Bassianus (Bassano), Saint

BASSIANO (BASSANO), saint. - He is the first historically documented bishop of Lodi (c. 374–c. 409). In this capacity he took part in the Council of Aquileia in 381 and in the provincial council of Milan in 389, which condemned the heretic Gioviniano. He fought the Arian heresy. From a letter of s. Ambrogio to s. Felice, bishop of Como, it may be inferred that both went to Lodi in 380 to consecrate the church which B. had built in honour of the apostles (cf. PL 16, 889). In 397 he was present in Milan at the death of his friend s. Ambrogio. B. died on 19 January, probably in 409, and was buried in the church of the SS. Apostoli. After the city of Lodi had been destroyed by the Milanese and rebuilt by Barbarossa (Lodi nuova), his remains were solemnly transferred, on 4 November 1163, from the old to the new cathedral by the antipope Vittore IV. He is venerated as patron of the diocese.