Saint Petronius (Italian: San Petronio) (died ca. 450 AD) was bishop of Bologna during the fifth century. He is a patron saint of the city. Born of a noble Roman family, he became a convert to Christianity and subsequently a priest. As bishop of Bologna, he built the Church of Santo Stefano.
The only certain historical information we possess concerning him is derived from a letter written by Bishop Eucherius of Lyon (died 450–455) to Valerianus, and from Gennadius'De viris illustribus.[1]
Eucherius writes that the holy Bishop Petronius was then renowned in Italy for his virtues. From Gennadius we receive more detailed information: Petronius belonged to a noble family whose members occupied high positions at the imperial Court at Milan and in the provincial administrations at the end of the fourth and the beginning of the fifth centuries.[1]
His father (also named Petronius) was probably praefectus praetorio, since a Petronius filled this office in Gaul in 402–408. The treatise De ordinatione episcopi, bearing the name of Petronius as author, is by the elder Petronius, who was a man of eloquence. Eucherius seems to suggest that the future bishop also held an important secular position.[1]
Even in his youth Petronius devoted himself to the practices of asceticism, and seems to have visited the Holy Places in Jerusalem, perhaps on a pilgrimage.[2]
About 432 he was elected and consecrated Bishop of Bologna, where he erected a church to Saint Stephen (Santo Stefano), the building scheme of which was in imitation of the shrines on Golgotha and over the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. He also built the church of Santa Lucia, and the original church of Santi Bartolomeo e Gaetano.[2]
Innocenzo Francucci da Imola, "San Petronio in gloria", Museo Davia Bargellini
Petronius is believed to have written a work on the life of the Egyptian monks (Vitæ patrum Ægypti monachorum); the author of this work, however, is Rufinus of Aquileia. Morin has published a sermon entitled "In die ordinationis vel Natale episcopi" (Revue bénédictine, 1897, 3 sq.), which Gennadius ascribes to Bishop Petronius of Verona, whom Czalpa holds is Petronius of Bologna, but this assignment is not certain.
According to Gennadius, Petronius died during the reign of Emperor Theodosius II and Valentinian III, i. e., before 450.
Veneration
In the twelfth century appeared a legendary life of the saint, whose relics were discovered in 1141. Shortly afterwards a church was erected in his honour at Bologna; a second, San Petronio Basilica, planned on a large seal, was begun in 1390. In 2000, his relics were moved from Santo Stefano to the Basilica of San Petronio.
The feast of St. Petronius is celebrated on 4 October.
In iconography, he is depicted as a bishop holding a model of Bologna in his hand.
Francesco del Cossa, St Petronius (detail) Pala dei Mercanti
References
^ abcKirsch, Johann Peter. "St. Petronius." The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol. 11. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1911. 18 November 2021 This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
^ abButler. "Saint Petronius, Bishop of Bologna, Confessor". Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs, and Principal Saints 1866. CatholicSaints.Info. 13 August 2018 This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
Sources
Ferguson, George (1961). Signs and Symbols in Christian Art New York: Oxford University Press, 1961, p. 139.
Lanzoni, Francesco (1907). San Petronio vescovo di Bologna nella storia e nella leggenda (in Italian). Roma: Pustet.
Filippini, F. (1948). S. Petronio vescovo di Bologna. Storia e leggenda. Bologna 1948. (in Italian)
Lanzoni, Francesco (1832). ed. G. Cantagalli. Cronotassi dei vescovi di Bologna dai primordi alla fine del secolo XIII. Bologna 1932, pp. 30–33. (in Italian)
Mathisen, Ralph W. (1981), "Petronius, Hilarius and Valerianus: Prosopographical Notes on the Conversion of the Roman Aristocracy," Historia. Zeitschrift für Alte Geschichte Band 30 (1981), pp. 106–112.
Paolini, Lorenzo (2015). "Petronio, santo". Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani Volume 82 (2015) (in Italian)
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "St. Petronius". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Saint Petronius.
