ORSINI, GIOVANNI, blessed. – Bishop of Traù, born in Rome in 1032, died in Traù in 1110–11. A member of a papal legation sent to Dalmatia by Alessandro II to quell a schism, he was elected bishop of Traù by the cardinal legate Giovanni and consecrated by the bishop of Salona (1064).
With Blessed O., Traù broke away from Byzantium and entered the orbit of Rome, becoming politically dependent now on
Venice, now on Hungary. Blessed O. distinguished himself by a great spirit of prayer and pastoral zeal; he founded in the diocese the Benedictine convent of S. Pietro. He took an active part in the affairs of the city, which he saved from destruction by King Colomanno (1105), and obtained confirmation of the rights of the population (1108).
He was buried in the cathedral of S. Lorenzo, where at a later date an artistic chapel was erected in his honour, the work of A. Alessi and N. Fiorentino (1468–72). He is venerated as patron of the city, with feast on 14 November.