Saint Crispin and Crispinian

Catholic Saint

st.Crispin and Crispinian-Brothers and martyrs

Feast Day : October 25

Patronage: cobblers; leatherworkers; saddlers; shoemakers; tanners

The story of Crispin and Crispinian probably is more legend than fact. Born to Roman nobility, the brothers, shoemakers by trade, traveled to France with St. Quintinus. They settled in Soissons and supported themselves by making shoes while they preached the Gospel and converted pagans. Co-Emperor Maximian, a hater of Christians, ordered the brothers brought before an official named Rictiovarus (whose existence and position are not documented). Rictiovarus had Crispin and Crispinian tortured, but committed suicide when he was unable to cause their deaths. Maximian had them beheaded. Crispin and Crispinian were especially popular during the Middle Ages. In art they are shown holding shoes and shoemaker’s tools..