Flavian of Ricina
Encyclopedia
Saint Flavian of Ricina is venerated as a martyr
and bishop
by the Catholic Church. Tradition holds that he was a bishop of
Helvia Ricina (Macerata
), during the third century, martyred on November 24. His cult is ancient and widespread in the Marche
and Umbria
, with many churches and abbeys dedicated to him, but historical information on his life is limited to a few details and traditions.
He is sometimes identified with Archbishop Flavian of Constantinople
.
One of Flavian's successors in the see of Ricina, Saint Claudius
(4th century), fixed the date of Flavian's feast day and also built and dedicated a church to him. Ricina was destroyed by the Goths
during the fifth and sixth centuries, and its inhabitants emigrated to Recanati
, thus spreading Flavian’s cult. Other groups of refugees carried the relics of the saint in the direction of Tolentino
, erecting an oratory
in honor of Flavian, on a site that may have been associated with a pagan deity
. On the site of this oratory, the Benedictine
monastery of Rambona, which still conserves Flavian's relics. The sarcophagus
purported to carry his relics actually dates from the 4th century and as Antonio Borelli points out, this fact casts doubt on the authenticity of Flavian's relics, which were carried there –at least according to the tradition- two centuries later. One explanation is that the relics were not carried there at all, but already at Rambona when the inhabitants of Ricina arrived there, or that they belonged to a different saint: Saint Amicus (Amico), abbot of Rambona.
The cult of St. Flavian in Recanati nearly died out in fifteenth century before reinvigorating itself once again after a plague hit the city in 1483; a procession in honor of the saint was held in that year and Father Bonfini, a scholar from Ascoli Piceno
, wrote a panegyric
in honor of the saint, in November 1483.
Martyr
A martyr is somebody who suffers persecution and death for refusing to renounce, or accept, a belief or cause, usually religious.-Meaning:...
and bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
by the Catholic Church. Tradition holds that he was a bishop of
Helvia Ricina (Macerata
Macerata
Macerata is a city and comune in central Italy, the capital of the province of Macerata in the Marche region.The historical city center is located on a hill between the Chienti and Potenza rivers. It consisted of the Picenes city named Ricina, then, after the romanization, Recina and Helvia Recina...
), during the third century, martyred on November 24. His cult is ancient and widespread in the Marche
Marche
The population density in the region is below the national average. In 2008, it was 161.5 inhabitants per km2, compared to the national figure of 198.8. It is highest in the province of Ancona , and lowest in the province of Macerata...
and 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...
, with many churches and abbeys dedicated to him, but historical information on his life is limited to a few details and traditions.
He is sometimes identified with Archbishop Flavian of Constantinople
Archbishop Flavian of Constantinople
Flavian was Archbishop of Constantinople from 446 to 449. He is venerated as a saint by the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church....
.
Veneration
Saint Claudius
Saint Claudius may refer to:* Claudius of Besançon , bishop and abbot* Saint Claudius, one of the Four Crowned Martyrs* Saint Claudius, martyr of León, Spain, one of the sons of Saint Marcellus of Tangier...
(4th century), fixed the date of Flavian's feast day and also built and dedicated a church to him. Ricina was destroyed by the Goths
Goths
The Goths were an East Germanic tribe of Scandinavian origin whose two branches, the Visigoths and the Ostrogoths, played an important role in the fall of the Roman Empire and the emergence of Medieval Europe....
during the fifth and sixth centuries, and its inhabitants emigrated to Recanati
Recanati
Recanati is a town and comune in the Province of Macerata, Marche region of Italy. Recanati was founded around 1150 AD from three pre-existing castles. In 1290 it proclaimed itself an independent republic and, in the 15th century, was famous for its international fair...
, thus spreading Flavian’s cult. Other groups of refugees carried the relics of the saint in the direction of Tolentino
Tolentino
Tolentino is a town and comune of about 20,000 inhabitants, in the province of Macerata in the Marche region of central Italy.It is located in the middle of the valley of the Chienti.-History:...
, erecting an 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...
in honor of Flavian, on a site that may have been associated with a pagan deity
Roman mythology
Roman mythology is the body of traditional stories pertaining to ancient Rome's legendary origins and religious system, as represented in the literature and visual arts of the Romans...
. On the site of this oratory, the Benedictine
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
monastery of Rambona, which still conserves Flavian's relics. The sarcophagus
Sarcophagus
A sarcophagus is a funeral receptacle for a corpse, most commonly carved or cut from stone. The word "sarcophagus" comes from the Greek σαρξ sarx meaning "flesh", and φαγειν phagein meaning "to eat", hence sarkophagus means "flesh-eating"; from the phrase lithos sarkophagos...
purported to carry his relics actually dates from the 4th century and as Antonio Borelli points out, this fact casts doubt on the authenticity of Flavian's relics, which were carried there –at least according to the tradition- two centuries later. One explanation is that the relics were not carried there at all, but already at Rambona when the inhabitants of Ricina arrived there, or that they belonged to a different saint: Saint Amicus (Amico), abbot of Rambona.
The cult of St. Flavian in Recanati nearly died out in fifteenth century before reinvigorating itself once again after a plague hit the city in 1483; a procession in honor of the saint was held in that year and Father Bonfini, a scholar from Ascoli Piceno
Ascoli Piceno
Ascoli Piceno is a town and comune in the Marche region of Italy, capital of the province of the same name. Its population is c. 51,400.-Geography:...
, wrote a panegyric
Panegyric
A panegyric is a formal public speech, or written verse, delivered in high praise of a person or thing, a generally highly studied and discriminating eulogy, not expected to be critical. It is derived from the Greek πανηγυρικός meaning "a speech fit for a general assembly"...
in honor of the saint, in November 1483.