Fidelis of Como
{{Infobox saint
|honorific_prefix= Saint
|name= Fidelis of Como
|birth_date=
|death_date={{circa|304}}
|feast_day= October 28; March 13 (With Felinus and Gratian, and Carpophorus)
|venerated_in= Roman Catholic Church
|image=File:S Fedele Verscio 120115.jpg
|imagesize= 250px
|caption=S. Fedele at Verscio
|birth_place=
|death_place= north side of Lake Como
|titles=
|beatified_date=
|beatified_place=
|beatified_by=
|canonized_date=
|canonized_place=
|canonized_by=
|attributes=Military attire
|patronage=
|major_shrine= Relics claimed by Milan, Como, and Arona
|suppressed_date=
|issues=
}}
Fidelis of Como ({{langx|it|San Fedele}}) (died {{circa|304}}) was an Italian soldier-saint, according to Christian tradition.
Legends
Fidelis' cult is associated with Carpophorus and Exanthus, two soldier-saints. Variations on their legend are applied to Fidelis. The first says that he, with Carpophorus and Exanthus, were Roman soldiers, members of the legendary Theban Legion, who deserted during the persecution of Christians by Maximian.[https://catholicsaints.info/book-of-saints-fidelis-of-como/ Monks of Ramsgate. "Fidelis of Como". Book of Saints, 1921. CatholicSaints.Info. 28 April 2013]{{PD-notice}} The three split up at Como, with Carpophorus and Exanthus going into hiding, while Fidelis took a boat across the lake to Samolaco. All were eventually
caught and beheaded.{{Cite web|title=Santi Graziano e Felino, Carpoforo e Fedele su santiebeati.it|url=http://www.santiebeati.it/dettaglio/92257|access-date=2020-08-28|website=Santiebeati.it}}
The second says that Fidelis was an army officer who was guarding Christian prisoners at Milan, including Alexander of Bergamo. He managed to procure the freedom of five of these prisoners. With Carpophorus and Exanthus, he and these five attempted to make their way to the Alps, but were executed at Como.[https://books.google.com/books?id=yzqOCgAAQBAJ&dq=Fidelis+of+Como&pg=PA243 Watkins, Basil. The Book of Saints: A Comprehensive Biographical Dictionary, Bloomsbury Publishing, 2015, p. 243] {{ISBN|9780567664150}}
More likely, he was a Christian missionary sent by Maternus (bishop of Milan) to convert the still pagan area around Lake Como, and there met his death.[https://www.katolsk.no/biografier/historisk/fidecomo Odden, Per Einar. "Den hellige Fidelis av Como (d. ~303)", Den katolske kirke, August 16, 2008]
Veneration
The cult of Fidelis at Como is ancient.Alban Butler, Peter Doyle, Butler’s Lives of the Saints (Liturgical Press, 1996), 196. Milan, Como, and Arona claim the relics of Fidelis.
Magnus Felix Ennodius describes, in the early sixth century, a tomb at Como containing the relics of the martyr. Reports of miracles at the tomb fomented the popularity of his cult. Como's claim is based on an account of 964 that describes the translation of Fidelis' relics from the spot where he was killed to Como in that year.Alban Butler, Peter Doyle, Butler’s Lives of the Saints (Liturgical Press, 1996), 197. Sometime before 1000, the church of Sanfedelino, which was dedicated to him, was built on the site of a much earlier simple chapel, from around the fourth century, previously dedicated to Saint Euphemia.
Relics are said to have been transferred to Arona during a time of war between Milan and Como. In Arona, the presence of the relics of Fidelis and Carpophrous is attested in documents dating back to 1259 and 1321.
Image:IMG 4370 - Milano - Chiesa di San Fedele - Foto Giovanni Dall'Orto 20-jan 2007.jpg in Milan.]]
In 1576, Charles Borromeo transferred to Milan relics of Carpophorus and Fidelis. Though until then their veneration in Arona was minimal, Borromeo's proposed transfer angered the people of the city. As a compromise, Borromeo brought back to Arona the two left forearms of the saints. This occurred on March 13. The city council, which had been pressured by the populace to bring back the relics, decreed that an annual festival occur on that day, which in succeeding centuries has increased in importance. The purpose of the festival was extended to include the celebration for the martyrs Felinus and Gratian, thereby uniting their cult to that of Carpophorus and Fidelis.
At Milan, Borromeo commissioned the church of San Fedele to Pellegrino Tibaldi (1559).
Notes
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External links
- {{in lang|it}} [http://www.santiebeati.it/dettaglio/90408 San Fedele di Como]
- {{in lang|it}} [http://www.santiebeati.it/dettaglio/92257 Santi Graziano e Felino, Carpoforo e Fedele]
{{Subject bar |portal1= Saints |portal2= Biography |portal3= Catholicism |portal4= Italy}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Fidelis Of Como}}
Category:Saints from Roman Italy
Category:Ancient Roman soldiers
Category:4th-century Christian martyrs