Ursus of Aosta (Italian: Sant'Orso d'Aosta; French: Saint Ours d'Aoste; fl. 6th century) was an Italian evangelist of the 6th century, today venerated as a saint. His feast day is February 1.


Ursus of Aosta
Died6th century
Aosta
Venerated inRoman Catholic Church
Eastern Orthodox Church
CanonizedPre-congregation
Major shrineCollegiate church of Saint Ursus
FeastFebruary 1; June 21 (Burano)[1]
Attributesarchdeacon with a staff and book, bearing birds on his shoulder; wearing fur pelisse in a religious habit; striking water from a rock; or giving shoes to the poor.
PatronageIvrea; Cogne; invoked in childbirth; children who die before baptism; invoked against faintness, kidney disease, and rheumatism

Biography

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Originally thought to have been of Irish origin, historians seem to agree that he came from the Val d’Aosta.[2][3] He became a monk at the Abbey of San Giusto in Aosta.[4] Ursus was later appointed archdeacon for Jucundus [fr] (in Italian, San Giocondo; in French, Saint Joconde), bishop of Aosta.[5] He built the Church of San Lorenzo, which became the Collegiate church of Saint Ursus in Aosta.[6][7] He evangelized the region of Digne and was an opponent of Arianism.

Patronage

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Ursus is a patron saint of Burano.[1]

The Fiera di Sant’Orso in Aosta is held annually on January 30th and 31st.[4][2]

References

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  1. ^ a b Stracke, Richard. "The Saints Named Ursus in Art", Christian Iconography
  2. ^ a b Monchiero, Alessandro. "The Fair of Saint Ursus in Aosta", Specchio di La Stampa, January 13, 2001
  3. ^ "The Cloister of Sant’Orso in Aosta", Cenobium
  4. ^ a b "The Fair of Saint Orso, Aosta’s biggest celebration", L'Italo Americano, January 23, 2024
  5. ^ Holweck, Frederick George (1924). A Biographical Dictionary of the Saints: With a General Introduction on Hagiology. B. Herder. p. 1000.
  6. ^ Watkins, Basil (19 November 2015). "Juventius of Pavia". The Book of Saints: A Comprehensive Biographical Dictionary (8th ed.). Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 739. ISBN 978-0-567-66415-0.
  7. ^ Fodor's Travel Guides (14 December 2021). "Aosta". Fodor's Essential Italy 2022. Fodor's Travel. ISBN 978-1-64097-448-7.
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