Siddhesh Joshi (Editor)

Julius of Novara

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Feast
  
January 31

Name
  
Julius Novara


Died
  
390 AD, Piedmont, Italy

Major shrine
  
Isola San Giulio

Julius of Novara

Venerated in
  
Roman Catholic ChurchEastern Orthodox Church

Attributes
  
old priest with his staff, sailing on his cloak to Isola Giulio over a lake which is full of serpents

Julius of Novara (Italian Giulio di Orta), also Julius of Aegina (died 401 AD) was a missionary priest to northern Italy.

Julius of Novara CatholicSaintsInfo Blog Archive Saint Julius of Novara

His cult is centered at Lake Orta in the Novarese highlands, and in particular on the island which has been named for him since at least the eighth century, Isola San Giulio, and where his presumed relics are preserved in the crypt, called scurolo, of a basilica dedicated to him.

Few facts are known about his career. In the earliest Vita, which dates from no earlier than the eighth century and is of a character as much legendary as historical, the account of his life is interlaced with that of his brother Julian (Giuliano), a deacon whose name is similar enough to suggest that they may have been the same person, but now we know (thanks to recent archaeological finds in Gozzano's previous parish church, S. Lorenzo) that they both existed. The Roman Martyrology commemorates only Julius. It has been said the Julius' name was recited as part of the Ambrosian Rite during the fifth and sixth centuries; however, it has also been claimed that this Julius referred to Pope Julius I.

Julius and Julian may have been Greeks who came to Rome before establishing themselves at Lake Orta. Their legend states that they were educated in the Christian faith by their parents. They are said to have been ordered by Theodosius I to destroy pagan altars and sacred woods and to build Christian churches. They built one hundred churches, according to their tradition. The ninety-ninth church is said to have been built at Gozzano, and dedicated to Saint Lawrence. Julian was buried there. The hundredth church was built by Julius on the island that bears his name; he dedicated it to Saints Peter and Paul.

References

Julius of Novara Wikipedia


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