Saint Patricia of Naples | |
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| Born | seventh century Constantinople (modern-dayIstanbul,Turkey) |
| Died | ~665 AD Naples,Italy |
| Venerated in | Catholic Church Eastern Orthodox Church |
| Feast | August 25 |
| Patronage | Naples (co-patron) |
Patricia of Naples (orPatricia of Constantinople) (Italian:Santa Patrizia) (died ca. 665 AD) is an Italian virgin andsaint. Tradition states that she was noble; she may have been related to theRoman Emperor.[1] Some sources say that she was a descendant ofConstantine the Great.[2] The particulars traditional about her are unreliable and in some instances contradictory.[3]
Wishing to escape amarriage arranged byConstans II and become anun, she went toRome. There she received the veil fromPope Liberius. Upon the death of her father, she returned to Constantinople and, renouncing any claim to the imperial crown, distributed her wealth to the poor. She then planned to go onpilgrimage toJerusalem.
However, a terrible stormshipwrecked her on the shores ofNaples. Finding refuge on the tiny island ofMegarides (the site of the present-dayCastel dell'Ovo), the site of a smallhermitage, Patricia died shortly after from disease.
Themonastery of Sante Patricia contained herrelics. During the turbulent events of 1864, they were translated to the monastery ofSan Gregorio Armeno. Covered inwax, her relics were contained in anurn of gold, gems, and silver, and were placed in the monastery's chapel. The monastery also preserves her blood.[4] Her blood, like that ofJanuarius, the other, more famouspatron saint of Naples, is also said to liquefy periodically.[2] The associated legend states that after Patricia died, a zealous man pulled out one of her teeth, causing the body tohemorrhage. Patricia's followers collected the blood and exposed it. It then liquefied.
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