Feastday: August 25
When did St. Genesius of Rome live: in the third century
Biography of St. Genesius of Rome:
Genesius was a famous actor and comedian who performed plays that mocked Christianity. During a performance of one of the plays where they made fun of the baptism, he had a sudden vision and realized that God really exists. He confessed his belief and announced his new faith on stage, which infuriated the emperor Diocletian. It was ordered that Genesius be tortured and when he still did not deny his faith, he was beheaded.
Patronage: St. Genesius is patron saint of the lawyers, actors, comedians, dancers, musicians, printers, torture victims and epileptics.
Statues and woodcarvings from Val Gardena representing St. Genesius of rome - portrayal, imagery and emblem: St. Genesius is shown as an actor holding a book and a palmleaf and a lily