Saint Candidus
Encyclopedia
Saint Candidus was, according to legend, a commander of the Theban Legion
. The Golden Legend
states: "And the noble man, Maurice
, was duke of this holy legion; and they that governed under him, which bare the banners, were named Saint Candidus, Saint Innocent, Saint Exsuperius, Saint Victor, and Saint Constantine, all these were captains."
Candidus is called Maurice's senator militum or staff officer. He opposed Maximian
, who had ordered them to practice non-Christian rites in his name, stating that "we are your soldiers, but we are also servants of the true God. We cannot renounce Him who is our Creator and Master, and also yours even though you reject Him."
Candidus, along with many others, is said to have been martyr
ed at the Swiss
town of Saint Maurice-en-Valais, then called Agaunum
. His feast day
is September 22.
Candidus' relics were stored in a 6th century reliquary at the Abbaye de Saint-Maurice d'Agaune
. There was also an embossed silver bust
of Candidus.
Theban Legion
The Theban Legion figures in Christian hagiography as an entire Roman legion — of "six thousand six hundred and sixty-six men" — who had converted en masse to Christianity and were martyred together, in 286, according to the hagiographies of Saint Maurice, the chief among the Legion's...
. The Golden Legend
Golden Legend
The Golden Legend is a collection of hagiographies by Jacobus de Voragine that became a late medieval bestseller. More than a thousand manuscripts of the text have survived, compared to twenty or so of its nearest rivals...
states: "And the noble man, Maurice
Saint Maurice
Saint Maurice was the leader of the legendary Roman Theban Legion in the 3rd century, and one of the favorite and most widely venerated saints of that group. He was the patron saint of several professions, locales, and kingdoms...
, was duke of this holy legion; and they that governed under him, which bare the banners, were named Saint Candidus, Saint Innocent, Saint Exsuperius, Saint Victor, and Saint Constantine, all these were captains."
Candidus is called Maurice's senator militum or staff officer. He opposed Maximian
Maximian
Maximian was Roman Emperor from 286 to 305. He was Caesar from 285 to 286, then Augustus from 286 to 305. He shared the latter title with his co-emperor and superior, Diocletian, whose political brain complemented Maximian's military brawn. Maximian established his residence at Trier but spent...
, who had ordered them to practice non-Christian rites in his name, stating that "we are your soldiers, but we are also servants of the true God. We cannot renounce Him who is our Creator and Master, and also yours even though you reject Him."
Candidus, along with many others, is said to have been martyr
Martyr
A martyr is somebody who suffers persecution and death for refusing to renounce, or accept, a belief or cause, usually religious.-Meaning:...
ed at the Swiss
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
town of Saint Maurice-en-Valais, then called Agaunum
Agaunum
Roman Agaunum, the modern Saint-Maurice in the canton Valais in southwesternmost Switzerland, was a minor post confined between the Rhône and the mountains along the well-travelled road that led from Roman Genava, modern Geneva, over the Alps by the Great St...
. His feast day
Calendar of saints
The calendar of saints is a traditional Christian method of organizing a liturgical year by associating each day with one or more saints and referring to the feast day of said saint...
is September 22.
Candidus' relics were stored in a 6th century reliquary at the Abbaye de Saint-Maurice d'Agaune
Abbaye de Saint-Maurice d'Agaune
St. Maurice's Abbey is a historical building in Saint-Maurice, Canton of Valais, Switzerland. It is situated against a cliff in a section of the road between Geneva and the Simplon Pass . The abbey itself is a territorial abbacy and not part of a diocese...
. There was also an embossed silver bust
Bust (sculpture)
A bust is a sculpted or cast representation of the upper part of the human figure, depicting a person's head and neck, as well as a variable portion of the chest and shoulders. The piece is normally supported by a plinth. These forms recreate the likeness of an individual...
of Candidus.
Other saints with this name
- Candidus of ArmeniaCyrion and CandidusSaints Cyrion and Candidus are Armenian saints. They and the Forty Armenian Martyrs are venerated on March 10.-External links:*...
, Armenian martyr venerated on 10 March. - Candidus of Rome, a Roman martyr buried on the Esquiline HillEsquiline HillThe Esquiline Hill is one of the celebrated Seven Hills of Rome. Its southern-most cusp is the Oppius .-Etymology:The origin of the name Esquilino is still under much debate. One view is that the Hill was named after the abundance of holm-oaks, exculi, that resided there...
, whose feast day is October 3. - Candidus the Martyr, Martyr whose feast day is February 2.