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Maurus of Parentium

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Maurus
St Maurus on the Mosaic with Mother Mary and Child shown third from left with a crown of martyrdom in his hand
Bishop and Martyr
Born3rd century
Diedlate 3rd century
Poreč/Parenzo
Venerated inRoman Catholic Church
Major shrineVotive chapel in the Euphrasian basilica
Feast21 November
Attributesbishop holding the crown of martyrdoom in his hand
PatronagePoreč/Parenzo, Croatia

Maurus of Parentium is the patron saint of the Istrian city of Poreč/Parenzo in Croatia, called Parentium in Roman times. He is commemorated on November 21.

Narrative

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According to one account, Maurus was of noble Roman birth, and became the city's first bishop.[1] The ninth century Martyrologium of the Benedictine monk, Rabanus Maurus contains the "Passion of St. Maurus", which describes him as an pilgrim from Africa who got caught up in the Diocletian Persecution.[2]

The earliest basilica in Poreč, dating back to the second half of the 4th century, held the relics of Saint Maurus and was dedicated to him. In 1354 his remains were stolen by the Genoese and interred in the Church of San Matteo. They were returned to Poreč in 1934.[3]

In the present basilica, constructed in 553, Maurus is depicted in one of the mosaics on the apse.[4] A votive chapel, next to the sacristy, holds the relics of Saint Maurus.

He is also portrayed in an apse mosaic in the Chapel of San Venanzio at the Lateran Baptistry. The chapel was commissioned by Pope John IV, a native of Dalmatia, to commemorate the saints of his homeland and Istria.[3]

References

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  1. ^ Stracke, Richard. "Saint Maurus of Parentium", Christian Iconography, Augusta University
  2. ^ Imperial Spheres and the Adriatic (Mladen Ančić, Jonathan Shepard, and Trpimir Vedriš, eds.) Routledge, 2017, no pagination ISBN 9781351614290
  3. ^ a b Mackie, Gillian Vallance. Early Christian Chapels in the West: Decoration, Function and Patronage, University of Toronto Press, 2003, p. 220 ISBN 9780802035042
  4. ^ Naklada Naprijed, The Croatian Adriadic Tourist Guide, pg. 12-13, Zagreb (1999), ISBN 953-178-097-8