Saint Mamilian of Palermo
Painting of Mamilian and his companions. Cathedral of Palermo.
Bishop
BornPalermo
DiedOctober 19, 460
Isola di Giglio
Venerated inRoman Catholic Church Orthodox Church
FeastSeptember 15; June 16 (diocese of Palermo)[1]
Attributesepiscopal attire
PatronageDiocese of Pitigliano-Sovana-Orbetello; Isola del Giglio

Saint Mamilian (Mamilianus) of Palermo, who is venerated with Nympha (Ninfa), Eustotius (Eustozio), Proculus (Proculo, Procuro), and Golbodeus (Golbodeo, Golbudeo), was a bishop of Palermo of the fifth century.[1] Mamilian lived in Sicily at a time when the Vandals dominated the island.[1] He served as bishop of Palermo but was exiled to Africa by the Vandals, who adhered to Arianism, around 450 AD with some Christian companions.[1] One source states that Mamilian was exiled to Tuscany by Genseric, the Vandal king.[2]

However, through the intercession of an African bishop or by some sympathetic Christians, he escaped to Sardinia.[1] After that, he spent time on the island of Montecristo. According to a legend on Montecristo, Mamilian defeated a dragon on the island, and also changed the island's name from Montegiove ("Jove's Mountain") to Montecristo ("Christ's Mountain").[3] A community of hermits, said to have been Mamilian's followers, lived on the island, and around 600 AD, a monastery was built.[3]

He subsequently went also to the island of Giglio, where he died.[1]

Golbodeus's name may be a corruption of Quodvultdeus, a name shared by another 5th-century saint.[4] [5]

Veneration

According to a tradition on Giglio, inhabitants of Elba and Genoa attempted to steal Mamilian's relics on the very day of his burial[6] and the saint's body was torn to pieces. The island of Giglio kept the saint's arm.[6]

Some sources say Mamilian's relics were translated to Rome, to the Church of Santa Maria in Monticelli, and subsequently to Spoleto.[1] Some of his relics may have been taken to Palermo.[2] Another tradition states that Cosimo III de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany returned Mamilian's entire body to Giglio in the 17th century.[6]

On the island of Giglio, celebrations dedicated to Saint Mamilian start on September 15 and last for four days, consisting of a process of his relics (Mamilian's arm), games, music, and a traditional mass.[6]

In 1673, Archbishop Juan Lozano of Palermo erected statues to Mamilian, Eustotius, Proculus, and Golbodeus in the cathedral of Palermo.[7] The statues were made by Travaglia (Mamilian, Golbodeus) and Antonio Anello (Eustotius, Proculus).[7]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Antonino Cottone (2003). "San Mamiliano di Palermo". Santi e beati. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
  2. 1 2 "St. Patrick Catholic Church: Saint of the Day". St. Patrick Catholic Church. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
  3. 1 2 "Montecristo Island". Toscana Viva. Archived from the original on January 30, 2016. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
  4. ↑ Recueil des notices et mémoires de la Société archéologique du département de Constantine, Volumes 26-27. Société archéologique du département de Constantine (L. Arnolet, 1892), 17.
  5. ↑ http://www.orthodoxengland.org.uk/stdsep.htm
  6. 1 2 3 4 "San Mamiliano". Isola del Giglio. Retrieved January 17, 2012.
  7. 1 2 George Dennis, John Murray, A handbook for travellers in Sicily: including Palermo, Messina, Catania, Syracuse, Etna, and the ruins of the Greek temples (J. Murray, 1864), 25.

Bibliography

  • Michele Marinelli, San Mamiliano Monaco Vescovo di Palermo, Grosseto 2000
  • Ugo Russo, San Mamiliano Vescovo e Martire del V secolo, evangelizzatore della Toscana, supporto CD, Palermo, 2002
  • Gloria Peria e Silvestre Ferruzzi, L'isola d'Elba e il culto di San Mamiliano, Portoferraio 2010
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