Candida the Elder (Italian: Candida la Vecchia) (died 78 AD) was a supposed early Christian saint and resident of Naples, Italy.
Saint Candida the Elder | |
|---|---|
 Luca Giordano, The Patron Saints of Naples (Baculus, Euphebius, Francis Borgia, Aspren, and Candida the Elder (kneeling)) adoring the Crucifix, 17th century. Palazzo Reale, Naples. | |
| Virgin | |
| Born | Naples |
| Died | 78 AD Naples, Italy, Roman Empire |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church |
| Feast | September 4 |
| Patronage | Naples, Dining Clubs |
According to her legend, Candida was an elderly woman who hospitably welcomed Peter the Apostle, when he was passing through Naples on his way to Rome.[1] The woman was cured of an illness by Peter and converted to Christianity.[2] She was baptized by Peter and later converted Aspren, the first bishop of Naples, to Christianity.[3]
She is one of the patron saints of Naples. Basil Watkins says she probably never existed. Her name has been deleted from the revised Roman Martyrology.[4]
Notes
edit- ^ Monks of Ramsgate. "Candida the Elder". Book of Saints 1921. CatholicSaints.Info. 26 September 2012
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ "Sant' Aspreno di Napoli". Santi e Beati. April 19, 2002.
- ^ Dunbar, Agnes Baillie Cunninghame. A Dictionary of Saintly Women United Kingdom, Bell, 1904. p. 142
- ^ Watkins, Basil (2015-11-19). The Book of Saints: A Comprehensive Biographical Dictionary. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-0-567-66415-0.
