Aspren
Encyclopedia
Aspren or Asprenas was a 1st century Christian
saint
and venerated as the first Bishop of Naples.
Aspren lived at the end of the 1st century and in the early 2nd century, as confirmed by archaeological studies regarding the early Neapolitan Church as well as the fact that "Aspren" was a common name during the days of the Roman Republic
and the early years of the Roman Empire
and afterwards fell into disuse.
The Marble Calendar of Naples
(Calendario Marmoreo di Napoli) attests to Aspren's existence and the fact that he lived during the reigns of Trajan
and Hadrian
; Aspren's episcopate is stated as lasting twenty-three years.
Nothing is known of his life, but an ancient legend holds that Saint Peter
, on his way to Rome
, stopped at Naples and converted an old woman (identified as Candida the Elder
) after he cured her of an illness.
Numerous other converts to Christianity
were made during this time in Naples, including Aspren, who was converted either by Peter or Candida herself and who had also been ill.
The legend holds that Peter consecrated Aspren as bishop of Naples and asked him to construct the oratory
of Santa Maria del Principio, which would form the basis for the basilica of Santa Restituta
; San Pietro ad Aram was also said to have been built during this time.
After Aspren's death, numerous miracles were attributed to him, and his sepulcher rested in the oratory of Santa Maria del Principio, although some scholars state that his sepulcher was located in the Catacombs of San Gennaro
, where images of the first fourteen Neapolitan bishops can be found. In any case, John IV, Bishop of Naples
translated
Aspren's relics to the basilica of Santa Restituta
, in the chapel dedicated to Aspren. Aspren was named the second (in 1673) of the large group of more than 50 patron saints of Naples
(Saint Januarius is the first).
A silver bust of Aspreno is found in Naples Cathedral. In the city two churches were dedicated to him as well as the chapel of San Aspreno in Naples Cathedral. Bernardo Tesauro
would paint frescoes in this chapel.
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
saint
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
and venerated as the first Bishop of Naples.
Aspren lived at the end of the 1st century and in the early 2nd century, as confirmed by archaeological studies regarding the early Neapolitan Church as well as the fact that "Aspren" was a common name during the days of the Roman Republic
Roman Republic
The Roman Republic was the period of the ancient Roman civilization where the government operated as a republic. It began with the overthrow of the Roman monarchy, traditionally dated around 508 BC, and its replacement by a government headed by two consuls, elected annually by the citizens and...
and the early years of the Roman Empire
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
and afterwards fell into disuse.
The Marble Calendar of Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
(Calendario Marmoreo di Napoli) attests to Aspren's existence and the fact that he lived during the reigns of Trajan
Trajan
Trajan , was Roman Emperor from 98 to 117 AD. Born into a non-patrician family in the province of Hispania Baetica, in Spain Trajan rose to prominence during the reign of emperor Domitian. Serving as a legatus legionis in Hispania Tarraconensis, in Spain, in 89 Trajan supported the emperor against...
and Hadrian
Hadrian
Hadrian , was Roman Emperor from 117 to 138. He is best known for building Hadrian's Wall, which marked the northern limit of Roman Britain. In Rome, he re-built the Pantheon and constructed the Temple of Venus and Roma. In addition to being emperor, Hadrian was a humanist and was philhellene in...
; Aspren's episcopate is stated as lasting twenty-three years.
Nothing is known of his life, but an ancient legend holds that Saint Peter
Saint Peter
Saint Peter or Simon Peter was an early Christian leader, who is featured prominently in the New Testament Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles. The son of John or of Jonah and from the village of Bethsaida in the province of Galilee, his brother Andrew was also an apostle...
, on his way to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, stopped at Naples and converted an old woman (identified as Candida the Elder
Candida the Elder
Saint Candida the Elder was an early Christian saint and resident of Naples, Italy. The elderly woman was cured of an illness by Saint Peter and converted to Christianity. She was baptized by Peter and later converted Aspren, the first bishop of Naples, to Christianity.She is one of the patron...
) after he cured her of an illness.
Numerous other converts to Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
were made during this time in Naples, including Aspren, who was converted either by Peter or Candida herself and who had also been ill.
The legend holds that Peter consecrated Aspren as bishop of Naples and asked him to construct the oratory
Oratory
Oratory is a type of public speaking.Oratory may also refer to:* Oratory , a power metal band* Oratory , a place of worship* a religious order such as** Oratory of Saint Philip Neri ** Oratory of Jesus...
of Santa Maria del Principio, which would form the basis for the basilica of Santa Restituta
Santa Restituta
Santa Restituta is a church in Naples, southern Italy, dedicated to Saint Restituta.It is the original 6th-century paleo-Christian church on the site where the Cathedral of Naples now stands, and was rebuilt and incorporated into the cathedral when it built in the 13th century.Santa Restituta has a...
; San Pietro ad Aram was also said to have been built during this time.
Veneration
Catacombs of San Gennaro
The Catacombs of San Gennaro are underground paleo-Christian burial sites in Naples, Italy. They are situated in the northern part of the city, on the slope leading up to Capodimonte...
, where images of the first fourteen Neapolitan bishops can be found. In any case, John IV, Bishop of Naples
John IV, Bishop of Naples
Saint John IV , called the Peacemaker and known in Italian as Giovanni d'Acquarola, was the Bishop of Naples from an unknown date until his death. He is one of the patron saints of Naples and his feast day is 22 June. He had the relics of Aspren translated to the church of Santa Restituta in Naples...
translated
Translation (relics)
In Christianity, the translation of relics is the removal of holy objects from one locality to another ; usually only the movement of the remains of the saint's body would be treated so formally, with secondary relics such as items of clothing treated with less ceremony...
Aspren's relics to the basilica of Santa Restituta
Santa Restituta
Santa Restituta is a church in Naples, southern Italy, dedicated to Saint Restituta.It is the original 6th-century paleo-Christian church on the site where the Cathedral of Naples now stands, and was rebuilt and incorporated into the cathedral when it built in the 13th century.Santa Restituta has a...
, in the chapel dedicated to Aspren. Aspren was named the second (in 1673) of the large group of more than 50 patron saints of Naples
Patron saints of Naples
The city of Naples has more than 50 official patron saints, although its principal patron is Saint Januarius. Second in terms of importance is Saint Aspren , first bishop of Naples.-Co-patrons of Naples and date that the saint was named a patron:...
(Saint Januarius is the first).
A silver bust of Aspreno is found in Naples Cathedral. In the city two churches were dedicated to him as well as the chapel of San Aspreno in Naples Cathedral. Bernardo Tesauro
Bernardo Tesauro
Bernardo Tesauro was an Italian painter of the Renaissance period. He was born in Naples. He was a relative of Filippo Tesauro. He was a pupil of Silvestre dei Buoni. His He painted an Assumption of the Virgin for the church of San Giovanni Maggiore.He also painted frescoes in the chapel of San...
would paint frescoes in this chapel.