We have various sources available regarding Saint Emilian, which tell us above all about the discovery of his tomb and the miracles that occurred over the years. Despite this, very little is known about his life: Emiliano was an Irish bishop who went to Rome to venerate the tombs of the Apostles; he fell ill on the way back, and found refuge in Faenza, where he died. The destruction caused by the war against the Lombards caused the memory of Emiliano’s tomb to be lost, so we can deduce that his death occurred before the conquest of the city by Liutprand, in 740. His memory is celebrated on November 6 and is obligatory for the city of Faenza.

Tales of the statue in Dome’s building site:

Saint Emilian the Irishman is represented here as a curly-haired old man, with thick hair and beard, and a robe that only partially covers his body. His right hand seems to be holding something that is no longer visible today, or was never made. The work is not the original, but rather a reproduction, probably dating back to the twentieth century, but the lack of attributions and further details currently leaves room only for hypotheses.