Crispoldus
Encyclopedia
Saint Crispoldus is venerated as a 1st century Christian
martyr
. He is the patron saint
of Bettona
, in Umbria
, and said to have been the first bishop of that city, although the dioceses of Nocera
and Foligno also include his name in episcopal lists.
According to a legendary Passio of the 12th century, Crispoldus was a native of Jerusalem and one of the Seventy Disciples
; in 58 AD Crispoldus was sent to Italy by Saint Peter
to preach Christianity
there. Crispoldus traveled to Umbria
and performed miracles at the town of Bettona. He was consecrated bishop of Bettona by St. Brictius (Brizio), who was bishop of Massa Martana
. Britius is also named as a bishop of Spoleto and of Foligno
. According to Giuseppe Cappelletti, Britius may have been a regional bishop, rather than a bishop of a particular diocese, which explains his association with multiple dioceses.
Crispoldus began to preach Christianity in his diocese, but was arrested by soldiers of the Roman Emperor Maximian
(250-310). He was tried before the prefect Asterius and invited to sacrifice to the Roman gods. Crispoldus refused, and was killed after being tortured.
At the same time, a man named Barontius (Baronzio) was decapitated for being a Christian. Crispoldus’ sister Tutela, along with twelve other women, attempted to bury Crispoldus and Barontius, but were arrested in the attempt. They also refused to sacrifice to the Roman gods and were put to death. Their martyrdom is said to have occurred on May 12.
Crispoldus' Germanic
name makes his connection to the Apostles unlikely and probably legendary.
A new church, Santa Maria Maggiore, was built at Bettona in the 13th century, and was consecrated by Bishop Guido of Bettona in 1225. In 1266, the church became a Benedictine foundation and then became a Franciscan
church. The church was restored in 1266 and also in 1797. Crispoldus’ relics rest in an urn
in a chapel at Santa Maria Maggiore.
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...
martyr
Martyr
A martyr is somebody who suffers persecution and death for refusing to renounce, or accept, a belief or cause, usually religious.-Meaning:...
. He is the patron saint
Patron saint
A patron saint is a saint who is regarded as the intercessor and advocate in heaven of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or person...
of Bettona
Bettona
Bettona is an ancient town and comune of Italy, in the province of Perugia in central Umbria at the northern edge of the Colli Martani range...
, in Umbria
Umbria
Umbria is a region of modern central Italy. It is one of the smallest Italian regions and the only peninsular region that is landlocked.Its capital is Perugia.Assisi and Norcia are historical towns associated with St. Francis of Assisi, and St...
, and said to have been the first bishop of that city, although the dioceses of Nocera
Diocese of Nocera
The Diocese of Nocera Umbra was a Roman Catholic diocese in Umbria, Italy.In 1915 the Diocese of Nocera Umbra was united with the Diocese of Gualdo Tadino to form the Diocese of Nocera Umbra-Gualdo Tadino. In 1986 this was united with the Diocese of Assisi, to become the Diocese of Assisi-Nocera...
and Foligno also include his name in episcopal lists.
According to a legendary Passio of the 12th century, Crispoldus was a native of Jerusalem and one of the Seventy Disciples
Seventy Disciples
The seventy disciples or seventy-two disciples were early followers of Jesus mentioned in the Gospel of Luke . According to Luke, the only gospel in which they appear, Jesus appointed them and sent them out in pairs on a specific mission which is detailed in the text...
; in 58 AD Crispoldus was sent to Italy by 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...
to preach 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...
there. Crispoldus traveled to Umbria
Umbria
Umbria is a region of modern central Italy. It is one of the smallest Italian regions and the only peninsular region that is landlocked.Its capital is Perugia.Assisi and Norcia are historical towns associated with St. Francis of Assisi, and St...
and performed miracles at the town of Bettona. He was consecrated bishop of Bettona by St. Brictius (Brizio), who was bishop of Massa Martana
Massa Martana
Massa Martana is an ancient Italian town and comune in the Monti Martani mountain range in the province of Perugia . It is 10 km N of Acquasparta, 18 km N of San Gemini and 32 km N of Narni; 14 km S of Bastardo and 27 km S of Bevagna...
. Britius is also named as a bishop of Spoleto and of Foligno
Foligno
Foligno is an ancient town of Italy in the province of Perugia in east central Umbria, on the Topino river where it leaves the Apennines and enters the wide plain of the Clitunno river system...
. According to Giuseppe Cappelletti, Britius may have been a regional bishop, rather than a bishop of a particular diocese, which explains his association with multiple dioceses.
Crispoldus began to preach Christianity in his diocese, but was arrested by soldiers of the Roman Emperor Maximian
Maximian
Maximian was Roman Emperor from 286 to 305. He was Caesar from 285 to 286, then Augustus from 286 to 305. He shared the latter title with his co-emperor and superior, Diocletian, whose political brain complemented Maximian's military brawn. Maximian established his residence at Trier but spent...
(250-310). He was tried before the prefect Asterius and invited to sacrifice to the Roman gods. Crispoldus refused, and was killed after being tortured.
At the same time, a man named Barontius (Baronzio) was decapitated for being a Christian. Crispoldus’ sister Tutela, along with twelve other women, attempted to bury Crispoldus and Barontius, but were arrested in the attempt. They also refused to sacrifice to the Roman gods and were put to death. Their martyrdom is said to have occurred on May 12.
Crispoldus' Germanic
Germanic languages
The Germanic languages constitute a sub-branch of the Indo-European language family. The common ancestor of all of the languages in this branch is called Proto-Germanic , which was spoken in approximately the mid-1st millennium BC in Iron Age northern Europe...
name makes his connection to the Apostles unlikely and probably legendary.
Veneration
At Bettona a church was built on the site of Crispoldus’ martyrdom. Crispoldus is mentioned in a document dating from 1018, found in the archives of Assisi Cathedral.A new church, Santa Maria Maggiore, was built at Bettona in the 13th century, and was consecrated by Bishop Guido of Bettona in 1225. In 1266, the church became a Benedictine foundation and then became a Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
church. The church was restored in 1266 and also in 1797. Crispoldus’ relics rest in an urn
Urn
An urn is a vase, ordinarily covered, that usually has a narrowed neck above a footed pedestal. "Knife urns" placed on pedestals flanking a dining-room sideboard were an English innovation for high-style dining rooms of the late 1760s...
in a chapel at Santa Maria Maggiore.