Rufinus of Assisi

Born, according to ancient tradition, in Anatolia, Saint Rufinus came as a missionary preacher to Italy, bringing with him his son, and is remembered as the first bishop who helped lead Assisi into the light of Christ. Though the surviving accounts of his life are largely legendary and his exact dates are uncertain, the Church has long venerated him as a courageous witness of the Gospel in the early centuries. The story cherished in Assisi tells how Rufinus’ preaching stirred opposition. Under the Roman proconsul Aspasius he was arrested, tortured for the faith, and finally drowned in the waters of the Chiascio River near Costano. His body was recovered by the faithful and buried near the place of martyrdom, where a church rose in his honor. In time, his relics were translated to Assisi and enshrined beneath the altar of the Cathedral of San Rufino, a lasting sign of the city’s gratitude. Saint Rufinus is honored as the patron of Assisi. His feast day is July 30.