Saint of the Day – 2 May – St Florentius of Algeria (Died c 485) Bishop, Confessor. Also known as – Fiorenzo.
Florentius was a fifth Century North African Bishop. He was Bishop of Simminensis, 30 km east of Carthage in Roman North Africa.
Florentius suffered persecution at the hand of the Arian Vandal King Huneric for his leading role in the Council of Carthage of 484 where he supported, the Catholic position, rejecting Arianism. He was appointed as envoy from the Council, to Emperor Honorius and Emperor Theodosius but, for this important role, he was exiled to Corsica and forced to hard labour.
In Corsica, he continued his apostolic work until his death, evangelising and defending the True Faith. Some records now report his death by beheading and others that he died of natural causes induced by hard labour.
According to tradition, he was initially buried in the Town in Corsica, which bears his name – San Fiorenzo.
In 760 the Bishop of Treviso, Titian, through a vision, discovered his relics and translated them to his City, placing them in the Church of St John the Baptist in Treviso, Italy.
Currently his remains are on display to the public veneration in the Cathedral of Treviso.
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