Geminianus

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Saint Geminianus (also known as Saint Geminian, or Saint Gimignano) was a fourth century Deacon, and later Bishop of Modena. He is mentioned in the year 390 when he sent a delegate named Teodulo to participate in a council called by Saint Ambrose in Milan. From his name, it has been deduced that Geminianus probably belonged to the caste of Roman senators. Nothing more is directly known about him, and all the information we have about him comes from much later biographies. It is said that when Saint Athanasius was entering exile in France, he passed through Modena and was received kindly by Geminianus. Saint John Chrysostom later received the same hospitality. Saint Geminianus did not waver in opposing heresy, such as Arianism or Jovinianism. The people of Modena believe his miraculous intercession saved them from the invading Huns, when he conjured up dense fog that hid the city. He probably died on January 31, 397. Traces of his veneration have always been present in Modena. As early as the fifth century a church had been erected over his tomb, contiguous with the present cathedral and outside the center of the original Roman town. In the early Middle Ages, moreover, Modena is often mentioned as Civitas Geminiana.

Geminianusis rarely appears in art, but when shown is typically depicted as a bishop holding a mirror in which the Mary is reflected; a bishop holding a model of the town of San Gimignano; a man calming a storm at sea; or a man exorcising the daughter of the Byzantine emperor Jovian.

The saint is also venerated in Tuscany, especially at his namesake town of San Gimignano, and in Pontremoli, where the cathedral is dedicated to him.

His memorial day is 31 January.