Gemine

Who they were

According to a medieval hagiographic tradition, Gemino was born in Syria in the eighth century, the son of a soldier, and after his conversion gave up military life for that of a hermit. The legend brings him to Italy, first to the area of Fano and then to Spoleto, before he settled at Casventum, now San Gemini in Umbria, where he lived as a penitent hermit and became closely tied to the local community; the account draws on older legends of Syrian saints in Italy and cannot be treated as reliable history.

He is said to have died a penitent at Ferento, near Viterbo, on 9 October, though sources disagree whether this was in 815 or 915. His veneration at San Gemini is documented from the eleventh century and later spread to Narni and Viterbo; his feast is kept on 9 October.

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

Legendary Syrian-born hermit venerated at San Gemini in Umbria, said to have died at Ferento on 9 October; feast 9 October.