 |
St. Liberale according to the medieval
iconographic tradition, from a xylographic print of the "Commentatorium" A.
Burchelati, 1616.  |
The coming of Christianity
It is historically plausible that the Christian religion was introduced in Veneto towards the end of the 1st Century by some legionaries upon their return from Asia. Soon after it started to obtain followers in Treviso and became consolidated towards the 4th Century, after the Constantinople edict.
The deeds of the first Saints honoured in the city date from the 4th Century: St. Liberale (see figure) who died in 434 on an island in the lagoon of Venice, and the Saints Teonisto, Tabra and Tabrato, were martyred towards the end of the 4th Century.
The bodies of these three martyrs, first buried in Altino, were taken, during the invasion of the Huns, to Treviso where they are still honoured in the Cathedral, next to the body of the Patron, who has been represented for the past centuries as a young knight holding a flag or a cross shield.
| |
St. Liberale according to the medieval
iconographic tradition, from a xylographic print of the "Commentatorium" A.
Burchelati, 1616. |
Historically the figure originates as a military commander from Altino
who, between the 4th and 5th Centuries imposed the Christian cult and repressed the
traditional pagan rites, following an edict issued by the Roman emperor Theodosius in 391.
The Saint is represented according to the Middle Age iconography.
