Romulus of Fiesole
Encyclopedia
Saint Romulus of Fiesole is venerated as the patron saint
of Fiesole
, Italy
. Romulus was probably a local deacon, priest, or bishop of the 1st century.
According to tradition, he was a disciple of Saint Peter
and had been converted to Christianity
by the apostle. This tradition states that Romulus became the first bishop of Fiesole and was martyred during the reign of Domitian
along with four companions: Carissimus, Dulcissimus, Marchis(i)anus, and Crescentius.
He was not named as a bishop or martyr in documents dating from 966 AD; however, a document from 1028 names him as such. From then on, Romulus was considered a martyred bishop of Fiesole, and his companions were named as Carissimus, Dulcissimus, Marchis(i)anus (Marchiziano), and Crescentius. Their feast day was listed as July 6 in the 1468 Florentine edition of the Martyrology
of Usuard, and in the 16th century, his name began to appear in the Roman Martyrology, where he was named as a disciple of St. Peter.
As Antonio Borrelli remarks, sometime between the end of the 10th century and the beginning of the eleventh, Romulus was “upgraded” from being considered a Confessor of the Faith
to a martyr –possibly by a local abbot named Teuzo.
An 11th century legend associated with him, considered “worthless”, makes him an illegitimate son of a woman named Lucerna, who had a child with her father’s slave, who was named Cyrus. Like the Romulus
of ancient Roman
legend, this Romulus was also abandoned, suckled by a wolf, and captured and raised and baptized by Saint Peter and Peter's companion Justin. Romulus then evangelized much of central Italy and was put to death by the governor Repertian.
The most ancient image depicting Romulus is the 1440 polyptych
in the Cathedral of Fiesole, where he is represented with Saints Alexander, Peter and Donatus.
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 Fiesole
Fiesole
Fiesole is a town and comune of the province of Florence in the Italian region of Tuscany, on a famously scenic height above Florence, 8 km NE of that city...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. Romulus was probably a local deacon, priest, or bishop of the 1st century.
According to tradition, he was a disciple of 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...
and had been converted 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...
by the apostle. This tradition states that Romulus became the first bishop of Fiesole and was martyred during the reign of Domitian
Domitian
Domitian was Roman Emperor from 81 to 96. Domitian was the third and last emperor of the Flavian dynasty.Domitian's youth and early career were largely spent in the shadow of his brother Titus, who gained military renown during the First Jewish-Roman War...
along with four companions: Carissimus, Dulcissimus, Marchis(i)anus, and Crescentius.
He was not named as a bishop or martyr in documents dating from 966 AD; however, a document from 1028 names him as such. From then on, Romulus was considered a martyred bishop of Fiesole, and his companions were named as Carissimus, Dulcissimus, Marchis(i)anus (Marchiziano), and Crescentius. Their feast day was listed as July 6 in the 1468 Florentine edition of the Martyrology
Martyrology
A martyrology is a catalogue or list of martyrs , arranged in the calendar order of their anniversaries or feasts. Local martyrologies record exclusively the custom of a particular Church. Local lists were enriched by names borrowed from neighbouring churches...
of Usuard, and in the 16th century, his name began to appear in the Roman Martyrology, where he was named as a disciple of St. Peter.
As Antonio Borrelli remarks, sometime between the end of the 10th century and the beginning of the eleventh, Romulus was “upgraded” from being considered a Confessor of the Faith
Confessor of the Faith
The title Confessor, the short form of Confessor of the Faith, is a title given by the Christian Church to a type of saint.-Western Christianity:...
to a martyr –possibly by a local abbot named Teuzo.
An 11th century legend associated with him, considered “worthless”, makes him an illegitimate son of a woman named Lucerna, who had a child with her father’s slave, who was named Cyrus. Like the Romulus
Romulus and Remus
Romulus and Remus are Rome's twin founders in its traditional foundation myth, although the former is sometimes said to be the sole founder...
of ancient Roman
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...
legend, this Romulus was also abandoned, suckled by a wolf, and captured and raised and baptized by Saint Peter and Peter's companion Justin. Romulus then evangelized much of central Italy and was put to death by the governor Repertian.
The most ancient image depicting Romulus is the 1440 polyptych
Polyptych
A polyptych generally refers to a painting which is divided into sections, or panels. The terminology that follows is in relevance to the number of panels integrated into a particular piece of work: "diptych" describes a two-part work of art; "triptych" describes a three-part work; "tetraptych"...
in the Cathedral of Fiesole, where he is represented with Saints Alexander, Peter and Donatus.