Ursus of Ravenna

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Saint Ursus of Ravenna
Sant-orso-basilica-classe.jpg
Mosaic icon of St. Ursus in the Basilica of Sant'Apollinare in Classe, Ravenna
Bishop of Ravenna
Born Sicily
Died13 April 396
Ravenna
Venerated in Eastern Orthodox Church
Roman Catholic Church
Canonized Pre-congregation
Feast 13 April
Patronage Against faintness and kidney disease

Ursus (Italian : Orso, died 13 April 396) was bishop of Ravenna during the late 4th century who is venerated as a saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church and Roman Catholic church, with his feast day being commemorated on 13 April. [1]

Contents

Biography

Ursus was born into a noble pagan family in Sicily but fled to Ravenna due to his family's anger with his conversion to Christianity. [2] He was elected bishop following the death of Liberius III and held the position for 26 years. [3] He is best known as the founder of the Ravenna Cathedral, which was named Basilica Ursiana in his honor. Ursus's cathedral was demolished and rebuilt in the 18th century. [4] According to Andreas Agnellus, he died on 13 April on Easter Sunday, and he was buried at the Basilica Ursiana. [3]

The dates of Ursus's tenure as bishop are a subject of some dispute. While some historians place it at 370–396, with the foundation of the Basilica Ursiana in 385, others place it at c. 405–431 to account for claims that he was directly succeeded by Peter Chrysologus. [5]

Saint Ursus Consecrates the Cathedral of Ravenna by Vincenzo Camuccini Vincenzo Camuccini, Sant'Orso consacra la cattedrale di Ravenna (primo quarto del XIX secolo).jpg
Saint Ursus Consecrates the Cathedral of Ravenna by Vincenzo Camuccini

References

  1. "Latin Saints of the Orthodox Patriarchate of Rome". www.orthodoxengland.org.uk. Retrieved 2024-11-15.
  2. Stracke, Richard (2016). "The Saints Named Ursus in Art and their Iconography". www.christianiconography.info. Retrieved 2023-07-16.
  3. 1 2 Agnellus of Ravenna; Deliyannis, Deborah Mauskopf (2004). The Book of Pontiffs of the Church of Ravenna (Medieval Texts in Translation). Catholic University of America Press. pp. 118–120. ISBN   978-0-8132-1358-3. JSTOR   j.ctt284wdr.
  4. Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Archdiocese of Ravenna"  . Catholic Encyclopedia . New York: Robert Appleton Company.
  5. Hutton, Edward (2011) [1913]. Ravenna: A Study. New York: E. P. Dutton. pp. 161–163. ISBN   978-1-4142-3287-4.