January 29, 2023
petronius, bologna, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, decembe. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Petronius of Bologna news newspapers books scholar JSTOR December 2018 Learn how and when to remove this template message Saint Petronius Italian San Petronio died ca 450 AD was bishop of Bologna during the fifth century He is a patron saint of the city Born of a noble Roman family he became a convert to Christianity and subsequently a priest As bishop of Bologna he built the Church of Santo Stefano Saint PetroniusBornUnknownDiedca 450 ADVenerated inAll ChristianityMajor shrineBasilica di San Petronio Bologna Italy FeastOctober 4AttributesDepicted as a bishop holding a model of Bologna in his handPatronageBologna Contents 1 Life 2 Veneration 3 References 4 SourcesLife EditThe only certain historical information we possess concerning him is derived from a letter written by Bishop Eucherius of Lyon died 450 455 to Valerianus and from Gennadius De viris illustribus 1 Eucherius writes that the holy Bishop Petronius was then renowned in Italy for his virtues From Gennadius we receive more detailed information Petronius belonged to a noble family whose members occupied high positions at the imperial Court at Milan and in the provincial administrations at the end of the fourth and the beginning of the fifth centuries 1 His father also named Petronius was probably praefectus praetorio since a Petronius filled this office in Gaul in 402 408 The treatise De ordinatione episcopi bearing the name of Petronius as author is by the elder Petronius who was a man of eloquence Eucherius seems to suggest that the future bishop also held an important secular position 1 Even in his youth Petronius devoted himself to the practices of asceticism and seems to have visited the Holy Places in Jerusalem perhaps on a pilgrimage 2 About 432 he was elected and consecrated Bishop of Bologna where he erected a church to Saint Stephen Santo Stefano the building scheme of which was in imitation of the shrines on Golgotha and over the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem He also built the church of Santa Lucia and the original church of Santi Bartolomeo e Gaetano 2 Innocenzo Francucci da Imola San Petronio in gloria Museo Davia Bargellini Petronius is believed to have written a work on the life of the Egyptian monks Vitae patrum AEgypti monachorum the author of this work however is Rufinus of Aquileia Morin has published a sermon entitled In die ordinationis vel Natale episcopi Revue benedictine 1897 3 sq which Gennadius ascribes to Bishop Petronius of Verona whom Czalpa holds is Petronius of Bologna but this assignment is not certain According to Gennadius Petronius died during the reign of Emperor Theodosius II and Valentinian III i e before 450 Veneration EditIn the twelfth century appeared a legendary life of the saint whose relics were discovered in 1141 Shortly afterwards a church was erected in his honour at Bologna a second San Petronio Basilica planned on a large seal was begun in 1390 In 2000 his relics were moved from Santo Stefano to the Basilica of San Petronio The feast of St Petronius is celebrated on 4 October In iconography he is depicted as a bishop holding a model of Bologna in his hand Basilica of San Domenico in Bologna contains a statue of St Petronius by Michelangelo Statue of St Petronius in Piazza di Porta Ravegnana San Petronio Basilica Francesco del Cossa St Petronius detail Pala dei MercantiReferences Edit a b c Kirsch Johann Peter St Petronius The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol 11 New York Robert Appleton Company 1911 18 November 2021 This article incorporates text from this source which is in the public domain a b Butler Saint Petronius Bishop of Bologna Confessor Lives of the Fathers Martyrs and Principal Saints 1866 CatholicSaints Info 13 August 2018 This article incorporates text from this source which is in the public domain Sources EditFerguson George 1961 Signs and Symbols in Christian Art New York Oxford University Press 1961 p 139 Lanzoni Francesco 1907 San Petronio vescovo di Bologna nella storia e nella leggenda in Italian Roma Pustet Filippini F 1948 S Petronio vescovo di Bologna Storia e leggenda Bologna 1948 in Italian Lanzoni Francesco 1832 ed G Cantagalli Cronotassi dei vescovi di Bologna dai primordi alla fine del secolo XIII Bologna 1932 pp 30 33 in Italian Mathisen Ralph W 1981 Petronius Hilarius and Valerianus Prosopographical Notes on the Conversion of the Roman Aristocracy Historia Zeitschrift fur Alte Geschichte Band 30 1981 pp 106 112 Paolini Lorenzo 2015 Petronio santo Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani Volume 82 2015 in Italian This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Herbermann Charles ed 1913 St Petronius Catholic Encyclopedia New York Robert Appleton Company Wikimedia Commons has media related to Saint Petronius Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Petronius of Bologna amp oldid 1114106113, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
