Saint (Hierarch) Bassian of Lodi

St Bassian, Bishop of Lodi (Laus Pompeia) in northern Italy, was born around 319 in Sicily, the son of Sergius, prefect of Syracuse. Sent to Rome to study, he came to know the Christian faith and was baptized by the priest Gordian. Fleeing his pagan father, he went, at the command of the Apostle John the Theologian who appeared to him in prayer, to his kinsman Bishop Ursus of Ravenna, who settled him in solitude by the church of St Apollinaris. According to his Life, by his prayer the executioner's sword thrice fell from the hand of the man about to behead a slandered judge, who was then pardoned.

Around 373–374 the people of Lodi chose him as their bishop, and he was consecrated by St Ambrose of Milan and Ursus. He built a basilica of the Holy Apostles in Lodi, was with Ambrose a leading opponent of Arianism, took part in the Council of Aquileia in 381 and was present at Ambrose's death in 397. He died on 19 January 409 and was buried in his church. The Russian Church commemorates him on 10 June (23 June New Style).