Cyprianus of Brescia

Who they were

Cyprian was the seventeenth bishop of Brescia, listed between Saint Paul II and Saint Ercolano in the diocese's official succession; most sources place his episcopate in the first half of the 6th century, though Gradenigo dates it to around 585. Nothing is known of his life beyond his name in the ancient episcopal lists.

His veneration is attested in six martyrologies of the 11th-15th centuries and in some 14th-century liturgical books; in past centuries his feast day was kept as solemnly as a Sunday. Tradition credits him with founding the basilica of San Pietro in Oliveto, where he is said to have served and been buried, though the historian Savio suggests he was buried instead at the church of Sant'Eufemia. His bones were found in 1453 together with those of Saint Paul II, Saint Adeodato and the martyr Evasio, and were secretly moved to the church of Sant'Agata in 1798, where they remain. He is not named in the Roman Martyrology; the Brescia martyrology keeps 14 February for the finding of his relics and 21 April for his feast.

The miracles

There was never a formal cause: he has been honoured as a saint since before the Church's formal processes began.

Why that counted as sanctity

17th bishop of Brescia (6th century), known only by name in the ancient episcopal lists; venerated with feast on 21 April since medieval times.