Felix of Massa Martana

Saint Felix of Massa Martana, hieromartyr, is venerated as a bishop and martyr in Umbria, in Italy. He is venerated by the Catholic Church, and his commemoration is on 30 October.

According to the tradition recorded by Jacobilli, Felix was born and raised at Massa Martana, anciently called Vicus ad Martis Tudertium, under the protection of Saint Pontian, bishop of Todi, who baptized him. For his merits he was elected bishop and enthroned by Pope Caius in the year 295. He is considered to have been a fervent preacher and to have performed several ordinations, especially in the city of Spello. He is believed to have taken part in 303 in the council of Sinuessa.

Felix lived in the time of the joint reign of the emperors Diocletian and Maximian. Under the prefect Tarquinius he was persecuted and pressed to renounce his faith. He received the death of a martyr by beheading, having escaped by miracle the torture of the wheel. His body was hidden at night by believers and disciples, among them Faustinus of Todi, and placed in a coffin. On the place where he was buried a church dedicated to him was built. After the destruction of the city in the sixth century, the body was moved to the monastery of Giano, dedicated to him. Felix is patron of the towns of Massa Martana, Giano dell'Umbria and Spello.

Some authors, such as Lanzoni, Burchi and Delehaye, have considered the saint a doublet of the Saint Felix of Split, helped by the assonance between the Latin name of the place of origin (Hispellum, Spello) and Spalatum, Split, and the coincidence of the date of the martyrdom. Apart from topographical indications, the passion of Felix of Martana is identical with that of San Felice of Spello. Also, because of the assonance between Spalatensis and Spoletensis, Felix was included among the saints of the diocese of Spoleto.