Secundus of Asti
Encyclopedia
Secundus of Asti (died 119) is venerated as a martyr
and saint
. His feast day is generally celebrated on March 29. Until the 15th century it was celebrated at Asti
on March 30, but it is now celebrated there on the first Tuesday in May. He was a historical figure who was beheaded
at Asti under Hadrian
. He is said to have been a patrician of Asti and a subaltern officer in the imperial army
. It is known that a church was dedicated to him in the area as early as the 9th century.
. A more elaborate legend states that he was a young man of noble lineage who visited the jails of Asti. Secundus was a friend of Sapricius (Saprizio), prefect
of the city. They traveled together to the city of Tortona
, where Secundus met the city's first bishop, Marcian
, who was later martyred under Hadrian. Secundus' meeting with Marcian influenced his decision to become a Christian; his meeting with Faustinus and Jovita further influenced his conversion. His friend Sapricius attempted to make him abjure his newfound faith. Secundus refused, and was tortured and decapitated.
called the Codice della Catena depicts Saints Octavius, Adventor, Solutor
, Maximus of Turin
, John the Baptist
, and Secundus of Asti. Bernardo Strozzi
painted his St Secundus and Angel around 1640.
Martyr
A martyr is somebody who suffers persecution and death for refusing to renounce, or accept, a belief or cause, usually religious.-Meaning:...
and saint
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
. His feast day is generally celebrated on March 29. Until the 15th century it was celebrated at Asti
Asti
Asti is a city and comune of about 75,000 inhabitants located in the Piedmont region of northwestern Italy, about 55 kilometres east of Turin in the plain of the Tanaro River...
on March 30, but it is now celebrated there on the first Tuesday in May. He was a historical figure who was beheaded
Decapitation
Decapitation is the separation of the head from the body. Beheading typically refers to the act of intentional decapitation, e.g., as a means of murder or execution; it may be accomplished, for example, with an axe, sword, knife, wire, or by other more sophisticated means such as a guillotine...
at Asti under Hadrian
Hadrian
Hadrian , was Roman Emperor from 117 to 138. He is best known for building Hadrian's Wall, which marked the northern limit of Roman Britain. In Rome, he re-built the Pantheon and constructed the Temple of Venus and Roma. In addition to being emperor, Hadrian was a humanist and was philhellene in...
. He is said to have been a patrician of Asti and a subaltern officer in the imperial army
Roman army
The Roman army is the generic term for the terrestrial armed forces deployed by the kingdom of Rome , the Roman Republic , the Roman Empire and its successor, the Byzantine empire...
. It is known that a church was dedicated to him in the area as early as the 9th century.
Legend
Later legends made Secundus a member of the Theban LegionTheban 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...
. A more elaborate legend states that he was a young man of noble lineage who visited the jails of Asti. Secundus was a friend of Sapricius (Saprizio), prefect
Prefect
Prefect is a magisterial title of varying definition....
of the city. They traveled together to the city of Tortona
Tortona
Tortona is a comune of Piemonte, in the Province of Alessandria, Italy. Tortona is sited on the right bank of the Scrivia between the plain of Marengo and the foothills of the Ligurian Apennines.-History:...
, where Secundus met the city's first bishop, Marcian
Marcian of Tortona
Saint Marcian of Tortona is traditionally said to have been the first bishop of Tortona, a post he held for forty-five years.-Legend:...
, who was later martyred under Hadrian. Secundus' meeting with Marcian influenced his decision to become a Christian; his meeting with Faustinus and Jovita further influenced his conversion. His friend Sapricius attempted to make him abjure his newfound faith. Secundus refused, and was tortured and decapitated.
Veneration
The codexCodex
A codex is a book in the format used for modern books, with multiple quires or gatherings typically bound together and given a cover.Developed by the Romans from wooden writing tablets, its gradual replacement...
called the Codice della Catena depicts Saints Octavius, Adventor, Solutor
Solutor
Solutor, along with Octavius and Adventor , is patron saint of Turin.Historical detail regarding these martyrs is sparse; their memory is preserved because the three were mentioned in a sermon by Maximus of Turin...
, Maximus of Turin
Maximus of Turin
Saint Maximus of Turin was a bishop and theological writer. Maximus is believed to have been a native of Rhaetia.-Veneration:His name is in the Roman martyrology on 25 June, and the city of Turin honours him as its patron saint. A life which, however, is entirely unreliable, was written after the...
, John the Baptist
John the Baptist
John the Baptist was an itinerant preacher and a major religious figure mentioned in the Canonical gospels. He is described in the Gospel of Luke as a relative of Jesus, who led a movement of baptism at the Jordan River...
, and Secundus of Asti. Bernardo Strozzi
Bernardo Strozzi
Bernardo Strozzi was a prominent and prolific Italian Baroque painter born and active mainly in Genoa, and also active in Venice.-Biography:Strozzi was born in Genoa. He was probably not related to the other Strozzi family....
painted his St Secundus and Angel around 1640.