Crispin and Crispinian

Saints Crispin and Crispinian were two Christian brothers, martyrs of the time of the emperor Diocletian, beheaded around 286 on 25 October. They are honoured as patrons of cobblers, tanners and all who work in leather.

Life and labours

According to tradition, they were born in the third century into a noble family of Rome. Fleeing the persecution of the faith, they came to Soissons in Gaul, in what is now France. There they preached Christianity to the Gauls and made shoes by night. They are said to have been twin brothers.

By their trade they earned enough to support themselves and to help those in need. The legend adds that they gave shoes to the poor without payment. Their success drew the anger of Rictus Varus, the Roman governor of Belgic Gaul.

Martyrdom

The governor had them tortured and ordered them thrown into the river with millstones tied about their necks. They survived, but were finally beheaded in the reign of Diocletian, in 286 according to tradition. Some sources speak instead of a cauldron of molten tin, and the English tradition places the brothers at Canterbury rather than in Gaul.

Veneration

In the sixth century a stately basilica was raised over their graves at Soissons. Saint Eligius, the famous goldsmith, made a costly shrine for the head of Crispinian. Later their remains were moved by Charlemagne, partly to Osnabrück and partly to the church of San Lorenzo in Panisperna in Rome.

They are patrons of cobblers, tanners, saddlers, glove makers, lace makers and weavers. In France, and also in England and other parts of Europe, their feast was for centuries a day of processions and rejoicing, in which the shoemakers' guilds took the chief part. The Battle of Agincourt was fought on their day, 25 October 1415, and Shakespeare made the day famous in Henry V. The Church commemorates them on 25 October.