Saint Anthimus of Rome, or Sant'Antimo in Italian (died 303), is a Christian saint. His life is largely composed of legend. He is said to have been born in Bithynia. A Christian priest, he was imprisoned for his beliefs at the time of the Emperors Diocletian and Maximian.Passio sancti Anthimi presbiteri et martiris, mense Maii die XI, et aliorum sanctorum (BHL 561) [= M 72] His feast day is May 11.Martyrologium romanum Gregorii XIII, Dessain, 1859
Legend When the Roman governor of Bithynia, Pinianus, fell ill, his Christian wife Lucina (Lycinia), well known for her charity to imprisoned Christians and niece of the Emperor Gallienus, found Anthimus in prison. Anthimus converted Pinianus, and the governor was cured. Gratefully, Pinianus liberated all of the Christian prisoners in his province and allowed Anthimus to hide himself in the governor's villa on the Via Salaria.
Now based in Italy, Anthimus converted many to the Christian faith and countless miracles were attributed to him. He converted a priest of the god Silvanus and the pagan priest's entire family. Accused of having destroyed the simulacrum of Silvanus, he was thrown into the Tiber with a stone around his neck. His legend states that he was miraculously rescued by an angel, later recaptured, and then beheaded by order of the consul Priscus. He was buried in the oratory where he habitually prayed.Bollandus, Acta Sanctorum, vol. II, 11 maggio pagg. 614-615
Veneration His tomb was first situated at Montemaggiore and was the object of pilgrimage and veneration.Marco Antonio Boldetti, Osservazioni sopra i Cimiteri De' Santi Martiri, Ed Antichi Christiani di Roma, 1720, Roma His body, during the time of Charlemagne, was transferred to Tuscany, near Montalcino, where St. Antimo's Abbey currently stands. A Bollandist historian of the 17th century speculated that Pope Hadrian I gave the relics of Saint Sebastian and Anthimus to Charlemagne, who then donated the relics to the abbey when it was founded.Girolamo Gigli, Diario sanese in cui si veggono alla giornata tutti gli avvenimenti più ragguardevoli spettanti sì allo spirituale, sì al temporale della città, e stato di Siena, 1723 But this theory has not yet been verified.sant'antimo... online
References
External links Saints of May 11: Anthimus of Rome Sant’ Antimo Prete e Martire