Firmina
Encyclopedia
Saint Firmina or Fermina is a Roman Catholic Italian
saint and virgin martyr. She is the patron saint of Civitavecchia
, and Amelia Cathedral
is dedicated to her.
She is said to have lived in the 3rd century and to have suffered martyrdom during the persecution of Diocletian
, but all information about her comes from a vita written not earlier than the 6th century. Later oral tradition has supplemented this with sometimes conflicting detail.
The simplest version of her legend is that she belonged to a family of high status: her father Calpurnius was prefect
of the city of Rome
(praefectus Urbis). Olympiadis, a high official, attempted to seduce her but was converted by her to the Christian faith, for which he was martyred. She then left her family to devote herself to prayer in seclusion, near the city of Amelia
in Umbria
, where she suffered martyrdom during the persecution of Diocletian
and was buried.
Other versions claim that she was martyred and buried in Civitavecchia
.
Many miracles are attributed to her, one of which occurred during a sea passage to Centumcellae, the present Civitavecchia, when a sudden violent storm was calmed by her miraculous intervention. Firmina is said to have lived for a time in a grotto near the port, over which was later built the Forte Michelangelo.
She is often linked with two other virgin martyrs of Umbria, Saints Felicissima and Illuminata. It has been suggested that all three are local cults of a single saint, the Africa
n martyr Firmina commemorated in the Martyrologium Hieronymianum
on 9 and 10 October.
In Civitavecchia a procession in her honour is held on neither of the above dates but on 28 April. Her statue is carried down to the harbour and put on board a ship which takes it to the site of the ancient lighthouse, while the other ships and fishing boats sound their horns in celebration.
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
saint and virgin martyr. She is the patron saint of Civitavecchia
Civitavecchia
Civitavecchia is a town and comune of the province of Rome in the central Italian region of Lazio. A sea port on the Tyrrhenian Sea, it is located 80 kilometers west-north-west of Rome, across the Mignone river. The harbor is formed by two piers and a breakwater, on which is a lighthouse...
, and Amelia Cathedral
Amelia Cathedral
Amelia Cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Amelia in the province of Terni, Umbria, Italy. It was formerly the seat of the Bishop of Amelia, in existence from not later than the 5th century, but since 1983 has been a co-cathedral in the Diocese of Terni-Narni-Amelia.Amelia Cathedral,...
is dedicated to her.
She is said to have lived in the 3rd century and to have suffered martyrdom during the persecution of Diocletian
Diocletian
Diocletian |latinized]] upon his accession to Diocletian . c. 22 December 244 – 3 December 311), was a Roman Emperor from 284 to 305....
, but all information about her comes from a vita written not earlier than the 6th century. Later oral tradition has supplemented this with sometimes conflicting detail.
The simplest version of her legend is that she belonged to a family of high status: her father Calpurnius was prefect
Prefect
Prefect is a magisterial title of varying definition....
of the city of Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
(praefectus Urbis). Olympiadis, a high official, attempted to seduce her but was converted by her to the Christian faith, for which he was martyred. She then left her family to devote herself to prayer in seclusion, near the city of Amelia
Amelia (Italy)
Amelia is a town and comune of the province of Terni, in the Umbria region of central Italy. It grew up around an ancient hill fort, known to the Romans as '.-Geography:...
in Umbria
Umbria
Umbria is a region of modern central Italy. It is one of the smallest Italian regions and the only peninsular region that is landlocked.Its capital is Perugia.Assisi and Norcia are historical towns associated with St. Francis of Assisi, and St...
, where she suffered martyrdom during the persecution of Diocletian
Diocletian
Diocletian |latinized]] upon his accession to Diocletian . c. 22 December 244 – 3 December 311), was a Roman Emperor from 284 to 305....
and was buried.
Other versions claim that she was martyred and buried in Civitavecchia
Civitavecchia
Civitavecchia is a town and comune of the province of Rome in the central Italian region of Lazio. A sea port on the Tyrrhenian Sea, it is located 80 kilometers west-north-west of Rome, across the Mignone river. The harbor is formed by two piers and a breakwater, on which is a lighthouse...
.
Many miracles are attributed to her, one of which occurred during a sea passage to Centumcellae, the present Civitavecchia, when a sudden violent storm was calmed by her miraculous intervention. Firmina is said to have lived for a time in a grotto near the port, over which was later built the Forte Michelangelo.
She is often linked with two other virgin martyrs of Umbria, Saints Felicissima and Illuminata. It has been suggested that all three are local cults of a single saint, the Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
n martyr Firmina commemorated in the Martyrologium Hieronymianum
Martyrologium Hieronymianum
The Martyrologium Hieronymianum was a medieval list of martyrs, one of the most used and influential of the Middle Ages...
on 9 and 10 October.
Cult
Firmina's burial in Amelia is celebrated on 24 November, but her burial in Civitavecchia on 20 December. Her emblem is the palm frond.In Civitavecchia a procession in her honour is held on neither of the above dates but on 28 April. Her statue is carried down to the harbour and put on board a ship which takes it to the site of the ancient lighthouse, while the other ships and fishing boats sound their horns in celebration.