Saint Cristanziano

Who they were

The name Cristanziano appears to have arisen from a copying error: an early reader, misreading the abbreviation 'CRIS' in an ancient martyrology, wrote 'Cristanziano' instead of the intended martyr Crisogono of Aquileia. Agiographers then attached to this invented name the story of a martyr, whose companions, feast day and even sex vary between accounts.

At Ascoli Piceno, where he is venerated most, Cristanziano is worked into the legend of St Emidio as a deacon and companion martyred with him under Diocletian. He is also honoured at Torres in Sardinia alongside Saints Gavino and Crispolo. He is invoked against storms, and his veneration was confirmed by Pope Pius VII in 1803; his feast is 13 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

Martyr honoured at Ascoli Piceno and linked to the legend of St Emidio; his veneration, whose origin traces to a medieval misreading of the name Chrysogonus, was confirmed by Pope Pius VII in 1803; feast 13 May.

Connected on this site

• Pius VII Servant of God
  “He is invoked against storms, and his veneration was confirmed by Pope Pius VII in 1803; his feast is 13 May.” — this site's research