Elpidius the Cappadocian

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Saint Elpidius the Cappadocian
Died	4th century
Venerated in	Roman Catholic Church
Major shrine	Sant'Elpidio a Mare
Feast	September 2
Attributes	vine in leaf in winter
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Saint Elpidius the Cappadocian (Italian: Sant'Elpidio, Santo Abate Elpidio) (4th century) was an abbot and saint of Asia Minor. Tradition states that he lived in a cave in Cappadocia for twenty-five years. Disciples, such as Eustace (Eustachio) and Ennesius (Ennesio), gathered around him.

[edit] Veneration

The village of Cluana, in the Marches of Ancona, acquired Elpidius' relics in the 7th century in exchange for the donation of a piece of land. The relics of Elpidius and his companions Eustace and Ennesius were consigned to the local inhabitants, and the town later acquired the new name of Sant'Elpidio a Mare. The relics of Elpidius are considered to have saved the town from a Lombard siege; tradition states that the saint appeared in the sky asking the inhabitants to defend the village.^[1]