St. Espedito

MOB 54 St. Espedito

Expeditus was probably born in Armenia. He was a Christian martyr, but not much else is known about him.^{[citation needed]} Information concerning Expeditus is found in the Hieronymian Martyrology, where he appears as one of six Roman soldiers said to have been executed at Melitene during the Diocletianic Persecution. If he was stationed at Melitene at the beginning of the fourth century, he would likely have been a member of the Legio XII Fulminata.

The earliest indication of devotion to St. Expeditus comes only from the second half of the eighteenth century.He was mentioned briefly in 1675 in the Acta sanctorum volume for April. However, according to Delehaye, the word “Expeditus” is a misreading of “Elpidius”. The name “Expeditus” has provoked puns, so he has become the saint of rapidity. At first, he was invoked for urgent causes; he has since become the patron of dealers, sailors, students, and examinees; he is also implored for success in lawsuits.

Given that “Expeditus” is Latin for a soldier without marching pack, i.e. a soldier with light equipment, this saint may be an anonymous individual known by his profession. His cult was already developed in Turin, Italy, in the Middle Ages.