Constantius of Perugia was a 2nd-century Christian bishop who served as the first leader of the church in Perugia. According to local tradition, he assumed his episcopal role at the age of thirty, dedicating his ministry to evangelism and assisting those in poverty. He lived during a period of Roman persecutions, which eventually led to his death near Foligno after he was arrested and tortured in the prisons of Assisi and Spello.
Life and martyrdom
Legends regarding his death vary, but they consistently describe his suffering during Roman persecutions. Some accounts claim he and his companions survived being forced into a stove, while others focus on his eventual execution. After being released by guards he had converted, he sought shelter with a Christian named Anastasius. Both men were eventually captured and executed by decapitation near Foligno.
Veneration and legacy
He is recognized as a patron saint of Perugia, where his feast day is celebrated on January 29. His remains were moved to an altar in the church of San Costanzo in 1825. In religious art, he is typically depicted as a bishop holding a crozier. In his home city, the celebration of his feast day is traditionally marked by eating a ring-shaped cake called torcolo.