Saint Paternian

Infobox Saint
name= Saint Paternian
birth_date= ~275 AD?
death_date= November 13, ~360 AD? 470 AD?
feast_day= July 12; November 13; November 23
venerated_in= Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church


imagesize= 250px
caption= Saint Paternian on the coat-of-arms of Paternion.
birth_place= Fano?
death_place= Fano?
titles=
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beatified_place=
beatified_by=
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patronage= Cervia; Fano
major_shrine= Fano
suppressed_date=
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Paternian or Paternianus ( _it. San Paterniano) is the name of an early saint of Italy. There are two figures, "Paternian of Bologna" and "Paternian of Fermo", who are considered to be the same person. [http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/0712.htm#pate Saints of July 12 ] ] The first was bishop of Bologna from around 450 to 470. The second was a native of Fermo who escaped to the mountains during the persecutions of Christians by Diocletian. He then became bishop of Fano after being appointed to this position by Pope Sylvester I. [http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/1123.htm#pate] [ [http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=4569 Diocese of Fano - Catholic Encyclopedia - Catholic Online ] ]

Historical details about Paternian are scarce. The "Vita Sancti Paterniani" can be found in a codex of the 12th century, though it dates earlier, and was written by a monk of the 10th or 11th century. But it is legendary and not very reliable. Fact|date=August 2007

According to an ancient tradition, Paterniano was born at Fano around 275 AD. [http://www.santiebeati.it/dettaglio/90981 San Paterniano ] ] A vision from heaven told him to escape this city and hide out in a deserted place near the Metauro River. He became a hermit and the abbot of a monastery. Later, when the persecution of Christians stopped, the citizens of Fano demanded that he become their bishop. Paternian governed the city for many years. He died on November 13, around 360 AD. Miracles were reported at his tomb and his cult spread rapidly.

Veneration

According to one legend, the inhabitants of Fano competed with those of Cervia for the body of the saint. Cervia would be left with a finger, while Fano would possess the rest of the saint's relics. [http://www.comunecervia.it/turismo/scheda.asp?id=930000068 Riti e Credenze: San Paterniano 13 novembre - Cervia Turismo ] ] His cult spread across Marche, Romagna, Veneto, Tuscany, Umbria, and Dalmatia. In the area known as the Camminate di Fano, there is a cave known as the "Grotta di San Paterniano", which is said to have been his refuge during the Diocletian persecution.

The Austrian town of Paternion takes its name from him. The name appears in documents for the first time in 1296, and its origin is derived from the fact that the area lay under the influence of the patriarchate of Aquileia. Fact|date=August 2007

There was an old proverb from Romagna that ran: "Par San Paternian e' trema la coda a e' can." ("On St. Paternian's day, the dog's tail wags"). This Cervian proverb refers to the fact that the cold began to be felt around the saint’s feast day.

References

*
*cite book|first= Alessandra|last=Mingardi|title=Le Feste di Cervia|pages=p. 81|publisher=Longo Editore |location=Ravenna|year=1999

Notes

External links

* [http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/1123.htm#pate Saints of November 23: Paternian of Fermo]
* [http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/0712.htm#pate Saints of July 12: Paternian of Bologna]
* [http://www.santiebeati.it/dettaglio/90981 San Paterniano] it icon
* [http://www.fondazionecarifano.it/pdf/depliant_fano_s_paterniano.pdf#search=%22San%20PAterniano%22 Santuario di San Paterniano in Fano] it icon
* [http://www.comune.sellano.pg.it/materiale/paterniano.htm Church of San Paterniano presso Cammoro] it icon