Saint Petronius

Petronius of Bologna ( in Italy *, † 450 in Bologna) was 432-450 bishop of Bologna. According to legend, he is said to have the Basilica of Santo Stefano in Bologna built as a replica of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, and built of the same monastery.

Life

According to the Elenco Renano, an antique directory Bolognese bishops, which is only obtained in a copy of the 13th century, he was the 12th bishop of Bologna. Eucherius of Lyon wrote in a letter that Petronius his high social position - and had given up all chances of a political career in favor of a vocation - he probably came from a Roman senatorial family. Gennadius of Marseilles, a biographer and writer of the 5th century, describes him as a saintly man who had led a monastic life since his youth.

Legend and cult of saints

1141 discovered from the Benedictine Basilica of Santo Stefano in the course of revision and renewal of the whole church and monastery, among other relics also the grave of the bishop with the remains of his bones. From 1180 monks wrote in haste a completely legendary vita of the deceased, which formed the basis for the worship and iconography Petronio absence of other sources.

Thus, Petronio was of Greek origin have been relative of the Eastern Roman Emperor Theodosius II and sent as part of a debate on a heresy to Rome to Pope Celestine I.. At the same time, Ambassador of the city of Bologna in Rome that would have been to ask the Pope for the appointment of a new bishop for the city. Celestine chose, after the Apostle Peter, who had been advised in a dream, Petronius. Petronius had traveled to Bologna, which he discovered in a dilapidated condition because of the invasions in the wake of the Great Migration. Energetically he had used for a structural renovation of the city and for the redesign of the building complex of Santo Stefano on the model of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. According to a second version of the vita, written in Italian in the late 13th century, he is said to have taken on a trip to Jerusalem numerous relics of equipment and spiritual appreciation of the church with him. On his return to Constantinople Opel he is said to have met the Emperor Theodosius, who had given him gifts and privileges for the city, to establish as a guarantee of eternal independence of the Commune, imperial protection against external attacks and the right to a university. Petronius was accordingly. Besides his duties as bishop of the utmost political importance for Bologna and of the position and the rank of the city in medieval Italy

Saint of Bologna

Petronius was determined by the city of Bologna as a patron saint. 1390 began with the construction of the Basilica of San Petronio, the largest church in Italy at that time, was built centuries at the. With the approval of Pope Benedict XIV, the head of the saints was precious set in gold, brought to San Petronio, while the remaining relics, as they brought together the remains of the Saints in San Petronio until 2000, remained in Santo Stefano.

Remembrance

Memorial of Saint in the Catholic Church is the 4th of October.

Iconography

Petronius is shown as an elderly bearded man, dressed as a bishop with miter and staff and with a model of the city of Bologna in his hand.

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