| Saint Aquilinus of Milan | |
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Carlo Urbino, The Rediscovery of Saint Aquilinus of Cologne's Corpse, a fresco behind the main altar in the Cappella di Sant'Aquilino in the Basilica of San Lorenzo, Milan in Milan, Italy. |
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| Born | Würzburg |
| Died | 650 or 1015 AD Milan |
| Honored in | Roman Catholic Church |
| Major shrine | Basilica of San Lorenzo, Milan |
| Feast | January 29 |
| Attributes | sword through his neck |
| Patronage | hotel porters (facchini) in Milan |
Saint Aquilinus of Milan (died 1015[1]), also known as Aquilinus of Cologne (Italian: Sant'Aquilino), is venerated as a martyr by the Catholic Church.
He should not be confused with another Aquilinus, who was killed during the reign of the Arian Vandal king Hunneric in 484.[2] This 5th century Aquilinus was killed with Eugene, Geminus, Marcian, Quintus, Theodotus, and Tryphon. Bede writes about them.[2] He should also not be confused with an early bishop of Cologne named Aquilinus.
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Born in Würzburg to a noble family, he studied theology in Cologne, where he became a priest.[3] He was offered the bishopric of Cologne, but he refused, preferring to become a wandering preacher.
He traveled to Paris, where he miraculously cured some people of the cholera. As a result, he was offered the bishopric of Paris, but this he also refused. He traveled to Pavia, where he preached against Cathars, Manichaeans, and Arians there.[3]
He then traveled to Milan, where, according to local tradition, he was stabbed by a member of one of these sects,[4] along with his companion Constantius (Costanzo). His body was thrown into a drain, near the Porta Ticinese. His body was found and then buried in the Basilica of San Lorenzo, Milan. The Cappella di Sant'Aquilino is dedicated to him.