Saint Trofimena

Trofimena is a female saint canonised in the Roman Catholic church. Originally from the town of Patti in Sicily (and closely connected to the figure of Saint Febronia), the relics of Trofimena are venerated in the basilica in the town of Minori, Italy on the coast of Amalfi, southern Italy.

Trofimena's hagiographical history is unfortunately contorted. The key legend says she was martyred while still a young girl in the town of Patti in Sicily, around the age of 12 or 13 by her own father because she wanted to be baptised and embrace Christianity.

A story is told of a vision of an angel who announced her consecration to Christ and imminent martyrdom, and advised against wedding plans already advanced by her family. After death, Trofimena's body is hidden protectively in an urn and thrown into the sea, the current taking it to the coast of Salerno in southern Italy, and directly to the town of Minori. The urn is discovered by the people of Minori who have it carried by a pair of white calves in the presence of Bishop Peter of Amalfi (c.829); and where the beasts stop a church is built and dedicated. The calves refusing to move from the spot and the people interpreting it as a divine signal on the choice of place.

At least one modern scholar has drawn parallels with the myth of the siren, Parthenope, who was said to inhabit the small islands of the shore of Naples with her sisters. When she had failed to win over Ulysses with her music, Parthenope died and her body was carried by ocean currents to the shore where the people discovered the goddess with closed eyes and white face, and took her remains to place them in a magnificent tomb accompanied by sacrifices and torchlight processions to the sea.

The subsequent history of the town of Minori is tied to the cult and veneration of Trofimena and for more than 1,000 years the town has jealously conserved her relics.

The relics have a historic record certainly stretching back to at least 838–839 AD according to an anonymous 9th century chronicler that narrated the discovery and transferral of the relics under Sicard, the Longobard Prince of Benevento. Under that account, the relics were deposited in the town church with great pomp. Miracles were then said to have occurred, and large charitable donations made. By visions and other indications the saint expressed her determination to remain.

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