SISINNIO, MARTIRIO ED ALESSANDRO, SANTI, MARTIRI

SISINNIUS, MARTYRIUS, and ALEXANDER, Saints, Martyrs. — They are commemorated in the Martyrologium Hieronymianum on May 29.

The details of their martyrdom are narrated by the bishop Vigilius of Trent in two letters, written respectively to Simplicius of Milan and to St. John Chrysostom. They were clerics of the Tridentine Church: S. as deacon, M. as lector, and A. as ostiarius. Sent by the bishop to evangelize the inhabitants of the Val di Non (Anauina), they built a church there. On the morning of May 29, 397, a group of frenzied pagans burst into their dwelling and found S. in bed, attended by M., who was tending to the wounds S. had received the previous day. Both were dragged to the temple of Saturn: S. with a bell tied around his neck; M., pierced with wooden stakes, died during the journey. Shortly afterward, A. was also captured, and, brought to the same place, was urged to sacrifice; when he refused, he was scourged and then killed. A church was later built on the site of their martyrdom.

BIBL.: Acta SS. Maii, VII, Paris 1867, pp. 37-49; F. Savio, Gli antichi vescovi d'Italia. La Lombardia, I, Milan, Florence 1913, pp. 827-31; Lanzoni, p. 938; H. Delehaye, Les
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Sisinnius, Martyrius, and Alexander, Saints, Martyrs — Chapel of the Holy Martyrs of Anauwia with the ark containing their relics (1472) — Sanzeno (Trent).
BIBL.: Sanguine, 1933, pp. 334-35; Martyrologium Hieronymianum, p. 281 sg.; Martyrologium Romanum, p. 214.

Agostino Amore