Saint Cassian of Imola
Saint Cassian of Imola (died c. 303 AD in Imola, Emilia-Romagna, Italy) was a Christian teacher and martyr who was handed over to his own pagan students to be killed. He was a schoolteacher who refused to sacrifice to pagan gods; his persecutors gave his hands and feet to his students and told them to kill their teacher with their iron styluses. He is patron of teachers and schoolchildren. His feast day is August 13.
Stored in Cargo: Saint Cassian of Imola
| Saint Cassian of Imola | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | August 13 |
| Profession | Schoolteacher; martyr |
| Rel. Affiliation | Roman Catholic Church |
| Patronage | Teachers; schoolchildren; school principals; secretaries; shorthand writers |
| Attributes | Iron styluses; palm of martyrdom; surrounded by students |
| Birthplace | Unknown |
| Death Place | Imola, Bologna Metropolitan Area, Emilia-Romagna, Italy |
| Cause of Death | Martyrdom; stabbed to death by his own students with iron styluses |
| Primary Shrine | Cathedral of Imola, Imola, Italy |
| Liturgical Class | Optional Memorial |
| Historic Class | August 13 |
Biography
Saint Cassian was a Christian teacher who worked as a schoolmaster at Imola in northern Italy. The vivid account of his martyrdom is preserved in the Peristephanon of the poet Prudentius (Poem IX), who describes a conversation the poet had at Imola before a fresco depicting the scene.
When Cassian was arrested for refusing to sacrifice to pagan gods, his judge learned that he was a teacher of children. The judge decided upon a peculiarly cruel punishment: he handed Cassian over to two hundred of his own students, giving them permission to kill him. The students — many of whom reportedly resented the discipline of their teacher — attacked him with their iron writing styluses (styli), slowly stabbing him to death. He died after great suffering on August 13, 303 AD.
His body was buried at Imola and became a place of pilgrimage. He is venerated as patron of teachers, schoolchildren, and secretaries (for the association with writing styluses). His feast is August 13.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: None
Death location: Imola, Bologna Metropolitan Area, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
Notable location: City where he taught and was martyred; his cult has been centered here since antiquity (Imola, Emilia-Romagna, Italy)
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Parishes
No parishes dedicated to Saint Cassian of Imola have been added to the database yet.
Media
| Media | Length | AuthorCreator |
|---|---|---|
| Saint Cassian of Imola, Martyr - August 13th | Under 5 minutes | Saint of the Day |
Shrines
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Known shrines
- Cathedral of Imola, Imola, Italy — his relics are preserved here; a major medieval pilgrimage destination.
Feast day
August 13
Veneration
Saint Cassian of Imola is venerated in the Roman Catholic Church with a feast day on August 13 (Optional Memorial). He is the patron of teachers and schoolchildren.
Prayers
Authored
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Intercessory
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