Fortunatus of Todi

Fortunatus came to Italy from Poitiers as a hermit. Because of his miracles and ability to cast out demons, in 528 he was urged by the clergy and the people to become bishop. His predecessor, Callistus (c. 502-28), had been killed by the Goths. The first cathedral was the church of Sant'Ilario.[3]

Fortunatus saved the city from being sacked by the Ostrogoths. He converted many and destroyed a temple to the god Pan and used the materials to build a church.[4] Fortunatus consecrated the church.of San Fortunato, where his bones are preserved. A Benedictine monastery was attached to it in the 11th century. The altars to Fortunatus and Cassianus of Imola were consecrated by Pope Innocent III in 1198.[3]

He is praised by Gregory the Great, who calls him a man of great virtue who took great care in attending to the sick.[5] Gregory, who was born around the time that Fortunatus died, was greatly interested in Fortunatus' life. Gregory writes that "a certain poor old man was brought to me –because I always love to talk with such men- of whom I inquired his country, and hearing that he was of the city of Todi, I asked him whether he knew Bishop Fortunatus. He said he knew him very well. 'Then I beseech you,' said I, 'tell me whether you know of any miracles that he did, and, since I am very desirous to know, explained to me what manner of man he was.'"[6]

The church of San Fortunato in Todi is dedicated to him and holds his relics. San Fortunato began as a Palaeo-Christian temple (7th century) and in 1292 the construction of a new Gothic edifice was begun by the Franciscans, with a "hall" structure. The crypt houses a sepulchre containing the remains of Fortunatus and other saints, as well as the tomb of Jacopone da Todi.

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  Church of San Fortunato
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  Church of San Fortunato