Ansovinus was a 9th-century Catholic bishop of Camerino who served as a priest and hermit. After being educated at the cathedral school in Pavia, he acted as a confessor for the Holy Roman Emperor Louis II. He famously declined the bishopric until he secured an exemption for his people from imperial military conscription. Consecrated by Pope Leo IV, he later participated in the Council of Rome in 861. He is remembered for his charitable works and for maintaining peace among local factions.
Life and ministry
Following his time as a hermit at Castel Raimondo, Ansovinus led his diocese with a focus on aiding the impoverished. He was noted for his ability to pacify conflicting groups within the city. Tradition suggests he possessed the ability to multiply food, specifically by providing endless grain from a regional granary to feed large numbers of hungry people.
Veneration and legacy
As the patron saint of small farmers and agriculture, he is honored on 13 March. His relics are kept in a large sarcophagus from the late 14th century in Camerino. Several churches, including the church of Santi Venanzio e Ansovino in Rome, are dedicated to him, and his feast was historically celebrated by local nobility.