Saint Messalina of Foligno | |
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Virgin and martyr | |
Born | 235 C.E. Foligno, Roman Italy |
Died | 23 January 249 C.E. Foligno, Roman Italy |
Venerated in | Catholic Church Eastern Orthodox Church |
Major shrine | Foligno Cathedral |
Feast | 19 January (Eastern Orthodox) 23 January (Catholic) |
Patronage | Foligno |
Messalina of Foligno (Italian: Santa Messalina di Foligno; 235–249) was a 3rd-century Italian Christian consecrated virgin and martyr who was a disciple of Felician of Foligno. During the persecution of Christians by Emperor Decius, she was clubbed to death after she refused to make a sacrifice to the Roman gods. She is venerated ad a saint in the Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox Church.
Biography
Messalina was a Christian woman living in Foligno in the third century.[1] She was a disciple of Bishop Felician of Foligno, from whom she received the veil upon taking vows of celibacy and chastity.[2] She visited Felician in prison following his arrest during Emperor Decius's persecution of Christians.[2]
She was denounced as a Christian and, after she refused to make a sacrifice to the Roman gods, she was beaten to death on 23 January 249.[2]
Messalina is venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox Church.[3] Her major shrine is at Foligno Cathedral.[4]
References
- ^ "St. Messalina - Saints & Angels - Catholic Online". catholic.org. Retrieved 2024-12-04.
- ^ a b c Saint of the Day, January 24: Felician of Foligno & Messalina Archived 2009-11-29 at the Wayback Machine SaintPatrickDC.org. Retrieved 2012-03-08.
- ^ January 19. Latin Saints of the Orthodox Patriarchate of Rome.
- ^ "Cathedral of Saint Feliciano". Divina Foligno. Retrieved 2024-12-04.