Rufinus of Assisi

For other saints named Rufinus, see Saints Rufinus.

Saint Rufinus of Assisi
250px Main altar at Cathedral of San Rufino, with the tomb of St. Rufinus.
Martyr
Born	unknown
Died	3rd Century Costano
Venerated in	Roman Catholicism
Major shrine	Cathedral of San Rufino
Feast	30 July
Patronage	Assisi

According to legend, Rufinus of Assisi (Italian Rufino), who is the patron saint of Assisi, Italy, was the first bishop of Assisi. He was responsible for converting Assisi to Christianity, but at what date is disputed. He is said to have died as a martyr at Costano, where the church was dedicated to him in 1038, and whence, according to Petrus Damiani, his relics were translated to Assisi in the 8th century. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia he is likely the same saint denoted under 11 August in the Roman Martyrology as Episcopus Marsorum (Bishop of the Marche).

His remains were put to rest in a Roman sarcophagus. The front is sculpted in low relief with the myth of Selene 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.

The feast day of this saint is 30 July.

References

• Bibliotheca hagiographica latina, II, 1068; Elisei (Latin)
• Studio sulla chiesa cattedrale di S. Rufino (Assisi, 1893) (Italian)
• D. de Vincentiis, Notizie di S. Rufino (Avezzano, 1885) (Italian)
• Ekkart Sauser, Biographisch-Bibliographisches Kirchenlexikon, vol. XXI (2003) pp 1284f (German) This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: