Mamilian of Palermo

Saint Mamilian of Palermo
Painting of Mamilian and his companions. Cathedral of Palermo.
Bishop
Born	Palermo
Died	October 19, 460 Isola di Giglio
Venerated in	Roman Catholic Church
Feast	September 15; June 16 (diocese of Palermo)
Attributes	episcopal attire
Patronage	Diocese of Pitigliano-Sovana-Orbetello; Isola del Giglio

Saint Mamilian (Mamilianus) of Palermo, who is venerated with Nympha (Ninfa), Eustotius (Eustozio), Proculus (Proculo, Procuro), and Golbodeus (Golbodeo, Golbudeo), was a bishop of Palermo of the fifth century. Mamilian lived in Sicily at a time when the Vandals dominated the island. He served as bishop of Palermo but was exiled to Africa by the Vandals, who adhered to Arianism, around 450 AD with some Christian companions. One source states that Mamilian was exiled to Tuscany by Genseric, the Vandal king.

However, through the intercession of an African bishop or by some sympathetic Christians, he escaped to Sardinia. After that, he spent time on the island of Montecristo. According to a legend on Montecristo, Mamilian defeated a dragon on the island, and also changed the island’s name from Montegiove ("Jove's Mountain") to Montecristo ("Christ's Mountain"). A community of hermits, said to have been Mamilian’s followers, lived on the island, and around 600 AD, a monastery was built.

He subsequently went also to the island of Giglio, where he died.

Golbodeus’s name may a be a corruption of Quodvultdeus, a name shared by another 5th-century saint.

According to a tradition on Giglio, inhabitants of Elba and Genoa attempted to steal Mamilian’s relics on the very day of his burial and the saint’s body was torn to pieces. The island of Giglio kept the saint’s arm.

Some sources say Mamilian's relics were translated to Rome, to the Church of Santa Maria in Monticelli, and subsequently to Spoleto. Some of his relics may have been taken to Palermo. Another tradition states that Cosimo III de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany returned Mamilian’s entire body to Giglio in the 17th century.