ST. CAIUS

22 AprilSouth Transept Spire-G3

Christian iconography counts many saints with this name, including a Pope San Caio and also a bishop San Caio. Actually the mitre on the statue’s head leaves no room for doubt; hence, it is most likely one of the two, perhaps the San Caio who was consecrated pope on 17 December 283 AD. He was born into a noble Roman family in Salona, near present day Split. The story goes that he had illustrious origins, including Emperor Diocletian in person. San Caio died in Rome on 22 April 296 AD. Literary sources mention his sanctification, while his hypothetical martyrdom was unlikely, also considering that Diocletian launched his persecutions against Christians only in 303 AD. The remains of San Caio were initially buried in the St. Callistus cemetery, Rome, and were moved to the site of his house, which was later converted into a church. They were, finally, placed in the Barberini family chapel in the latter half of the 1800s.

 

The tales of the Statue in Dome’s Building Site:

The statue that crowns spire G3 was made by Ettore Cedraschi on a scale model by Enrico Manfrini soon after the war, between 1951 and 1953. San Caio is portrayed while he blesses all those who daily enter and leave the Cathedral.