Venerius the Hermit
Encyclopedia
Saint Venerius (ca. 560—630) was a monk
and hermit
. He is venerated as a saint by the Catholic Church and is the patron saint
of the Gulf of La Spezia
and, as of 1961, the patron saint of lighthouse
keepers.
He was a hermit in a monastery
situated on the island of Tino
in the Ligurian Sea
. Later he served as abbot
until his death in 630.
It is thought that a sanctuary was constructed at the place of Venerius' death to contain his relics and that this was extended to form a monastery
in eleventh century. The remains of the monastery can be seen on the northern coast of the island.
The relics of the saint seem to have resided in Luni
, but due to attacks by Vikings and Moors
, the bishopric transferred its seat to Sarzana
. The relics of Venerius were sent, however, to Reggio Emilia
, where they were placed side-by-side with those of Saint Prosper of Reggio
(San Prospero) and those of Cosmas and Damian. The relics were later transferred to Tino, now within the diocese of La Spezia, in a solemn ceremony.
Saint Venerius' feast is celebrated annually on the island of Tino
on 13 September. A statue of Venerius is carried out to the sea on this day from La Spezia to the island, accompanied by a blessing
of the fishing boats.
Monk
A monk is a person who practices religious asceticism, living either alone or with any number of monks, while always maintaining some degree of physical separation from those not sharing the same purpose...
and hermit
Hermit
A hermit is a person who lives, to some degree, in seclusion from society.In Christianity, the term was originally applied to a Christian who lives the eremitic life out of a religious conviction, namely the Desert Theology of the Old Testament .In the...
. He is venerated as a saint by the Catholic Church and is the patron saint
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 the Gulf of La Spezia
La Spezia
La Spezia , at the head of the Gulf of La Spezia in the Liguria region of northern Italy, is the capital city of the province of La Spezia. Located between Genoa and Pisa on the Ligurian Sea, it is one of the main Italian military and commercial harbours and hosts one of Italy's biggest military...
and, as of 1961, the patron saint of lighthouse
Lighthouse
A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or, in older times, from a fire, and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways....
keepers.
He was a hermit in a monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
situated on the island of Tino
Tino (island)
Tino is an Italian island situated in the Ligurian Sea, at the westernmost end of the Gulf of La Spezia. It is part of an archipelago of three closely spaced islands jutting out south from the mainland at Portovenere...
in the Ligurian Sea
Ligurian Sea
The Ligurian Sea is an arm of the Mediterranean Sea, between the Italian Riviera and the island of Corsica. The sea is probably named after the ancient Ligures people.-Geography:...
. Later he served as abbot
Abbot
The word abbot, meaning father, is a title given to the head of a monastery in various traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not actually the head of a monastery...
until his death in 630.
It is thought that a sanctuary was constructed at the place of Venerius' death to contain his relics and that this was extended to form a monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
in eleventh century. The remains of the monastery can be seen on the northern coast of the island.
The relics of the saint seem to have resided in Luni
Luni
Luni can refer to:* Luni, Italy, a town in Liguria* Luni, Pakistan, village in Pakistan* Luni, Rajasthan, village in Rajasthan, India* Luni River, in Rajasthan, India* Luni Coleone, a rapper from California...
, but due to attacks by Vikings and Moors
Moors
The description Moors has referred to several historic and modern populations of the Maghreb region who are predominately of Berber and Arab descent. They came to conquer and rule the Iberian Peninsula for nearly 800 years. At that time they were Muslim, although earlier the people had followed...
, the bishopric transferred its seat to Sarzana
Sarzana
Sarzana is a town and comune in the Province of La Spezia, of Liguria, Italy, 15 km east of Spezia, on the railway to Pisa, at the point where the railway to Parma diverges to the north...
. The relics of Venerius were sent, however, to Reggio Emilia
Reggio Emilia
Reggio Emilia is an affluent city in northern Italy, in the Emilia-Romagna region. It has about 170,000 inhabitants and is the main comune of the Province of Reggio Emilia....
, where they were placed side-by-side with those of Saint Prosper of Reggio
Prosper of Reggio
Saint Prosper of Reggio is an Italian saint. Tradition holds that he was a bishop of Reggio Emilia for twenty-two years. Little is known of his life, but documents attest that he was indeed bishop of Reggio Emilia in the fifth century....
(San Prospero) and those of Cosmas and Damian. The relics were later transferred to Tino, now within the diocese of La Spezia, in a solemn ceremony.
Saint Venerius' feast is celebrated annually on the island of Tino
Tino (island)
Tino is an Italian island situated in the Ligurian Sea, at the westernmost end of the Gulf of La Spezia. It is part of an archipelago of three closely spaced islands jutting out south from the mainland at Portovenere...
on 13 September. A statue of Venerius is carried out to the sea on this day from La Spezia to the island, accompanied by a blessing
Blessing
A blessing, is the infusion of something with holiness, spiritual redemption, divine will, or one's hope or approval.- Etymology and Germanic paganism :...
of the fishing boats.