Defendens
Encyclopedia
Saint Defendens of Thebes is venerated as a martyr
by the Catholic Church. Venerated as a soldier-saint, Defendens was, according to Christian
tradition, a member of the Theban Legion
, and thus martyred at Agaunum
.
Particular veneration for Defendens was widespread in Northern Italy
; evidence for this cult dates from as early as 1328. His feast day was celebrated in the cities of Chivasso
, Casale Monferrato
, Novara
, and Lodi on January 2, and oratories
, altars, and confraternities were dedicated to him. He also enjoyed veneration in Marseilles; the Catholic Encyclopedia
states that “several saints belong in a particular way to Marseilles: the soldier St. Victor
, martyr under Maximian
; the soldier St. Defendens and his companions, martyrs at the same time...” But as Antonio Borrelli writes, some scholars believe that the Defendens venerated in Italy is different from the martyr who was a member of the Theban Legion.
. There is also a church dedicated to him at Clusone
, the church of San Defendente, and another at Invorio
.
Until 1476 his relics, according to the 1578 Martyrologium Sanctae Romanae Ecclesiae of Pietro Galesino, were kept in the church of Santa Croce in Casale Monferrato, which suggested that his martyrdom may have taken place in that region.
The painter Defendente Ferrari
, born at Chivasso, where Defendens was venerated, thus carries the baptismal name of this martyr.
Martyr
A martyr is somebody who suffers persecution and death for refusing to renounce, or accept, a belief or cause, usually religious.-Meaning:...
by the Catholic Church. Venerated as a soldier-saint, Defendens was, according to Christian
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...
tradition, a member of the Theban Legion
Theban Legion
The Theban Legion figures in Christian hagiography as an entire Roman legion — of "six thousand six hundred and sixty-six men" — who had converted en masse to Christianity and were martyred together, in 286, according to the hagiographies of Saint Maurice, the chief among the Legion's...
, and thus martyred at Agaunum
Agaunum
Roman Agaunum, the modern Saint-Maurice in the canton Valais in southwesternmost Switzerland, was a minor post confined between the Rhône and the mountains along the well-travelled road that led from Roman Genava, modern Geneva, over the Alps by the Great St...
.
Particular veneration for Defendens was widespread in Northern Italy
Northern Italy
Northern Italy is a wide cultural, historical and geographical definition, without any administrative usage, used to indicate the northern part of the Italian state, also referred as Settentrione or Alta Italia...
; evidence for this cult dates from as early as 1328. His feast day was celebrated in the cities of Chivasso
Chivasso
Chivasso is a comune in the Province of Turin in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 20 km northeast of Turin. Chivasso has a population of about 25,000...
, Casale Monferrato
Casale Monferrato
Casale Monferrato, population 36,058, is a town and comune in the Piedmont region of north-west Italy, part of the province of Alessandria. It is situated about 60 km east of Turin on the right bank of the Po, where the river runs at the foot of the Montferrato hills. Beyond the river lies the...
, Novara
Novara
Novara is the capital city of the province of Novara in the Piedmont region in northwest Italy, to the west of Milan. With c. 105,000 inhabitants, it is the second most populous city in Piedmont after Turin. It is an important crossroads for commercial traffic along the routes from Milan to Turin...
, and Lodi on January 2, and oratories
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...
, altars, and confraternities were dedicated to him. He also enjoyed veneration in Marseilles; the Catholic Encyclopedia
Catholic Encyclopedia
The Catholic Encyclopedia, also referred to as the Old Catholic Encyclopedia and the Original Catholic Encyclopedia, is an English-language encyclopedia published in the United States. The first volume appeared in March 1907 and the last three volumes appeared in 1912, followed by a master index...
states that “several saints belong in a particular way to Marseilles: the soldier St. Victor
Victor of Marseilles
Saint Victor of Marseilles was a Christian Martyr. He is venerated as a saint in the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church.Saint Victor is said to have been a Roman army officer in Marseilles, who publicly denounced the worship of idols. For that, he was brought before the Roman...
, martyr under 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...
; the soldier St. Defendens and his companions, martyrs at the same time...” But as Antonio Borrelli writes, some scholars believe that the Defendens venerated in Italy is different from the martyr who was a member of the Theban Legion.
Veneration
There is an oratory dedicated to him at Solto CollinaSolto Collina
Solto Collina is a comune in the Province of Bergamo in the Italian region of Lombardy, located about 80 km northeast of Milan and about 30 km northeast of Bergamo...
. There is also a church dedicated to him at Clusone
Clusone
Clusone is a town and comune in the province of Bergamo, Lombardy, Italy. Located in the Val Seriana, it received the honorary title of city on 15 May 1957 with a presidential decree which ratified a Napoleon's promise of the year 1801....
, the church of San Defendente, and another at Invorio
Invorio
Invorio is a comune in the Province of Novara in the Italian region of Piedmont, located about 100 km northeast of Turin and about 35 km northwest of Novara...
.
Until 1476 his relics, according to the 1578 Martyrologium Sanctae Romanae Ecclesiae of Pietro Galesino, were kept in the church of Santa Croce in Casale Monferrato, which suggested that his martyrdom may have taken place in that region.
The painter Defendente Ferrari
Defendente Ferrari
Defendente Ferrari was an Italian painter active in Piedmont.Ferrari was born at Chivasso, near Turin, and worked in the workshop of Giovanni Martino Spanzotti....
, born at Chivasso, where Defendens was venerated, thus carries the baptismal name of this martyr.