Saint Benedict Martyr has the fame of many miracles attributed to him and, in addition to being venerated by the citizens of San Benedetto del Tronto, he is also venerated by the neighboring people. However, San Benedetto Martyr lived in a of the most historically difficult and tragic moments for the Christians and for all those who recognize themselves in the dictates of this religion. Before that of the Madonna della Marina At the end of the 800th century, the feast of San Benedetto Martire was the most important in the city. In fact, it is celebrated on October 13th, anniversary of the martyrdom. But also on June 12th, anniversary of the translation of the relics to the parish church.
The Legend of Saint Benedict the Martyr
According to legend, at the time of the persecutions of the emperor Diocletian, in the nearby town of Cupra Marittima, there was a Christian soldier of the Roman garrison named Benedict. Because of his Christian faith, he was taken to the Roman commander, who tried to convince him to abandon the Christian religion. But Benedict refused. So the commander had his head cut off on the bridge over the Menocchia stream. His body was then thrown into the same stream, eventually ending up in the Adriatic Sea. Furthermore, legend states that an extraordinary event occurred in the sea: Benedict's head rejoined his body which, floating, headed south. But a group of Dolphins accompanied the body of the martyr, who after having travelled just 4 miles, ended up stranded on a beach.
The discovery of the decapitated body
But the next morning, a farmer, while he was going down to the sea with his cart and oxen, saw the body of the martyr. He called the people who arranged the body to give it to him. worthy burial on the hill opposite, where it stands today the Abbey of San Benedetto MartireAround the tomb arose the first huts and farmhouses that gave rise to the village of San Benedetto del Tronto. In fact, the birth of the city of San Benedetto del Tronto is linked to the legend of the discovery of the remains of this Christian Roman soldier, Benedict.
Saint Benedict Martyr and his church
The tomb of the Martyr soon became a place of worshipA cult based on an oral tradition, not on written documents. In fact, the finds are a tombstone and the remains preserved in the church itself, which A recent radio dating has attributed the period precisely between 250 and 350 ADIn reference to this, to the right of those entering the Abbey of the old house of the Upper Town, there is a stone walled up that has always been thought to be part of the one placed on the tomb of the martyr Benedict.
On the altar stands a statue of the patron saint: he is depicted as a young Roman soldier. Over his armor, he wears a red cloak and holds a palm tree, a symbol of martyrdom, in his left hand. In his right hand, he holds a model of the Upper Town. Finally, at this altar, visible to the public, the skull and bones of the saint may be honoredWe have news of the martyrdom and of how his body and head landed on the beach of San Benedetto, from six frescoes which have recently been reproduced in majolica and displayed in the church courtyard, under the ancient arches.
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