According to legend, Rufinus of Assisi (Italian ''Rufino''), was the first bishop of this city and a martyr.
Sources concerning the life of Saint Rufino are a sermon of eleventh century
Peter Damian
Peter Damian ( la, Petrus Damianus; it, Pietro or '; – 21 or 22 February 1072 or 1073) was a reforming Benedictine monk and cardinal in the circle of Pope Leo IX. Dante placed him in one of the highest circles of '' Paradiso'' ...
, (''Miracula Sancti Rufini Martyris''), and a ''Passio Sancti Rufini'' of the 14th century.
The Acts of the martyrdom of this Rufinus are purely legendary. He is probably identical with the "episcopus Marsorum" (bishop of the
Marsi
The Marsi were an Italic people of ancient Italy, whose chief centre was Marruvium, on the eastern shore of Lake Fucinus (which was drained for agricultural land in the late 19th century). The area in which they lived is now called Marsica. ...
) noted in the
Roman Martyrology
The ''Roman Martyrology'' ( la, Martyrologium Romanum) is the official martyrology of the Catholic Church. Its use is obligatory in matters regarding the Roman Rite liturgy, but dioceses, countries and religious institutes may add duly approved ...
under 11 August.
[Kirsch, Johann Peter. "Sts. Rufinus." The Catholic Encyclopedia]
Vol. 13. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1912. 18 November 2021
Legend
Rufinus was responsible for converting Assisi to
Christianity
Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. It is the world's largest and most widespread religion with roughly 2.38 billion followers representing one-third of the global pop ...
, but at what date is disputed. He and his son came from
Anatolia
Anatolia, tr, Anadolu Yarımadası), and the Anatolian plateau, also known as Asia Minor, is a large peninsula in Western Asia and the westernmost protrusion of the Asian continent. It constitutes the major part of modern-day Turkey. The re ...
to preach the Gospel. At some point, the Roman proconsul, Aspasius, had him arrested, tortured, and drowned in the
Chiascio River near
Costano. His body was recovered and buried near where he was found. A church was built on that spot
[Schäfer, Joachim. "Rufinus von Assisi",''Ökumenisches Heiligenlexikon'']
/ref> from whence, according to Petrus Damiani, his relics were translated
Translation is the communication of the meaning of a source-language text by means of an equivalent target-language text. The English language draws a terminological distinction (which does not exist in every language) between ''transla ...
to Assisi in the 8th century.
His remains were put to rest in a Roman sarcophagus
A sarcophagus (plural sarcophagi or sarcophaguses) is a box-like funeral receptacle for a corpse, most commonly carved in stone, and usually displayed above ground, though it may also be buried. The word ''sarcophagus'' comes from the Greek ...
. The front is sculpted in low relief with the myth of Selene
In ancient Greek mythology and religion, Selene (; grc-gre, Σελήνη , meaning "Moon"''A Greek–English Lexicon's.v. σελήνη) is the goddess and the personification of the Moon. Also known as Mene, she is traditionally the daughter o ...
and Endymion Endymion primarily refers to:
* Endymion (mythology), an Ancient Greek shepherd
* ''Endymion'' (poem), by John Keats
Endymion may also refer to:
Fictional characters
* Prince Endymion, a character in the ''Sailor Moon'' anime franchise
* Raul ...
. It is now located under the main altar of the Cathedral of San Rufino, which is the third church to have been erected over his remains.[
Rufinus is the patron saint of Assisi. Each year, the "Palio of St. Rufinus (Palio Di San Rufino)" is held on Thursday, Friday and Saturday of the last week of August. It's a traditional competition in the bow to win the Palio (pennant).
]
References
Sources
* Ekkart Sauser, ''Biographisch-Bibliographisches Kirchenlexikon'', vol. XXI (2003) pp 1284f
Year of birth missing
3rd-century deaths
Bishops in Umbria
3rd-century Italian bishops
People from Assisi
3rd-century Christian saints
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