Ursus of Solothurn

Infobox Saint
name= Saint Ursus of Solothurn
birth_date=
death_date=~286 AD
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venerated_in= Roman Catholic Church


imagesize= 250px
caption= The Saint Ursus Fountain, Solothurn. Ursus is depicted as a soldier.
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attributes= military attire
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major_shrine= Solothurn
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Ursus of Solothurn was a 3rd century Roman Christian venerated as a saint. He is the patron of the main Catholic church in Solothurn, Switzerland, where his body is located. He was associated very early with the Theban Legion and Viktor of Xanten, for instance in the "Roman Martyrology". The "Life of Ursus" was written by Saint Eucherius of Lyon in the 5th century; it recounts that Ursus was tortured and beheaded under Emperor Maximian and the governor Hyrtacus for refusing to worship idols around 286.

Veneration

The first church dedicated to Ursus in Solothurn was probably built after Viktor's remains were taken to Geneva in the late 5th century. His relics are displayed in churches throughout Switzerland, and his coffin was found in 1519. [ [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15230a.htm "St. Ursus"] . From the "Catholic Encyclopedia".]

References