The History of Orontius: Martyr, Saint, and Patron of Lecce

Born in Rudiae in AD 22 and died in Lecce in AD 68, Saint Orontius is traditionally known as the first bishop of Lecce, who was ordained by Saint Paul.

According to the tradition, Titius Justus of Corinth was travelling to deliver a letter of Saint Paul to the Romans, but his vessel was shipwrecked off the coast of San Cataldo, near Lecce.

He was rescued by Publius and his nephew Fortunatus, who were on a hunting trip.
Justus spoke to them about God: they decided to convert to Christianity and Publius changed his name into Orontius.

Titius Justus invited both of them to Corinth, to introduce them to Paul the Apostle, who decided to appoint Orontius first bishop of Lecce and Apulia.

Once back in Salento, Orontius began an intense work of evangelization. Nevertheless, due to the increase in the persecutions of Christians under Nero, Orontius and Fortunatus were exiled.

They travelled around Apulia, stopping in Turi and Ostuni, preaching in the natural caves where they found refuge from persecutions. Then, they went to Siponto, near Manfredonia, and Taranto.

Returned to Turi, they were arrested, tried for high treason against the emperor, and sentenced to death by beheading.

Saint Orontius’ remains would have been collected by a matron from Lecce, Saint Petronilla, and His holy relics would rest in the Duomo, under the last column on the right-hand side of the nave.

The sanctuary of Sant’Oronzo Fuori le Mura (Saint Orontius Outside the Walls) - also known as “La Capu te Santu Ronzu” (Saint Orontius’ Head) - stands where the corpses were brought after the beheading.

Saint Orontius has not always been the patron of Lecce: Saint Irene had been the Patron Saint of the city until 1656, when the inhabitants persuaded themselves that Orontius had saved them from the plague.