EMIDIO, saint, martyr. — Unknown in Christian antiquity; the earliest information appears in the eleventh century, in papal and imperial documents. Probably at the beginning of that century his body was discovered, and his name was placed first in the series of those who succeeded one another in the cathedral of Ascoli Piceno. A very legendary but well-written Latin Passio was then compiled, whose author displays classical and scriptural learning. According to this Passio, E. was born at Treviri; having gone to Rome with three disciples, he was consecrated bishop by Pope Marcello and sent to Ascoli, where he was martyred during the persecution of Diocletian. He is commemorated on 5 August.
BIBL.: Acto SS. Augusti, II, Parigi 1869, pp. 16-36; Lansoni, pp. 84, 397 ag.; Martyr. Romanum, p. 324. Agostino Amore
E. IN FOLKLORE. – He is invoked by the people as a protector against earthquakes. His feast is celebrated in Ascoli Piceno on 5 August. It held extraordinary importance in civic life, and the statutes of 1387 already attest to the vivid public veneration paid to the Saint. The municipality was obliged to organize festivities, which included the ring race and the quintain; in time, the custom of the barberi race became established. Even in the last century, peasants came from as far away as the day before and spent the night in the city, while serenades were sung to the sound of violins and guitars: the sacred functions took place, as today, in the Cathedral, on whose steps the basil sellers distributed the fragrant plant, with which everyone adorned himself that day. The image of the Saint, in popular prints, is preserved in many country homes of central Italy. – Vedi tav. XXIV.
BIBL.: C. Mariotti, Vita popolare marchigiana, I, Ascoli Piceno 1896, no. 14, pp. 119–26. Paolo Toschi