese. His name is derived from the Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
τρυφη (tryphe
Tryphé
Tryphé -- variously glossed as "softness","voluptuousness","magnificence"and "extravagance", none fully adequate—is a concept that drew attention in Roman antiquity when it became a significant factor in the reign of the Ptolemaic dynasty.Classical authors such as Aeschines and Plutarch condemned...
) meaning "softness, delicacy". He acquired fame as a healer, especially of animals, and is considered one of the Holy Unmercenaries
Holy Unmercenaries
Holy Unmercenaries is an epithet applied to a number of Christian saints who did not accept payment for good deeds. These include healers or Christian physicians who, in conspicuous opposition to medical practice of the day, tended to the sick free of charge. It may refer to:* Zenaida and...
, particularly invoked on farms.
During the Decian
Decius
Trajan Decius , was Roman Emperor from 249 to 251. In the last year of his reign, he co-ruled with his son Herennius Etruscus until they were both killed in the Battle of Abrittus.-Early life and rise to power:...
persecution
Decian persecution
The Decian persecution under the emperor Decius was one in which the imperial Roman government issued tickets indicating that, as per requirement, citizens had sacrificed or burned incense ; and libellatici certifying that apostates had renounced Christianity.-See also:*Persecution of Christians...
he was taken to Nicaea about the year 250 and was torture
Torture
Torture is the act of inflicting severe pain as a means of punishment, revenge, forcing information or a confession, or simply as an act of cruelty. Throughout history, torture has often been used as a method of political re-education, interrogation, punishment, and coercion...
d in a horrible manner. 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...
with a sword after he had converted the heathen prefect
Prefect
Prefect is a magisterial title of varying definition....
Licius. Fabulous stories are interwoven with his hagiography
Hagiography
Hagiography is the study of saints.From the Greek and , it refers literally to writings on the subject of such holy people, and specifically to the biographies of saints and ecclesiastical leaders. The term hagiology, the study of hagiography, is also current in English, though less common...
.
His relic
Relic
In religion, a relic is a part of the body of a saint or a venerated person, or else another type of ancient religious object, carefully preserved for purposes of veneration or as a tangible memorial...
s were first buried in his native city of Campsada. Later on, they 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...
to Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
, and then to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. His feast day is on 1 February in both the Eastern Orthodox Church
Eastern Orthodox Church
The Orthodox Church, officially called the Orthodox Catholic Church and commonly referred to as the Eastern Orthodox Church, is the second largest Christian denomination in the world, with an estimated 300 million adherents mainly in the countries of Belarus, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Georgia, Greece,...
and (now) in the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
.
He is greatly venerated
Veneration
Veneration , or veneration of saints, is a special act of honoring a saint: an angel, or a dead person who has been identified by a church committee as singular in the traditions of the religion. It is practiced by the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Roman Catholic, and Eastern Catholic Churches...
in the Eastern Orthodox Church, in which he is also the 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...
of gardeners and winegrowers
Winemaking
Winemaking, or vinification, is the production of wine, starting with selection of the grapes or other produce and ending with bottling the finished wine. Although most wine is made from grapes, it may also be made from other fruit or non-toxic plant material...
. Many churches were dedicated to him, and the Eastern Emperor
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
, Leo VI the Wise
Leo VI the Wise
Leo VI, surnamed the Wise or the Philosopher , was Byzantine emperor from 886 to 912. The second ruler of the Macedonian dynasty , he was very well-read, leading to his surname...
(d. 912), delivered a eulogy
Eulogy
A eulogy is a speech or writing in praise of a person or thing, especially one recently deceased or retired. Eulogies may be given as part of funeral services. However, some denominations either discourage or do not permit eulogies at services to maintain respect for traditions...
in Tryphon's honour. He is the protector saint of the town of Kotor
Kotor
Kotor is a coastal city in Montenegro. It is located in a secluded part of the Gulf of Kotor. The city has a population of 13,510 and is the administrative center of the municipality....
in Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
, and one of the patron saints of Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
. In Russian icons
Russian icons
The use and making of icons entered Kievan Rus' following its conversion to Orthodox Christianity in 988 AD. As a general rule, these icons strictly followed models and formulas hallowed by Byzantine art, led from the capital in Constantinople...
of the saint, he is often shown holding a falcon
Falcon
A falcon is any species of raptor in the genus Falco. The genus contains 37 species, widely distributed throughout Europe, Asia, and North America....
