Leucius of Brindisi
Encyclopedia
Saint Leucius was initially a missionary
from Alexandria
, Egypt, who later founded the diocese of Brindisi
, as the first Bishop in 165. It is believed that he later suffered martyrdom in 180.
, Egypt. Following the death of his mother he entered monastic life. A heavenly vision, during the Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin, would change his name from Eupressius to Leucius. Having already been ordained bishop, Leucius wanted to undertake a missionary apostolate in Brindisi, to liberate the pagans from misconceptions of Christianity. Leucius left Alexandria
to, what was at the time one of the largest ports of the Mediterranean, Brindisi
in what is now the southern part of Italy
.
, then to the duchy capital of Benevento
.
, Lecce
, Benevento
, Caserta
and Capua
. The spread of the cult of Saint Leucius in southern Italy came to coincide with the official conversion to Christianity of the Lombard Duchy of Benevento, Brindisi which is believed to be attributed to Saint Barbato
, in 680 and the Duchess Teoderada in 706. Later that century the body of Leucius, which had begun to attract the attention of many pilgrims, was transferred to Trani
, placed in a chapel located under the cathedral. Later, it was transferred to Benevento
. The cult of the saint spread throughout the region, even reaching Rome where a monastery was constructed under his title as early as the sixth century. In Atessa
a legend grew around St. Leucius where, the Bishop of Brindisi killed a dragon that had long terrorized the people, and witness of his work gave him one of his ribs.
In the Basilica Cathedral of Brindisi which was dedicated in 1771, the altar, which closes the left aisle preserves the relic of his arm. A painting of the saint adorns the cathedral, done on a canvas by Oronzo Tiso (1726–1800).
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
from Alexandria
Alexandria
Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
, Egypt, who later founded the diocese of Brindisi
Brindisi
Brindisi is a city in the Apulia region of Italy, the capital of the province of Brindisi, off the coast of the Adriatic Sea.Historically, the city has played an important role in commerce and culture, due to its position on the Italian Peninsula and its natural port on the Adriatic Sea. The city...
, as the first Bishop in 165. It is believed that he later suffered martyrdom in 180.
Early life
Not much is known of Leucius' early life, though it is believed that he was born in Eastern Europe, to Eudecius and Euphrodisia and was given the name of Eupressius at birth. What is known, is that the young Eupressius was educated and spent the formative years of his existence in AlexandriaAlexandria
Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
, Egypt. Following the death of his mother he entered monastic life. A heavenly vision, during the Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin, would change his name from Eupressius to Leucius. Having already been ordained bishop, Leucius wanted to undertake a missionary apostolate in Brindisi, to liberate the pagans from misconceptions of Christianity. Leucius left Alexandria
Alexandria
Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
to, what was at the time one of the largest ports of the Mediterranean, Brindisi
Brindisi
Brindisi is a city in the Apulia region of Italy, the capital of the province of Brindisi, off the coast of the Adriatic Sea.Historically, the city has played an important role in commerce and culture, due to its position on the Italian Peninsula and its natural port on the Adriatic Sea. The city...
in what is now the southern part of Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
Religious life
Leucius first came to notoriety when many pagans in Puglia, heard him preaching the Gospel during a drought. He claimed that if they had faith the rains would come. After the rains fell, the pagans who had heard Leucius where immediately converted. Soon after, he became the first Bishop of Brindisi, and proceeded to build the churches of St. Mary's and St. John the Baptist. The later part of his life is unknown but according to tradition he suffered martyrdom in 180. Soon after his remains were returned to Brindisi, there they remained until the Lombard invasion of 768, when they were moved to TraniTrani
Trani is a seaport of Apulia, southern Italy, on the Adriatic Sea, in the new Province of Barletta-Andria-Trani , and 40 km by railway West-Northwest of Bari.- History :...
, then to the duchy capital of Benevento
Benevento
Benevento is a town and comune of Campania, Italy, capital of the province of Benevento, 50 km northeast of Naples. It is situated on a hill 130 m above sea-level at the confluence of the Calore Irpino and Sabato...
.
Veneration
The cult of St. Leucius spread throughout the Puglia area (with many of the rural areas still bearing his name), and became much revered in TraniTrani
Trani is a seaport of Apulia, southern Italy, on the Adriatic Sea, in the new Province of Barletta-Andria-Trani , and 40 km by railway West-Northwest of Bari.- History :...
, Lecce
Lecce
Lecce is a historic city of 95,200 inhabitants in southern Italy, the capital of the province of Lecce, the second province in the region by population, as well as one of the most important cities of Puglia...
, Benevento
Benevento
Benevento is a town and comune of Campania, Italy, capital of the province of Benevento, 50 km northeast of Naples. It is situated on a hill 130 m above sea-level at the confluence of the Calore Irpino and Sabato...
, Caserta
Caserta
Caserta is the capital of the province of Caserta in the Campania region of Italy. It is an important agricultural, commercial and industrial comune and city. Caserta is located on the edge of the Campanian plain at the foot of the Campanian Subapennine mountain range...
and Capua
Capua
Capua is a city and comune in the province of Caserta, Campania, southern Italy, situated 25 km north of Naples, on the northeastern edge of the Campanian plain. Ancient Capua was situated where Santa Maria Capua Vetere is now...
. The spread of the cult of Saint Leucius in southern Italy came to coincide with the official conversion to Christianity of the Lombard Duchy of Benevento, Brindisi which is believed to be attributed to Saint Barbato
Barbatus of Benevento
Saint Barbatus of Benevento , also known as Barbas, was a bishop of Benevento from 663 to 682. He succeeded Hildebrand in this capacity...
, in 680 and the Duchess Teoderada in 706. Later that century the body of Leucius, which had begun to attract the attention of many pilgrims, was transferred to Trani
Trani
Trani is a seaport of Apulia, southern Italy, on the Adriatic Sea, in the new Province of Barletta-Andria-Trani , and 40 km by railway West-Northwest of Bari.- History :...
, placed in a chapel located under the cathedral. Later, it was transferred to Benevento
Benevento
Benevento is a town and comune of Campania, Italy, capital of the province of Benevento, 50 km northeast of Naples. It is situated on a hill 130 m above sea-level at the confluence of the Calore Irpino and Sabato...
. The cult of the saint spread throughout the region, even reaching Rome where a monastery was constructed under his title as early as the sixth century. In Atessa
Atessa
Atessa is a town in Abruzzo, Italy, administratively part of the Province of Chieti.The Sevel Sud Italo-French consortium plant, manufacturing Fiat Ducato and PSA's equivalent vans, is located in Atessa's territory.-Main sights:...
a legend grew around St. Leucius where, the Bishop of Brindisi killed a dragon that had long terrorized the people, and witness of his work gave him one of his ribs.
In the Basilica Cathedral of Brindisi which was dedicated in 1771, the altar, which closes the left aisle preserves the relic of his arm. A painting of the saint adorns the cathedral, done on a canvas by Oronzo Tiso (1726–1800).