Saint Maximus of Aveia (d. ca. 250 AD) (sometimes also known as ''Saint Maximus of Aquila'') is one of the
patron saints of
L'Aquila
L'Aquila ( , ) is a city and ''comune'' in central Italy. It is the capital city of both the Abruzzo region and of the Province of L'Aquila. , it has a population of 70,967 inhabitants. Laid out within medieval walls on a hill in the wide valle ...
,
Italy.
He was born in Aveia, nowadays known as
Fossa
Fossa may refer to:
Animals
* Fossa (animal), the common name of a carnivoran mammal of genus ''Cryptoprocta'' endemic to Madagascar
* ''Fossa'', the Latin genus name of the Malagasy civet, a related but smaller mammal endemic to Madagascar
Pla ...
.
A
deacon, he was
martyred for his faith. The tradition says he was tortured and then thrown over a
cliff near his native city. This occurred during the persecutions of
Decius.
In 1256 the episcopal seat of Aveia was moved to L'Aquila, together with the
relics of Maximus.
The
newly built cathedral of the
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of L'Aquila was dedicated in his name and that of
Saint George, another martyr.
See also
*
Catholic Church in Italy
*
List of early Christian saints
*
Saint Maximus of Aveia, patron saint archive
References
External links
*
Entry in the Saints and Blessed encyclopedia
Italian saints
3rd-century Christian saints
{{Italy-saint-stub