Name Saint Candidus | Attributes Military attire Feast September 22 | |
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Died 287 AD, Saint-Maurice, Switzerland | ||
Venerated in Coptic Orthodox Church Major shrine Saint-Maurice d'Agaune | ||
Saint Candidus | Wikipedia audio article
From the writings of Saint Eucherias, Bishop of Lyons (434 AD), Saint Candidus (d. 287 AD) was a commander of the Theban Legion, which was composed of Christians from Upper Egypt. The Golden Legend states: "And the noble man, Maurice, was duke of this holy legion; and they that governed under him, which bare the banners, were named Saint Candidus, Saint Innocent, Saint Exsuperius, Saint Victor, and Saint Constantine, all these were captains."
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Candidus is called Maurice's senator militum or staff officer. He opposed Maximian, who had ordered them to harass the local Christians in his name, stating that "we are your soldiers, but we are also servants of the true God. We cannot renounce Him who is our Creator and Master, and also yours even though you reject Him."
Candidus, along with St. Maurice, the other staff officers and 6,600 soldiers, is said to have been martyred at the Swiss town of Saint Maurice-en-Valais, then called Agaunum. His feast day is September 22.
Candidus' relics were stored in a 6th-century reliquary at the Abbaye de Saint-Maurice d'Agaune. Candidus' relics are currently stored at Our Lady of Malibu Catholic Church, given by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles to the newly formed parish in 1960 under founding rector, the Reverend Joseph Burbage. The relics were rededicated by Archbishop Juan Gomez in November, 2014.
There was also an embossed silver bust of Candidus.