Amasius of Teano

Saint Amasius of Teano was born in Greece, though the year and place are not known. In a time of turmoil for the Church, he was driven into exile by the persecution associated with the Arian-leaning Emperor Constantius. Seeking to strengthen the faithful in Italy, Pope Julius I welcomed Amasius and invited him to preach in Campania. His ministry quickly became marked by compassion and power: in Sora he healed a boy afflicted with gout and was remembered for other miracles as well. Yet the same Arian faction that had troubled the wider Church rose against him there, and he was forced to leave. In 346, Pope Julius appointed Amasius as the second bishop of Teano, succeeding Saint Paris, and consecrated him in Rome at the Basilica of Santi Apostoli. The people of Sora, wishing to atone for their earlier rejection, later built a church in his honor. Amasius died around 356, and his veneration endures, especially in places such as Piedimonte San Germano. His feast day is January 23.