Saint of the Day – 6 October – Saint Magnus of Orderzo (c580–c670) Bishop

Saint of the Day – 6 October – Saint Magnus Frigeria of Orderzo (c580–c670) Bishop of Oderzo and Eraclea in greater Venice, Founder and builder of 8 Churches in the region. Born in Altino near the City of Venice and died in c670 in Heraclea, today Cittanova, district of Eraclea near Venice in Italy. Patronage – Venice.

Magnus was the son of the noble Frigeria family, which was important in the Venetian Republic. In around 633, he became the Bishop of Opitergium – today’s Oderzo – near Venice as the successor to Bishop Titian .

In 641, after the Lombard King Rothari conquered and devastated this City which was dominated by the Byzantines – today’s Ístanbul – the inhabitants fled with their Bishop. They founded a new City on the site of today’s hamlet of Cittanova – a district of Eraclea near Venice – which they called Heraclea in honour of the Eastern Roman Emperor, Heraclius. They also fled to preserve their faith because the Lombards were followers of Arianism.

Pope Severinus confirmed this transfer of the Episcopal See. Magnus immediately had the then Cathedral, dedicated to St Peter, built in Heraclea. He is also considered the Founder of eight early Churches in what is now the City of Venice, namely the Churches of Santi Apostoli on Cannaregio, San Pietro di Castello and Santa Maria Formosa, the then Church of Santa Giustina – today the High School GB Benedetti, only the facade remains – as well as the Churches of San Giovanni in Bragora, San Zaccaria, San Salvador / Santissima Salvatore and San Raffaele Arcangelo.

All eight Churches built by our Saint Magnus, still exist and all are active Churches except for Santa Guistina which is deconsecrated and now a high school, although as mentioned above, the facade of the Church is still there. All of them have been restored numerous times but that is understandable and necessary, I am sure you will agree, over 1400+ years! St Magnust pray for the Universal Church!  

The historical Heraclea lost its importance in the 8th Century, at the latest around 811, after the Doges moved their headquarters to Venice. After the place was abandoned due to increasing floods, On 6 October 1206, Magnus’ remains were transferred to the Church of San Geremia – today Santi Geremia e Lucia – in Venice, where his Relics are greatly overshadowed by the body of a more famous Saint, Santa Lucia. It’s interesting that he was not buried in one of the Churches he founded but evidently, this was his Parish.

. In 1563 an arm Relic was brought to the Cathedral of San Marco. In 1956 the remains returned to the Church of the new Eraclea .

Given the quite huge profile of our Saint in Venice, it seems surprising that there was never a church built FOR him and dedicated TO him, since so many other Saints are honoured in the hundreds of Churches in Venice. But, in 1454, the Venetian Senate named San Magno as Patron Saint of the Republic, honouring him alongside the existing Patrons – Marco and Teodoro.