BETTONA. - An ancient episcopal city of Umbria, in the province of Perugia. It is the Umbrian-Etruscan Vettona. A famous legend of Umbrian hagiography, written after the middle of the 7th and before the 9th century, probably by a monk, the Passio s. Proculi (BHL 6955), mentions a certain Scipiodoto, bishop of B., who is said to have been ordained by the Prince of the Apostles during a vision, and to have suffered martyrdom under Julian or Diocletian. Another legend referring exclusively to B., the Passio s. Crispoliti (BHG 1800), identifies Scipiodoto with Crispolito, whom St. Peter is said to have ordained while still alive. Consequently, Crispolito would be one of the 72 disciples of the Lord who came from Galilee; yet the medieval hagiographer, completely ignorant of chronology, commits the anachronism of having the supposed bishop of the 1st century die under Massimiano Erculeo, that is, at the beginning of the 4th century.
Local historians, relying on the fanciful data of the Passio, assign the Christianization of B. to the 1st century. A. Harnack, proceeding from the dates of the martyrs, places it before 325. This conclusion, however, is challenged by F. Lanzoni, because it is based on the Passio s. Crispoliti, which is among the least reliable of the Umbrian Passions.
At the Roman Synod of 465, a certain Gaudentius episcopus Vecconensis also subscribed the acts; this should more probably be read Vettonensis (of B.).