Gemiliano da Cagliari

Who they were

Gemiliano, also called Emiliano or Emilio (Santu Millanu in Sardinian), is remembered by the Roman Martyrology as bishop of Cagliari, martyred during Nero's persecution in the 1st century, though some scholars place his martyrdom in the 2nd century near the Porta Cabagna in the Villanova district of Cagliari. Local tradition instead holds that he was martyred in the countryside of Sestu, where a Pisan-era church is dedicated to him and an annual feast is held in his honour.

Despite the uncertainty over the details of his life and martyrdom, he is widely venerated across Sardinia, including at Villanova Truschedu, Bosa, Muravera and Gonnosnò. He is depicted iconographically as a bishop with the palm of martyrdom. His feast is kept on 28 May.

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

Bishop of Cagliari, said to have been martyred either under Nero or in the 2nd century, venerated across Sardinia; feast 28 May.