Saint Dominic of Sora
Saint Dominic of Sora (born c. 951 AD in Foligno, Umbria, Italy; died January 22, 1031 AD in Sora, Lazio, Italy) was an Italian Benedictine abbot who founded numerous monasteries in central Italy and who converted and baptized many people through his preaching and miracles. He is the patron of Sora and is credited with clearing forests of serpents through prayer. His feast day is January 22.
Stored in Cargo: Saint Dominic of Sora
| Saint Dominic of Sora | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | January 22 |
| Profession | Benedictine abbot; founder of monasteries; missionary; preacher |
| Rel. Affiliation | Order of Saint Benedict |
| Patronage | Sora; Abruzzo; serpents (driving them away); Diocese of Sora-Cassino-Aquino-Pontecorvo |
| Attributes | Abbot's staff; serpents at his feet (fleeing); Benedictine habit |
| Birthplace | Foligno, Perugia Province, Umbria, Italy |
| Death Place | Sora, Frosinone Province, Lazio, Italy |
| Cause of Death | Natural causes; holy death at his final monastery |
| Primary Shrine | Cathedral of Saint Erasmus, Sora, Lazio — his relics are venerated here |
| Liturgical Class | Not included in universal Roman Calendar; observed in Diocese of Sora |
| Historic Class | Not included |
Biography
Dominic of Sora was born around 951 at Foligno in Umbria. He became a Benedictine monk and was ordained a priest. He spent decades founding monasteries throughout central Italy — in Umbria, Lazio, Abruzzo, and Campania — at the invitation of local nobles and bishops. He was known for converting pagans and lapsed Christians through his preaching and for miraculous healings.
He is especially remembered for the legend of the serpents: wherever he established a new monastery, he is said to have driven out the poisonous snakes from the surrounding forest by prayer and the sign of the cross. This miracle is connected to a very unusual popular festival — the Festa dei Serpenti (Festival of the Serpents) — celebrated in Cocullo in Abruzzo, which involves processions with live serpents, an ancient custom that was Christianized through the legend of Dominic.
He died at Sora on January 22, 1031. His relics are in the cathedral there.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Foligno, Perugia Province, Umbria, Italy
Death location: Sora, Frosinone Province, Lazio, Italy
Notable location: His final monastery and the city of which he is patron; he died here on January 22, 1031 (Sora, Frosinone Province, Lazio, Italy)
Notable location: The region where he founded several monasteries, working in the tradition of Saint Benedict (Montecassino area, Lazio/Campania border, Italy)
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Parishes
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Shrines
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Known shrines
- Cathedral of Saint Erasmus, Sora, Lazio — his relics; he is patron of the diocese.
- Cocullo, Abruzzo — the village where the unusual Festa dei Serpenti (Festival of Serpents) is held in his honor each May 1.
Feast day
January 22
Veneration
Saint Dominic of Sora is venerated in the Diocese of Sora with a feast day on January 22.
Prayers
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