Crescentinus

Saint Crescentinus
Statue of Saint Crescentinus being paraded on the streets of Urbino, on his feast day
Died	~303 AD
Honored in	Roman Catholic Church
Major shrine	Urbino
Feast	June 1
Attributes	Military attire; depicted slaying dragon
Patronage	Urbino; Città di Castello; invoked against headache

Saint Crescentinus (Italian: San Crescentino, Crescenziano) (died June 1, 303) is the patron saint of Urbino whose feast day is celebrated on June 1. Venerated as a warrior saint, he is sometimes depicted on horseback, killing a dragon, in the same manner as Saint George. However, as Martin Davies writes, "S. Crescentino’s story, so far as I am aware, excludes a Princess or other female victim."^[1]

The coin known as the armellino (and popularly as the volpetta) issued by the duke of Urbino, Francesco Maria I della Rovere, featured Saint Crescentinus on horseback.^[2]

Legend

Crescentinus is traditionally said to have been a Roman soldier who converted to Christianity. To escape the persecutions of Diocletian, he fled to Umbria, and found refuge at Thifernum Tiberinum (the present-day Città di Castello). His defeat of a dragon led to a successful evangelization of the region together with his companions. His mission was confined particularly to the Tiber valley and the ancient Thifernum Tiberinum. He was subsequently beheaded.

Veneration

Blessed Mainard (Mainardo), bishop of Urbino, wishing to enrich its cathedral, brought the saint's relics to the city in 1068.[1]

He is still venerated at Urbino, and on Saint Crescentinus' Day, a statue of the saint is carried through the streets. A ceremony practiced involves tapping a worshipper's head with Crescentinus' relics to free the supplicant from headache.[2]

Gallery

• 

  San Crescenziano uccide il drago (Saint Crescentinus kills the dragon), Marco Benefial 1747-49. Cathedral of Città di Castello

External links

• (Italian) San Crescentino
• (Italian) L'omelia di S.E.R. il Cardinale Sergio Sebastiani

Notes

1. ^ Martin Davies, "Uccello's 'St George' in London," Burlington Magazine, Vol. 101, No. 678/679 (Sep. - Oct., 1959), pp. 308-315
2. ^ it:Monete italiane medioevali

Further reading

Saints portal

Information about this saint may be found in the Acta Sanctorum, as well as in Angelo Conti, Fiori Vaghi delle Vite dei Santi e Beati delle Chiese, e Reliquie della Città di Castello (1627), pp-45ff.

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Date of death	303
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