Herculanus of Perugia

Saint Herculanus of Perugia, born in an unknown place and time, served as bishop of Perugia in the troubled years of the sixth century. Remembered as a courageous shepherd in a season of war, he stood with his people when Totila, king of the Ostrogoths, laid siege to the city in 549. Tradition relates that, as supplies dwindled, Herculanus tried to hearten the defenders and discourage the enemy by feeding the last sack of grain to a lamb, hoping to suggest that Perugia still had food to spare. The ruse failed, and the city fell. Herculanus then bore witness to Christ through martyrdom. Totila ordered him to be flayed, but the soldier assigned to the task, moved by pity, ended his suffering by beheading him. Pope Gregory the Great later recounted that forty days afterward, Herculanus’s head was found miraculously reunited to his body, a sign of God’s honor for His faithful servant. Venerated as the patron saint of Perugia and of Poggio Sant’Ercolano, Saint Herculanus is celebrated on November 7.