Titian of Oderzo
Encyclopedia
Saint Titian of Oderzo was a 7th century
bishop of Opitergium (Oderzo
), in the Province of Treviso
.
Titian was born in the middle of the 6th century in a noble family of Eraclea
(Grisolera) in the Veneto region, and served as a deacon
and priest to Florian (Florianus), bishop of Opitergium (Oderzo). Titian devoted himself to serving the poor, and when Florian stepped down from his episcopal office to work as a missionary, Titian was declared his successor. Titian devoted himself to his diocese, and was an opponent of Arianism
. Titian died in 632, traditionally on January 16, and was buried in the cathedral of Oderzo.
, with documents referring to his cult dating from 743 and 794, and his name appears in Usuard’s martyrology of 875. His name appears in the Roman Martyrology of 1584.
His relics are now in the crypt of the cathedral of Ceneda, in a bronze urn fashioned in neo-Byzantine style in the form of a sarcophagus
. He is depicted in various paintings in the cathedrals of Oderzo and Ceneda, and there are ten parishes dedicated in his name.
The translation
of Titian’s relics from Oderzo to Ceneda occurred in 665 AD, when Oderzo was destroyed by the Lombards
under Grimoald I of Benevento
. A tradition states that that Titian’s relics were moved from Oderzo when inhabitants of the saint’s native Eraclea attempted to steal the relics. After a fierce battle between the inhabitants of Oderzo and Eraclea, it was decided that Titian’s relics should be placed in a wagon pulled by oxen. Wherever the oxen stopped would be where the relics would be housed. The oxen stopped at Ceneda, and this is where the relics have remained to this day.
An ancestor of the famous painter Titian
had received a chapel dedicated to St. Titian of Oderzo as part of the dowry of the lady he married, and therefore the name Titian or Tiziano became common in the painter’s family.
7th century
The 7th century is the period from 601 to 700 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian/Common Era.-Overview:The Muslim conquests began with the unification of Arabia by Prophet Muhammad starting in 622. After Prophet Muhammed's death in 632, Islam expanded beyond the Arabian...
bishop of Opitergium (Oderzo
Oderzo
Oderzo is a town and comune in the province of Treviso, Veneto, northern Italy.It lies in the heart of the Venetian plain, about 66 km to the northeast of Venice...
), in the Province of Treviso
Province of Treviso
The Province of Treviso is a province in the Veneto region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Treviso.The province has an area of 2,477 km², and a total population of 886.886 . There are 95 municipalities in the province .-Municipalities:-External links:*...
.
Titian was born in the middle of the 6th century in a noble family of Eraclea
Eraclea
thumb|250px|right|Location of Eraclea in the province of Venice.Eraclea is a town and comune in the province of Venice, Veneto, Italy. SP42 goes through it.Eraclea Mare is the Lido of Eraclea....
(Grisolera) in the Veneto region, and served as a deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
and priest to Florian (Florianus), bishop of Opitergium (Oderzo). Titian devoted himself to serving the poor, and when Florian stepped down from his episcopal office to work as a missionary, Titian was declared his successor. Titian devoted himself to his diocese, and was an opponent of Arianism
Arianism
Arianism is the theological teaching attributed to Arius , a Christian presbyter from Alexandria, Egypt, concerning the relationship of the entities of the Trinity and the precise nature of the Son of God as being a subordinate entity to God the Father...
. Titian died in 632, traditionally on January 16, and was buried in the cathedral of Oderzo.
Veneration
Many miracles are said to have occurred at Titian’s tomb in Oderzo, and Titian’s cult spread as a result. Evidence of his cult exists from the 8th century8th century
The 8th century is the period from 701 to 800 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian/Common Era.-Overview:During this century, the Middle East, the coast of North Africa and the Iberian Peninsula rapidly come under Islamic Arab domination...
, with documents referring to his cult dating from 743 and 794, and his name appears in Usuard’s martyrology of 875. His name appears in the Roman Martyrology of 1584.
His relics are now in the crypt of the cathedral of Ceneda, in a bronze urn fashioned in neo-Byzantine style in the form of a sarcophagus
Sarcophagus
A sarcophagus is a funeral receptacle for a corpse, most commonly carved or cut from stone. The word "sarcophagus" comes from the Greek σαρξ sarx meaning "flesh", and φαγειν phagein meaning "to eat", hence sarkophagus means "flesh-eating"; from the phrase lithos sarkophagos...
. He is depicted in various paintings in the cathedrals of Oderzo and Ceneda, and there are ten parishes dedicated in his name.
The translation
Translation (relics)
In Christianity, the translation of relics is the removal of holy objects from one locality to another ; usually only the movement of the remains of the saint's body would be treated so formally, with secondary relics such as items of clothing treated with less ceremony...
of Titian’s relics from Oderzo to Ceneda occurred in 665 AD, when Oderzo was destroyed by the Lombards
Lombards
The Lombards , also referred to as Longobards, were a Germanic tribe of Scandinavian origin, who from 568 to 774 ruled a Kingdom in Italy...
under Grimoald I of Benevento
Grimoald I of Benevento
Grimoald I was duke of Benevento and king of the Lombards .Born probably before 610 to Duke Gisulf II of Friuli and the Bavarian princess Ramhilde, daughter of Duke Garibald I of Bavaria, he succeeded his brother Radoald as duke of Benevento...
. A tradition states that that Titian’s relics were moved from Oderzo when inhabitants of the saint’s native Eraclea attempted to steal the relics. After a fierce battle between the inhabitants of Oderzo and Eraclea, it was decided that Titian’s relics should be placed in a wagon pulled by oxen. Wherever the oxen stopped would be where the relics would be housed. The oxen stopped at Ceneda, and this is where the relics have remained to this day.
An ancestor of the famous painter Titian
Titian
Tiziano Vecelli or Tiziano Vecellio Tiziano Vecelli or Tiziano Vecellio Tiziano Vecelli or Tiziano Vecellio (c. 1488/1490 – 27 August 1576 better known as Titian was an Italian painter, the most important member of the 16th-century Venetian school. He was born in Pieve di Cadore, near...
had received a chapel dedicated to St. Titian of Oderzo as part of the dowry of the lady he married, and therefore the name Titian or Tiziano became common in the painter’s family.