Saint Felician of Foligno
Saint Felician of Foligno (born c. 160 AD in Forum Flaminii, near Foligno, Umbria, Italy; died January 24, 254 AD in Foligno, Umbria, Italy) was the first Bishop of Foligno and is venerated as the Apostle of Umbria. He was baptized by Pope Saint Victor I, consecrated bishop by Pope Saint Zephyrinus around 202 AD, and served as bishop for over fifty years before being martyred at the age of approximately 94. He is patron of Foligno and the Diocese of Foligno. His feast day is January 24.
Stored in Cargo: Saint Felician of Foligno
| Saint Felician of Foligno | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | January 24 |
| Profession | Bishop; missionary; martyr; Apostle of Umbria |
| Rel. Affiliation | Catholic Church; Diocese of Foligno |
| Patronage | Foligno; Umbria; Diocese of Foligno; elderly people; long-serving pastors |
| Attributes | Bishop's vestments; palm of martyrdom; very old man; book of Gospels |
| Birthplace | Forum Flaminii, near Foligno, Umbria, Italy |
| Death Place | Foligno, Umbria, Italy |
| Cause of Death | Martyrdom; arrested at extreme old age (c. 94 years); died of the hardships of his imprisonment and transport to Rome; some accounts say beheaded |
| Primary Shrine | Cathedral of San Feliciano, Foligno, Umbria — dedicated to him; his relics; patron of Foligno |
| Liturgical Class | Not in universal Roman Calendar; feast January 24; observed in Diocese of Foligno |
| Historic Class | Not included |
Biography
Felician was born around 160 AD at Forum Flaminii, a small Roman settlement near the Flaminian Way not far from Foligno in Umbria. As a young man he was baptized by Pope Saint Victor I in Rome. He was sent back to Umbria as a missionary and eventually consecrated as the first Bishop of Foligno around 202 AD by Pope Saint Zephyrinus.
He served as bishop for over fifty years — an extraordinary tenure — evangelizing the Umbrian towns and villages along the Flaminian Way. His mission covered a wide area, and he is credited with bringing Christianity to much of Umbria.
During the Decian persecution (250–251 AD) and then the Valerian persecution (253–260 AD), Felician was arrested. By this time he was approximately 94 years old. He was taken from Foligno to Rome for trial. He died during the journey or shortly after arriving — either from the hardships of being moved at such advanced age or (in some accounts) by beheading — on January 24, 254 AD.
His relics were returned to Foligno. The Cathedral of San Feliciano — one of the major Romanesque churches of Umbria — is dedicated to him and houses his relics. He is the patron of the city and diocese. His feast is January 24.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Forum Flaminii, near Foligno, Umbria, Italy
Death location: Foligno, Umbria, Italy
Notable location: His episcopal see; he was first bishop and apostle of this city; patron saint of Foligno; the Cathedral of San Feliciano is dedicated to him (Foligno, Perugia, Umbria, Italy)
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Parishes
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Shrines
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Known shrines
- Cathedral of San Feliciano (Duomo di Foligno), Foligno, Umbria — dedicated to him; his relics; patron of Foligno.
Feast day
January 24
Veneration
Saint Felician of Foligno is venerated in the Diocese of Foligno with a feast day on January 24.
Prayers
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