Victorinus of Camerino

Saint Victorinus of Camerino was bishop of Camerino in Italy and died in 538 or 543. He was the brother of Saint Severinus. Their commemoration is on 8 June. They are saints of the Roman Catholic Church; our sources mention no Orthodox veneration, although they lived before the separation of the Churches.

The brothers were noblemen and, after giving a large part of their wealth to the poor, became hermits at Monte Nero, near Septempeda. They also lived as hermits in caves near Pioraco. Victorinus was beset by strong temptations and subjected himself to very painful penances: he tied himself to a tree, with his hands clasped between two branches. This particular method of self-⁠mortification is depicted on a small panel in the church of San Venanzio in Camerino, made by Niccolò Alunno (Niccolò da Foligno) about 1478 to 1480.

Called to episcopal service by Pope Vigilius, Victorinus came to govern the diocese of Camerino, in the Marche. The English source says that in 540 Pope Vigilius appointed each of them bishop of two separate sees: Severinus became bishop of Septempeda (later called San Severino Marche, after him), and Victorinus of Camerino.

Severinus died in 545 according to one source, in 550 according to another. His remains were hidden in the cathedral of Santa Maria in Septempeda, to protect them from plunder, and were found again in 590, during restoration work, after which they were moved to Monte Nero. At Pioraco there is a church dedicated to Saint Victorinus.