Saint of the Day – 4 September – Saint Marinus (c279-c366) Deacon of Rimini, Hermit, Stonemason, Founder of the State of San Marino. Born in the c275 island of Rab in Croatia and died on 3 September c366 on Mount Titano im San Marino. Patronages – bachelors, Deacons, falsely accused people, stone masons, of the independent City State of San Marino (officially the Republic of San Marino, is a landlocked country in Southern Europe, completely surrounded by Italy). Also known as – Marino in Italian, Marinao… the name means ‘man from the sea'(Latin).
The Roman Martyrology reads today: “At Rimini, St Marinus, Deacon.”
According to tradition, Marinus, along with Leus of Montefeltro, was forced to perform forced labour in Rimini around 305 during the Diocletianic persecutions. There, they were tasked with building the City walls with stones brought from Mount Titano in what is now the little Sate of San Marino, named after Marinus.
Afterward, the two separated and Marinus lived as a Hermit in a cave on Mount Titano. Bishop Gaudentius of Rimini Ordained him a Deacon in 311—after the persecutions ended.
After some time, Marinus was discovered in his cave by herdsmen who spread the news about him. He then acted as a messenger of the Faith, converting and Baptising a woman whose brother gave Marinus land at the top of the mountain. Marinus left his cave and built the Church of San Pietro there.
Marinus died with the words, “I leave you free from both men” these are considered the founding myth of the State of San Marino which, was founded after Marinus’ death and is therefore the oldest State in the world with a republican constitution and emphasise its independence from the Emperor and the Pope.
Basilica of San Marino in San Marino
San Marino remains the oldest State in the world with a Republican constitution.
in Europe (dark grey)
Marinus and Leus of Montefeltro were buried in two niches carved into the rock which can still be seen today in the crypt of the Church of San Pietro. Since the 4th Century, a Parish Church dedicated to Marinus stood nearby on the site of the Basilica of San Marino built at the beginning of the 19th Century. Under the High Altar, some of Marinus’ Relics discovered on 3 March 1586, lie; others have been on the island of Rab since 1595 .
In around 500, there was a Monastery on Mount Titas and around 754, a Castle named after Marinus was documented there. Marinus’ Vita was written in 900 and another in the 11th Century. Marinus is considered the founder of San Marino, therefore, Guercino’s image was used on the State’s 20 cent coin.
AnaStpaul 