A Teacher Who Got The Point From His Students

St. Cassian of Imola

St. Cassian of Imola (4th c.) was the Bishop of Brescia near Milan, Italy. When a wave of persecution erupted during the rule of either the Emperor Julian the Apostate or Diocletian, he fled to Imola, Italy, where he found work as a schoolmaster teaching children how to read and write. He was a disciplined and effective teacher, teaching his students the faith as well as how to write in a form of shorthand that allowed them to write as fast as they could speak.

When a city official discovered Cassian's identity as a Christian, he denounced him to the authorities. When Cassian refused to sacrifice to the pagan gods, the local judge ordered that he be stripped, bound, and tied to a stake. He was then turned over to his pagan students, numbering about 200, to be tortured to death. His students used their iron styli (writing instruments) to carve into his skin and stab him to death. St. Cassian died from the many wounds all over his body.

St. Cassian of Imola is the patron saint of students, school teachers, shorthand writers, court reporters, stenographers, and parish clerks.

His feast day is August 13th.