Septimius of Iesi

Saint Septimius of Iesi (Italian: Settimio di Jesi) (d. 307)[1] was the first bishop of Iesi, a martyr and a saint.

Septimius was born in Germany, and after an education in the liberal arts began a military career. On his conversion to Christianity he parted from his family, who did not convert, and went to Italy, where he preached in Milan. He was forced to leave during the Persecution of Diocletian in 303. He later made his way to Rome, where the miracles he performed so impressed Pope Marcellus I that he created Septimius bishop of Iesi.

Septimius established Iesi Cathedral[2] but was opposed by the local magistrate Florentius, who, after Septimius refused to sacrifice to the pagan gods, had him decapitated.

The body was re-discovered in 1469, although the cult of Septimius dated from much earlier, and translated to the cathedral, where a new altar was consecrated to the saint in 1623.

The saint's feast day was on 5 September until 1623, when it was changed to 22 September. Septimius is the patron saint of Iesi.

Notes and references

  1. ↑ 307 is the traditional date of Septimius's death: he is traditionally linked with the Persecution of Diocletian in 303, and with Pope Marcellus I, who died in 309. Surviving documents from Iesi however suggest a date of death of 461
  2. ↑ formerly dedicated to him, until at least 1208, although the dedication is now to the Holy Saviour

Sources

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