Rufinus of Assisi
Rufinus of Assisi, also known as Saint Rufinus, was the first bishop of Assisi and a martyr. His birthplace and exact date are unknown, and he died in 238 or 239. He and his son came from Anatolia to preach Christianity.
The Roman proconsul Aspasius arrested Rufinus, who was tortured and drowned in the Chiascio River near Costano. His body was recovered and buried nearby. A church was built on that spot, and in the 8th century his relics were moved to Assisi. His remains now lie in a Roman sarcophagus under the main altar of the Cathedral of San Rufino; the front of the sarcophagus shows the myth of Selene and Endymion.
Rufinus is the patron saint of Assisi, and the Cathedral of San Rufino is his major shrine. Each year, the Palio di San Rufino is held in the last week of August (Thursday to Saturday), a medieval crossbow contest among the three districts, the Terzieri.
Some sources say he is the same person as the episcopus Marsorum listed in the Roman Martyrology on August 11, but the early life is largely legendary. The main life stories come from a 11th‑century sermon by Peter Damian (Miracula Sancti Rufini Martyris) and a 14th‑century Passio.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 19:30 (CET).