Innocentius of Tortona

Who they were

Innocent's parents were Christians of Tortona in northern Italy who were spared persecution by imperial licence, but after their death Innocent was tortured for refusing to sacrifice and condemned to be burnt. According to the story, a dream of his father told him to flee to Rome, and he escaped past his sleeping guards.

Pope Miltiades received him and Pope Silvester made him a deacon; under Constantine he was sent back to Tortona as bishop, where for twenty-eight years he spread the faith, built churches and turned temples into Christian sanctuaries. Butler says these details come from a late and untrustworthy life, though the saint certainly existed.

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

An early bishop of Tortona.