Saturninus of Cagliari

Holy Martyr Saturninus of Cagliari is the patron of the city of Cagliari in Sardinia, where he received the crown of martyrdom in the persecution of Diocletian, around 303. He is a saint of the undivided Church.

According to tradition he was put to death by order of the governor Barbarus and beheaded for refusing to sacrifice to Jupiter during a pagan festival. Some scholars hold that the story was devised centuries later to give content to the name borne by the ancient basilica in the city. The saint's name in the Sardinian language, Santu Sadurru, seems nevertheless to show that a young Christian named Saturnus was in fact killed by pagans and buried where the ancient church was built. He has also been confused with Saturninus of Toulouse or with one of the martyrs of Abitina in North Africa, through the close trading ties between Africa and Cagliari.

He is commemorated on 30 October, the liturgical date in the Orthodox calendar (the same day number on the old and new calendars).