San Faustino: the story of the patron saint of singles

San Faustino is one of the best known and most celebrated saints in Italy, but few know the real reason why he was chosen as the patron saint of all those who are in search of their soul mate. The choice probably fell on this saint because of his history, closely linked to that of his brother (also a martyr) Giovita.

So what is the story of San Faustino?

The story of the patron saint of singles San Faustino

Faustino and his brother Giovita, originally from the current Brescia area, lived in 2nd century AD. and they were military for the duration of their life. The period was that of Roman legions and in many iconographies of the time and today, the two brothers are represented wearing a soldier’s armor.

The two brothers they convert to Christianity being baptized by the bishop Sant’Apollonio and this will be the cause of their martyrdom: the emperor Hadrian in fact, was the architect of persecutions against Christians and he had the two brothers killed on February 15th of a year at the turn of 120 and 134 AD

The hagiographies depicting the two brothers’ stories feature scenes in which no type of torture or assassination attempt affects them. From the thirteenth century the two brothers became patrons of the city of Brescia, a city in which they were beheaded and in which the memory of the two martyrs was very strong thanks to the numerous iconographies that always concerned them.

From martyr to patron of singles

The reasons why San Faustino was identified as the patron saint of singles (and why his brother San Giovita was excluded from this title) are not very clear. It is thought that the name of the saint, deriving from “Auspicious” and therefore in some way attributable in meaning to luck, it has been chosen as a wish for those who are looking for their soul mate.

The affibiation of the patronage linked to the semantic value of his name, however, seems a bit obligatory. It is perhaps more likely that this saint’s choice is linked to the date in which his martyrdom fell: San Faustino, in fact, is celebrated the day immediately following Valentine’s Day, the feast of lovers. Probably therefore, to revive the spirits of those who have spent Valentine’s Day without a partner, the following day (and the annexed Saint) was chosen to dedicate a holiday also to singles.

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