Bishop and Saint

The cult of St. Syrus in the territory of San Remo is of very ancient origin and is linked to the period when Syrus, Bishop of Genoa lived in this land.
It is not possible to establish the exact date because the chronology of the first bishops of Genoa is very uncertain: some consider the year 324, others the years from 349 to 381, others still 510-530 and some assume even later periods.

What is certain is that Siro, even before being appointed bishop, lived in the Matuzian territory preaching the religion of Christ and performing miracles: the chronicles of religious historiography narrate, for example, that the daughter of a certain Gallione, tax collector, living in a locality four miles from the Matuzian territory was freed from the devil by Siro himself.

The people of Sanremo did not forget him for the good works he had done and continued to venerate him even when he returned to Genoa and was appointed Bishop.

Although another bishop, Saint Romulus, had reached the territory of Sanremo and had worked miracles, earning the esteem and veneration of the inhabitants, the cult of Saint Syrus did not diminish and both were considered the protectors of the territory.
When he died, St Romulus was buried at the tomb of the corepiscop Ormisda, who had gone to preach the Gospel in the land of Matuzia shortly before St Siro went there: it is very likely that on that tomb Siro raised an altar to celebrate religious services, which formed the first nucleus of what would become the present cathedral of St Siro over the centuries.

After a few years of preaching in Matuzian territory, Siro would have been called back to Genoa by Bishop Felix and at his death he would have been acclaimed bishop of the city.

Legend has it that at that time in Genoa there was a large basilisk that stood at the bottom of a well, stinking the city with its breath. After a triduum of prayers and penance, St Syrus went to the well, lowered a bucket and ordered the basilisk to enter. The animal obeyed the saint who, after pulling it up from the well, ordered it to throw itself into the sea. The basilisk obeyed and disappeared forever. This legend was probably meant to recall the saint's fight against the Arian heresy, symbolised by the monstrous animal.
The sources agree that his episcopate lasted about thirty years.

The Roman Martyrology places his death on 29th June, probably in 381, but in the Ligurian churches dedicated to him his feast day is celebrated on 7th July, the day on which the transfer of his relics to the Genoese cathedral of San Lorenzo (7th July 1019) by Bishop Landolfo I is commemorated. He would have died old and with a reputation for holiness.

He was buried in Genoa, in the Basilica of the Twelve Apostles, which was later named after him. It is said that while his body was being carried to the basilica, a Libyan nauclerio collected the blood that the bishop was bleeding from his nose with a handkerchief. When the man returned to his country, the handkerchief performed many miracles, including healing children.

In addition to those already mentioned in Genoa and Struppa, other churches dedicated to him can be found in Nervi, Langasco (Campomorone) and Viganego (Bargagli). A cathedral was dedicated to him in Sanremo.

The saint's relics are said to be kept in the high altar of the cathedral of San Lorenzo, together with those of the three bishop saints Valentine, Felix and Romulus.

(sources: Nilo Calvini; Dino Punchuc)