Ursus of Ravenna

Saint Ursus of Ravenna (Orso) was bishop of Ravenna in the second half of the fourth century, who died on 13 April 396. He was born in Sicily, into a noble pagan family, and fled to Ravenna because of his family's anger at his conversion to Christianity. After the death of Liberius III he was elected bishop and held the office for twenty-⁠six years. He is known as the founder of the cathedral of Ravenna, named after him the Basilica Ursiana; his building was demolished and rebuilt in the eighteenth century. According to Andreas Agnellus, he died on 13 April, on Easter Sunday, and was buried in the Basilica Ursiana. The dates of his episcopate are disputed: some historians place it between 370 and 396, with the foundation of the basilica in 385, others around 405 to 431, since he is said to have been directly succeeded by Saint Peter Chrysologus. He is a saint of the undivided Church, commemorated on 13 April (new style; 26 April in the old style).