Fortunatus of Fano

Saint Fortunatus of Fano was bishop of Fano in Italy in the 6th century and is venerated in the Western Church. He is remembered on 8 June in the Western calendar.

History records only one episode: in November 596 Pope Gregory the Great wrote him a letter. Fortunatus had asked for and received permission to sell sacred vessels of his church to pay a debt incurred in ransoming prisoners. His care for Christian captives is the quality for which tradition remembers him.

In the Middle Ages John, abbot of Nonantola, wrote his Life, later published in the Acta Sanctorum. According to the Life, his relics were moved in 743 to a church outside the Porta Maggiore of Fano, and in 1113 beneath the high altar of the cathedral. In 1791 they were placed in a casket inscribed Corpus Sancti Fortunati. Parts of his relics are also kept in France, at Conliège and Hirsingue.