Hymn to St. Antimus 1
1.
The splendid glory of a martyr
Our praise brings Antimus into view,
Whose every element
bears witness to victory.
2.
He tramples the madness of princes,
He laughs at the band of the executioners;
The force of torture does not shake
The oak of established faith.
3.
After confinements of prisons,
After victories over beatings
The stone is hung on the bound one,
And in this way he is drowned in the waves.
4.
But O fortunate shipwreck (blessed shipwrecked person)!
Soon you see the bright angel,
Ready he puts down his chains,
The free man returns to the inn.
5.
The cut head was killed
but he victor sought the stars;
While death bears hideousness,
It is purchased with the glory of life.
6.
The martyr Antimus is worthy of
Great praises of religious vows,
Who shone forth with so many
Signs and miraculous portents.
7.
Here at the same time he releases
With sacred prayers
The ill flesh and the soul of Pinianus
From all snares of illnesses.
8.
Insane demon fury
Attacks someone in their wound;
The enemy of peace is driven out,
In this way the mind is returned to peace.
9.
You, nourishing martyr, we ask
From your heart and the words of your mouth,
With a suppliant prayer,
That you entrust us to the terrible judge.
10.
Let there be praise to the unborn Father…
When the Roman governor of Bithynia, Pinianus, fell ill, his Christian wife Lucina (Lycinia), well known for her charity to imprisoned Christians and niece of the Emperor Gallienus, found Anthimus in prison. Anthimus converted Pinianus, and the governor was cured.
Now based in Italy, Anthimus converted many to the Christian faith and countless miracles were attributed to him. He converted a priest of the god Silvanus and the pagan priest's entire family. Accused of having destroyed the simulacrum of Silvanus, he was thrown into the Tiber with a stone around his neck. His legend states that he was miraculously rescued by an angel, later recaptured, and then beheaded.
The martyr was particularly venerated in Umbria, especially in the Tiber valley, Sabina and Piceno, places geographically close to the hermitage of Fonte Avellana.