MARINO, Saint. — Already by the end of the 5th century there existed on Mount Titano, near Rimini, a monastery in whose church, dedicated to St. Peter, a St. Marino was venerated, but no information about him was available until between the 9th and 10th centuries a very legendary life of him was written.
According to this, Marino was a Dalmatian Christian who came to Italy in 257, together with his friend Leo, to work on the reconstruction of the walls of Rimini by order of Diocletian. After finishing the walls, he remained in Rimini for another 13 years, preaching the Christian religion with great success. After a year spent in solitude in a cave on Mount Titano, his retreat was discovered; disturbed by visitors, he left that place and withdrew to the summit of the mountain, where he built a small cell and a church which he dedicated to St. Peter. Ordained deacon in Rimini, he returned to his cell, where he died peacefully and was buried in the church of St. Peter. He is commemorated on September 3rd and is the patron saint of the Republic of San Marino.
AGostino Amore