Saint Geminianus
Encyclopedia
Saint Geminianus was a fourth century Deacon
, and later Bishop of Modena. He is mentioned in the year 390 when he sent a delegate named Teodulo to participate in a council called by Saint Ambrose in Milan
. From his name, it has been deduced that Geminianus probably belonged to the caste of Roman senator
s.
Nothing more is directly known about him, and all the information we have about him comes from much later biographies. It is said that when Saint Athanasius was entering exile in France
, he passed through Modena and was received kindly by Geminianus. Saint John Chrysostom later received the same hospitality. Saint Geminianus opposed Arianism
and Jovinianism. He probably died on January 31, 397.
and outside the center of the original Roman town. In the early Middle Ages
, moreover, Modena is often mentioned as Civitas Geminiana.
The Relatio translationis S. Giminiani, a manuscript of the twelfth century, describes the translation
and recognition of the body of Saint Geminianus on April 30, 1106 and October 7, 1106, respectively, in the presence of Paschal II, Matilde di Canossa, and all of the Modenesi. A second recognition of the relics was made by Lucius III, on July 12, 1184, while on his way to Verona
.
The people of Modena believe his miraculous intercession saved them from the invading Huns
, when he conjured up dense fog that hid the city.
Geminianusis rarely appears in art, but when shown is typically depicted as a bishop holding a mirror in which the Mary is reflected; a bishop holding a model of the town of Modena; a man calming a storm at sea; or a man exorcising the daughter of the Byzantine emperor Jovian.
The saint is also venerated in Tuscany
, especially at his namesake town of San Gimignano
, and in Pontremoli
, where the cathedral is dedicated to him.
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
, and later Bishop of Modena. He is mentioned in the year 390 when he sent a delegate named Teodulo to participate in a council called by Saint Ambrose in Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
. From his name, it has been deduced that Geminianus probably belonged to the caste of Roman senator
Roman Senate
The Senate of the Roman Republic was a political institution in the ancient Roman Republic, however, it was not an elected body, but one whose members were appointed by the consuls, and later by the censors. After a magistrate served his term in office, it usually was followed with automatic...
s.
Nothing more is directly known about him, and all the information we have about him comes from much later biographies. It is said that when Saint Athanasius was entering exile in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, he passed through Modena and was received kindly by Geminianus. Saint John Chrysostom later received the same hospitality. Saint Geminianus opposed Arianism
Arianism
Arianism is the theological teaching attributed to Arius , a Christian presbyter from Alexandria, Egypt, concerning the relationship of the entities of the Trinity and the precise nature of the Son of God as being a subordinate entity to God the Father...
and Jovinianism. He probably died on January 31, 397.
Veneration
Traces of his veneration have always been present in Modena. As early as the fifth century a church had been erected over his tomb, contiguous with the present cathedralCathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
and outside the center of the original Roman town. In the early Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
, moreover, Modena is often mentioned as Civitas Geminiana.
The Relatio translationis S. Giminiani, a manuscript of the twelfth century, describes the translation
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...
and recognition of the body of Saint Geminianus on April 30, 1106 and October 7, 1106, respectively, in the presence of Paschal II, Matilde di Canossa, and all of the Modenesi. A second recognition of the relics was made by Lucius III, on July 12, 1184, while on his way to Verona
Verona
Verona ; German Bern, Dietrichsbern or Welschbern) is a city in the Veneto, northern Italy, with approx. 265,000 inhabitants and one of the seven chef-lieus of the region. It is the second largest city municipality in the region and the third of North-Eastern Italy. The metropolitan area of Verona...
.
The people of Modena believe his miraculous intercession saved them from the invading Huns
Huns
The Huns were a group of nomadic people who, appearing from east of the Volga River, migrated into Europe c. AD 370 and established the vast Hunnic Empire there. Since de Guignes linked them with the Xiongnu, who had been northern neighbours of China 300 years prior to the emergence of the Huns,...
, when he conjured up dense fog that hid the city.
Geminianusis rarely appears in art, but when shown is typically depicted as a bishop holding a mirror in which the Mary is reflected; a bishop holding a model of the town of Modena; a man calming a storm at sea; or a man exorcising the daughter of the Byzantine emperor Jovian.
The saint is also venerated in Tuscany
Tuscany
Tuscany is a region in Italy. It has an area of about 23,000 square kilometres and a population of about 3.75 million inhabitants. The regional capital is Florence ....
, especially at his namesake town of San Gimignano
San Gimignano
San Gimignano is a small walled medieval hill town in the province of Siena, Tuscany, north-central Italy. It is mainly famous for its medieval architecture, especially its towers, which may be seen from several kilometres outside the town....
, and in Pontremoli
Pontremoli
Pontremoli is a small city, comune and bishop's see in the province of Massa-Carrara, Tuscany, Italy. Literally translated, "Pontremoli" derives from "Trembling Bridge" , with the commune having been named after a prominent bridge across the Magra.Pontremoli is situated in the upper...
, where the cathedral is dedicated to him.