Severinus of Sanseverino

Saint Severinus of Septempeda (of Sanseverino) was bishop of Septempeda, in the Marche, in the sixth century, brother of Saint Victorinus of Camerino. He is venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church. His death is placed in 550, although one source gives 545.

The brothers were noblemen and gave away much of their wealth to the poor before becoming hermits on Monte Nero, near Septempeda. Victorinus later withdrew to a cave near Pioraco. He was subject to severe temptations and imposed on himself a hard and painful penance: he had himself tied to a tree, with his hands clasped between two branches. This method of self-⁠mortification of Victorinus was depicted on a small panel in the church of San Venanzio in Camerino, by Niccolò da Foligno (called l'Alunno), between 1478 and 1480. They also lived as hermits in caves near Pioraco.

Pope Vigilius called them to episcopal service: in 540 he appointed each of them to a see. Severinus became bishop of the city then called Septempeda, now San Severino Marche after him, and Victorinus bishop of Camerino. Victorinus died in 543. Severinus died in 545 (by another source, in 550). His remains were hidden in the cathedral of Saint Mary in Septempeda to protect them from looting, and were found again in 590, during restoration works, and then were moved to Monte Nero.

A church dedicated to San Vittorino exists at Pioraco. Their joint commemoration is on 8 June.