Saint Adventor
Saint Adventor (also known as Avventore; died c. 297 AD) was a Roman soldier and martyr who suffered martyrdom at or near Turin (ancient Augusta Taurinorum) in northern Italy during the Tetrarchic persecutions. He is venerated together with Saints Solutor and Octavius as one of the three patron soldier-martyrs of Turin, known collectively as the Santi Soldati (the Holy Soldiers) or the Three Martyrs of Turin. Their feast day is November 20.
According to tradition, Adventor, Solutor, and Octavius were three soldiers of the Theban Legion — a legendary Roman military unit composed entirely of Christian soldiers who were supposedly martyred en masse in Switzerland under Emperor Maximian c. 286 AD. After the mass martyrdom of the Theban Legion at Saint-Maurice (Agaunum), small groups of Theban soldiers are said to have dispersed through the Alpine region; Adventor, Solutor, and Octavius fled south through the Alps into Piedmont, where they were eventually captured and beheaded near Turin. Their bodies were discovered and venerated by early Christians; the discovery of their relics is traditionally attributed to Saint Eusebius of Vercelli in the fourth century.
Stored in Cargo: Saint Adventor
| Saint Adventor | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | November 20 |
| Profession | Roman soldier; martyr |
| Rel. Affiliation | Early Christianity; Catholic Church |
| Patronage | Turin (co-patron with Saints Solutor and Octavius); soldiers |
| Attributes | Roman soldier's armor; palm branch of martyrdom; severed head (sometimes depicted) |
| Birthplace | Unknown (Africa or Egypt, as a Theban Legionary) |
| Death Place | Near Turin, Piedmont, Roman Empire (present-day Italy) |
| Cause of Death | Martyrdom — beheaded for refusing to apostatize; soldier of the Theban Legion |
| Primary Shrine | Basilica of Santi Solutore, Avventore e Ottavio (Santissima Trinità), Turin, Italy |
| Liturgical Class | Not included in the General Roman Calendar |
| Historic Class | Not included |
Biography
Birth
No historical information about the birth or origins of Saint Adventor is available. As a soldier of the legendary Theban Legion, he is traditionally associated with Egypt or the Thebaid region of Africa, which was the supposed origin of the Theban Legion.
Early Life
According to the Theban Legion tradition, Adventor was a Roman soldier serving in the Theban Legion (Legio Thebanorum), an elite military unit composed of Christian soldiers. The legend of the Theban Legion holds that the entire unit — several thousand men — refused the emperor's orders to persecute Christians and was decimated (executed by lot) and finally massacred en masse by imperial forces at Agaunum (present-day Saint-Maurice, Switzerland) c. 286 AD under Emperor Maximian.
Occupation
Adventor, Solutor, and Octavius are said to have escaped or fled south from Agaunum into the Po Valley and Piedmont, eventually reaching the area of Turin. They were found, arrested, and executed.
Vocation
The vocation of Saint Adventor, in the hagiographic tradition, was that of a Christian soldier who chose death over apostasy — a central theme of the Theban Legion legend. The Three Martyrs of Turin represent the witness of the military estate to the Christian faith.
Death
Saint Adventor was beheaded near Turin around 297 AD, together with Saints Solutor and Octavius. Their bodies were hidden by Christian believers; tradition holds that their relics were discovered later, in the fourth century, by Saint Eusebius of Vercelli, who brought them to Turin for veneration.
Significant events
- Soldier of the Theban Legion; fled south after the Agaunum massacre.
- Martyred near Turin c. 297 AD with Saints Solutor and Octavius.
- Relics discovered (traditionally by Saint Eusebius of Vercelli) and enshrined in Turin.
- Co-patron saint of Turin with Solutor and Octavius.
- Feast day November 20.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: None
Death location: Near Turin, Piedmont, Roman Empire (present-day Italy)
Notable location: City associated with his martyrdom and veneration (Turin (Torino), Piedmont, Italy)
Notable location: Site of the mass martyrdom of the Theban Legion (Saint-Maurice-en-Valais, Valais, Switzerland)
Notable location:
Notable location:
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Dynamic content
Parishes
No parishes dedicated to Saint Adventor have been added to the database yet.
Media
No media found for this saint.
Shrines
Dynamic shrines
No results
No shrines where this saint is the primary saint.
List of shrines
- Basilica of Santi Solutore, Avventore e Ottavio (also known as the Basilica della Santissima Trinità), Turin, Piedmont, Italy — the principal shrine of the Three Martyrs of Turin.
Canonization
Servant of God
Recognized by ancient tradition in Turin and the Piedmont region.
Venerable
Not applicable.
Beatification
Not applicable.
Canonization
Recognized through ancient tradition; included in the Roman Martyrology for November 20.
Miracles
No specific miracles attributed to Saint Adventor individually are documented in available sources.
Miracle for beatification
Not applicable (ancient canonization by tradition).
Miracle for canonization
Not applicable.
Patronage
Saint Adventor is co-patron of the city of Turin together with Saints Solutor and Octavius.
Feast day
November 20
Veneration
Saint Adventor is venerated in Turin and the Archdiocese of Turin as one of the three soldier-martyrs who are the ancient patron saints of the city. The Basilica of the Santi Soldati (the Three Martyrs) in Turin honors all three.
Prayers
Authored
There are prayers authored by this saint in prayers list yet.
Intercessory
There are no prayers asking for this saint's intercession in prayers list yet.
External links
References
- Acta Sanctorum, November vol. VII. Antwerp, 1643–1940.
- Roman Martyrology (Martyrologium Romanum). Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2004.
- Musurillo, Herbert. Acts of the Christian Martyrs. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1972.