Saint Sveti Socerb

Saint Servulus (Latin: Servulus) is a Christian saint who lived for a time as a hermit in a cave at a location now named Socerb after him, on the Karst Edge. Servulus was born in Trieste to noble parents, Eulogius and Clementia. At the age of 12, he left his family home and found a new dwelling in a cave above the Karst Edge, known today as the Holy Cave or Saint Servulus's Cave. He lived there ascetically for one year and nine months. He subsequently gained special powers and performed several miracles, particularly the healing of the sick. These miracles and his persistent preaching of Christianity displeased the authorities, as Christianity was not yet officially permitted at the time. The Roman imperial governor, Numerian Junil, imprisoned and tortured Servulus to death: he was first whipped, then had his joints dislocated on a rack, his flesh torn with iron hooks, and was doused with boiling oil, before finally being beheaded on May 24, 284. His body rests in the Cathedral of Saint Justus in Trieste. A street in Trieste, Via San Servolo, and one of the islands in the Venetian Lagoon, San Servolo, are named after him. Saint Servulus's feast day is May 24.