Saint Bassianus of Lodi
Bishop of Lodi
Originally from Sicily, Saint Bassianus was baptized in Ravenna before becoming Bishop of Lodi at the beginning of the 5th century. He is famous for protecting a doe from hunters and for resurrecting a child who died from a viper bite. He is the patron saint of the city of Lodi.
Guided reading
3 reading sections
SAINT BASSIANUS, BISHOP OF LODI (413).
Departure from Sicily and first miracle
Bassien leaves Sicily for Ravenna to be baptized and protects a doe and her fawns from a hunter who ends up possessed.
Leaving Syracuse and Sicily, his homeland, while still young to come and be baptized in Ravenna, he encountered a doe and her two fawns pursued by hunters. The panicked mother came to huddle with her two little ones near Bassien . One o Bassien 5th-century bishop, protector of animals and wonderworker. f the hunters, having wanted to kill these animals despite the traveler who was protecting them, suddenly became possessed by the demon. Is this not a figure of the protection with which the Saint, having become bishop, would later cover the weak?
The resurrection of the child
In his episcopal city, the saint resurrects a child who died from a viper bite, thus establishing his iconographic attributes.
The city of Cervia claims that this event took place not far from its walls, and it is said that it placed a stag in its coat of arms to perpetuate the memory of it. Another tra it of kindnes saint Bassien 5th-century bishop, protector of animals and wonderworker. s is also told of Saint Bassian, which was at the same time proof of his eminent holiness: he was in prayer in the church of his episcopal city when the body of a child who had just died from the bite of a viper was brought to him. The Saint made the crowd leave and prostrated himself again before the altar to obtain life for the little deceased, who, indeed, began to move and let out a cry calling for his mother. She ran up, and all the people followed. This is why a doe and a child have been given as attributes to Saint Bassian.
Places of worship and patronages
The saint is honored in several cities of Northern Italy, particularly in Lodi, of which he is the principal patron.
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Departure from Syracuse to Ravenna
- Baptism in Ravenna
- Protection of a doe and her fawns from hunters
- Election as Bishop of Lodi
- Resurrection of a child bitten by a viper
Miracles
- Instant demonic possession of a hunter attacking a doe protected by the saint
- Resurrection of a child who died from a viper bite through prayer before the altar