According to legend, Rufinus of Assisi (), was the first bishop of this city and a martyr. Sources concerning the life of Saint Rufino are a sermon of eleventh century Peter Damian, (''Miracula Sancti Rufini Martyris''), and a ''Passio Sancti Rufini'' of the 14th century. The Acts of the martyrdom of this Rufinus are purely legendary. He is probably identical with the "episcopus Marsorum" (bishop of the Marsi) noted in the

Roman Martyrology The ''Roman Martyrology'' () is the official martyrology of the Catholic Church. Its use is obligatory in matters regarding the Roman Rite liturgy, but dioceses, countries and religious institutes may add duly approved appendices to it. It provid ...

under 11 August.Kirsch, Johann Peter. "Sts. Rufinus." The Catholic Encyclopedia
Vol. 13. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1912. 18 November 2021

Legend

Rufinus was responsible for converting Assisi to

Christianity Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion, which states that Jesus in Christianity, Jesus is the Son of God (Christianity), Son of God and Resurrection of Jesus, rose from the dead after his Crucifixion of Jesus, crucifixion, whose ...

, but at what date is disputed. He and his son came from

Anatolia Anatolia (), also known as Asia Minor, is a peninsula in West Asia that makes up the majority of the land area of Turkey. It is the westernmost protrusion of Asia and is geographically bounded by the Mediterranean Sea to the south, the Aegean ...

to preach the Gospel. At some point, the Roman proconsul, Aspasius, had him arrested, tortured, and drowned in the Chiascio River near Costano. His body was recovered and buried near where he was found. A church was built on that spotSchäfer, Joachim. "Rufinus von Assisi",''Ökumenisches Heiligenlexikon''
/ref> from whence, according to Petrus Damiani, his relics were translated to Assisi in the 8th century. His remains were put to rest in a Roman sarcophagus. The front is sculpted in low relief with the myth of

Selene In ancient Greek mythology and Ancient Greek religion, religion, Selene (; , meaning "Moon")''A Greek–English Lexicon's.v. σελήνη is the goddess and personification of the Moon. Also known as Mene (), she is traditionally the daughter ...

and Endymion. It is now located under the main altar of the Cathedral of San Rufino, which is the third church to have been erected over his remains. Rufinus is the patron saint of Assisi. Each year, the "Palio of St. Rufinus (Palio Di San Rufino)" is held on Thursday, Friday and Saturday of the last week of August. It's a traditional competition in the bow to win the Palio (pennant).

References

Sources

* Ekkart Sauser, ''Biographisch-Bibliographisches Kirchenlexikon'', vol. XXI (2003) pp 1284f Year of birth missing 3rd-century deaths Bishops in Umbria 3rd-century Italian bishops People from Assisi 3rd-century Christian saints {{Italy-RC-bishop-stub