St Gimignano
by TADDEO DI BARTOLO, Tempera on panel
Saint Geminianus (also known as Saint Geminian, or Saint Gimignano) was a fourth century Deacon, and later Bishop of Modena. He is mentioned in the year 390 when he sent a delegate named Aper to participate in a council called by Saint Ambrose in Milan. From his name, it has been deduced that Geminianus probably belonged to the caste of Roman senators. He died in 397.
Geminianus is rarely appears in art, but when shown is typically depicted as a bishop holding a mirror in which the Mary is reflected; a bishop holding a model of the town of Modena; a man calming a storm at sea; or a man exorcising the daughter of the Byzantine emperor Jovian.
The saint is also venerated in Tuscany, especially at his eponymous town of San Gimignano, and in Pontremoli.