SAINT OF THE DAY

MAY 11: ST. ANTHIMUS

(Died 303 AD)

Legends say that when the Roman governor of Bithynia, Pinianus, fell ill, his Christian wife Lucina (Lycinia), well known for her charity to imprisoned Christians and niece of the Emperor Gallienus, found Anthimus in prison.

Anthimus converted Pinianus, and the governor was cured. Gratefully, Pinianus liberated all of the Christian prisoners in his province and allowed Anthimus to hide himself in the governor’s villa on the Via Salaria of Rome.

From his new home Anthimus converted many to the Christian faith and countless miracles were attributed to him. He converted a priest of the god Silvanus and the pagan priest’s entire family. Accused of having destroyed the sacred statue of Silvanus, he was thrown into the Tiber with a stone around his neck. His legend states that he was miraculously rescued by an angel, later recaptured, and then beheaded by order of the consul Priscus. He was buried in the oratory where he habitually prayed.

Anthimus’ tomb was first situated at Montemaggiore and was the destination for pilgrimages and veneration. His body, during the time of Charlemagne, was transferred to Tuscany, near Montalcino, where St. Antimo’s Abbey currently stands. It has been said that Pope Hadrian I gave the relics of St. Sebastian and Anthimus to Charlemagne, who then donated the relics to the abbey when it was founded.

Adapted by A.J. Valentini from: Online, C. (n.d.). St. Anthimus – Saints & Angels. Catholic Online. Retrieved May 4, 2021, from https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=1437