Saint Zeno Religious Medal "EXCLUSIVE"

Zeno of Verona, Italian: Zenone da Verona (about 300 371 or 380) was either an early Christian Bishop of Verona or martyr. He is a saint in the Roman Catholic Church. Zenos liturgical feast day is celebrated on April 12, but in the diocese of Verona, it is also celebrated on May 21, in honor of the translation of his relics on May 21, 807. Tradition states that Zeno built the first basilica in Verona, situated in the area probably occupied by the present-day cathedral. It was rebuilt in the times of Theodoric the Great and in 804 it was said to have been damaged by infidels, perhaps by the Hungarians or Eurasian Avars. The basilica was rebuilt by Bishop Rotaldus and was consecrated on December 8, 806; two local hermits, Benignus and Carus, were assigned the task of translating Zenos relics to a new marble crypt. Pepin the Hunchback, son of Charlemagne, was also present at the ceremony, as were the Bishops of Cremona and Salzburg, as well as an immense crowd of townspeople. The church was damaged again during the end of the 9th century by Hungarians, though the relics of Zeno remained safe.The basilica would be rebuilt again and made much larger and stronger. Financial support was provided by Otto I, and was re-consecrated in 967, a ceremony presided over by the Bishop Raterius of Verona. The Pistoia Cathedral is dedicated to St. Zeno.