, a reference to a miracle
Miracle
A miracle often denotes an event attributed to divine intervention. Alternatively, it may be an event attributed to a miracle worker, saint, or religious leader. A miracle is sometimes thought of as a perceptible interruption of the laws of nature. Others suggest that a god may work with the laws...
attributed to his intercessions. Prayers attributed to him are used against infestations of rodents and locusts; one such prayer appears in the Great Euchologion
Euchologion
The Euchologion is one of the chief liturgical books of the Orthodox Church and Eastern Catholic Churches, containing the portions of the services which are said by the bishop, priest, or deacon...
.
The Cathedral of Saint Tryphon
Cathedral of Saint Tryphon
The Cathedral of Saint Tryphon in Kotor is one of two Roman Catholic cathedrals in Montenegro. It is the seat of the Croatian Catholic Bishopric of Kotor which covers the entire gulf, currently led by Bishop Mons...
in Kotor
Kotor
Kotor is a coastal city in Montenegro. It is located in a secluded part of the Gulf of Kotor. The city has a population of 13,510 and is the administrative center of the municipality....
is dedicated to him.
Respicius and Nympha
The former 10 November feast day associated with Saint Tryphon two others, of whom little is known: Respicius and Nympha.In about 1005, the monk
Monk
A monk is a person who practices religious asceticism, living either alone or with any number of monks, while always maintaining some degree of physical separation from those not sharing the same purpose...
Theodoric of Fleury wrote, on the basis of earlier written legends, an account of Tryphon in which Respicius appears as Tryphon's companion. The relics of both were preserved, together with those of a holy virgin named Nympha, at the Hospital of the Holy Ghost in Sassia
Sassia
Cymatona is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Ranellidae, the tritons.-Species:Species within the genus Sassia include:* Sassia apenninica remensa...
. The church of this hospital was a cardinal's title, which, together with the relics of these saints, was transferred by Pope Pius V
Pope Pius V
Pope Saint Pius V , born Antonio Ghislieri , was Pope from 1566 to 1572 and is a saint of the Catholic Church. He is chiefly notable for his role in the Council of Trent, the Counter-Reformation, and the standardization of the Roman liturgy within the Latin Church...
to the Church of St. Augustine in 1566.
One tradition held that Nympha (Ninfa) was a virgin martyr from Palermo
Palermo
Palermo is a city in Southern Italy, the capital of both the autonomous region of Sicily and the Province of Palermo. The city is noted for its history, culture, architecture and gastronomy, playing an important role throughout much of its existence; it is over 2,700 years old...
who was put to death for the faith at the beginning of the fourth century. According to other versions of the legend, when the Goths
Goths
The Goths were an East Germanic tribe of Scandinavian origin whose two branches, the Visigoths and the Ostrogoths, played an important role in the fall of the Roman Empire and the emergence of Medieval Europe....
invaded Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
, she fled from Palermo to the Italian mainland and died in the sixth century at Savona
Savona
Savona is a seaport and comune in the northern Italian region of Liguria, capital of the Province of Savona, in the Riviera di Ponente on the Mediterranean Sea....
. The feast of her translation is observed at Palermo on 19 August. Some believe that there were two saints of this name. Before 1624 Palermo had four patron saints, one for each of the four major parts of the city. They were Saint Agatha
Agatha
*Agatha , is a female given name. It may also refer to:People:*Agatha of Lorraine , wife of Renaud III, Count of Burgundy*Agatha of Normandy , English princess*Agatha of Sicily , Christian saint...
, Saint Christina
Saint Christina
Saint Christina or Christine can refer to several saints:*Saint Christina of Persia, 6th century *Saint Christina of Bolsena...
, Saint Nympha, and Saint Olivia
Saint Olivia
Saint Olivia, according to the legend, was the beautiful daughter of a noble Sicilian family. She is supposed to have lived in the 9th century. When she was 13 years old she was kidnapped by and taken as a slave to Tunis...
. Their images are displayed at the Quattro Canti
Quattro Canti
Quattro Canti, officially known as Piazza Vigliena, is a Baroque square in Palermo, Sicily, southern Italy.It was laid out on the orders of the Viceroy the Duke of Maqueda between 1608-1620 by Giulio Lasso at the crossing of the two principal streets in Palermo, the Via Maqueda and the Corso...
, in the centre of Palermo.
While Saint Trypho is still listed in the Roman Martyrology
Roman Martyrology
The Roman Martyrology is the official martyrology of the Roman Rite of the Roman Catholic Church. It provides an extensive but not exhaustive list of the saints recognized by the Church.-History:...
(on 1 February, not 10 November), Respicius and Nympha have been omitted.
External links
- St Tryphon
- Martyr Tryphon of Campsada Near Apamea in Syria Orthodox iconIconAn icon is a religious work of art, most commonly a painting, from Eastern Christianity and in certain Eastern Catholic churches...
and synaxarion