SAINT JANUARIUS OF SAN GENNARO
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| Saint Januarius |
St. Januarius (Italian: San Gennaro) was the bishop of Benevento in southern Italy during the early 4th century CE. During Emperor Diocletian’s persecution of Christians, he was arrested for visiting imprisoned believers and was executed—traditionally by beheading—near Pozzuoli around the year 305 CE.
After his death, Januarius became the patron saint of Naples. His relics were transferred to the Naples Cathedral, where a vial said to contain his dried blood is preserved. Since at least the 14th century, this blood is reported to liquefy on specific feast days, most famously on September 19, an event popularly known as the “Miracle of the Blood.” The liquefaction is celebrated by thousands of pilgrims and regarded by many as a sign of the saint’s ongoing protection, though scientists have proposed natural explanations.
St. Januarius of San Gennaro pray for us
References
Encyclopaedia Britannica. (n.d.). St. Januarius. In Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved September 17, 2025, from https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Januarius
Farmer, D. H. (2011). The Oxford dictionary of saints (5th rev. ed.). Oxford University Press.

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