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Crescentinus

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Crescentinus
A statue of Crescentinus borne in procession in the streets of Urbino for his feast day.
Martyr
Died~303 AD
Venerated inRoman Catholic Church
Eastern Orthodox Church
Major shrineUrbino Cathedral
Feast1 June
AttributesMilitary attire, depicted slaying a dragon
PatronageUrbino, 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]

Legend

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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 (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

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

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

He is still venerated in Urbino, where his statue is carried through the streets in a procession on his feast day. Another ritual involves tapping devotees’ heads with Crescentinus' relics, to free the supplicant from headaches. [2]

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Notes

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  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

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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.