Secundus of Asti
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| Saint Secundus of Asti | |
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| Died | ~119 AD |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church |
| Feast | March 30 |
| Attributes | military attire; on horseback; sometimes depicted with Saint Maurice and the Theban Legion |
| Patronage | Asti; Ventimiglia |
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Secundus of Asti (Italian: San Secondo) (d. 119) is venerated as a martyr and saint. His feast day is celebrated locally on March 30. At Asti, his feast day is celebrated on the first Tuesday of May. He was a historical figure who was beheaded at Asti under Hadrian. He is said to have been a patrician of Asti and a subaltern officer in the imperial army. It is known that a church was dedicated to him in the area as early as the ninth century.[1]
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[edit] Legend
Later legends made Secundus a member of the Theban Legion. A more elaborate legend states that he was a young man of noble lineage who visited the jails of Asti. Secundus was a friend of Sapricius (Saprizio), prefect of the city. They traveled together to the city of Tortona, where Secundus met the city's first bishop, Marcian, who was later martyred under Hadrian. Secundus' meeting with Marcian influenced his decision to become a Christian; his meeting with Faustinus and Jovita further influenced his conversion. His friend Sapricius attempted to make him abjure his newfound faith. Secundus refused, and was tortured and decapitated.
[edit] Veneration
The codex called the Codice della Catena depicts Saints Octavius, Adventor, Solutor, Maximus of Turin, John the Baptist, and Secundus of Asti.[2] Bernardo Strozzi painted his St Secundus and Angel around 1640.[3]
 Collegiate church of San Secondo in Asti. |
