Juventius

Juventius was a legendary early bishop of Pavia . Its historicity and chronological order are uncertain; it may be placed in the 4th century.

Legend has it that Juventius is associated with Saint Hermagoras , who is said to have been a pupil of Peter and then the first bishop of Aquileia , where he is said to have been martyred around 70 - in fact Hermagoras probably only lived in the 3rd and 4th centuries. Century and there is a later early dating to construct a more venerable age for the Patriarchate Aquileia and a direct connection to the apostles. Hermagoras has now sent the saints Syrus and Juventius to Pavia , where Syrus took over the office of bishop and sent Juventius to Milan so that he might help the persecuted Christians there. Later Juventius returned to Pavia, became a deacon there and was appointed by Syrus as his successor as bishop , which Juventius was reluctant to accept. He is said to have worked numerous miracles as bishop; for example, he is said to have soothed a storm with his prayer, whereupon many people are said to have converted; he also thwarted an attack by the governor Porphyrius, who wanted to arrest him. Later, Saint Syrus appeared to him in a dream, who had announced to him that he would die three days later, which also happened on an Easter Sunday.

While the legend dates these events to the 1st century, the death of Syrus is now more likely to be around the year 370. His immediate successor, however, was probably a Pompey. His successor, in turn, was an Enventius, who is possibly identical to Juventius and for whom a connection to Hermagoras was subsequently invented. The saint's day of remembrance is February 8, and he is commemorated on February 12 with Syrus.

Web links

• Entry in Complete Lexicon of Saints (1858)