The Holy Martyrs Crispin and Crispinian
Saints Crispin and Crispinian were from Rome. They came to Gaul to preach the Faith of Christ, and settled in Soissons, where they practised the trade of cobblers, working with their hands by night, and preaching the Faith by day, through which they won many converts, so living for many years. When the Emperor Maximian, who ruled jointly with Diocletian, came to Gaul, the pagans complained to him against the Saints. After many torments they were beheaded, in the year 285. A church was built over their tomb, and their festival was kept throughout Europe. They are the patron Saints of cobblers, tanners, shoemakers, and workers in leather. The popularity they once enjoyed is attested to by the “Saint Crispen’s Day” speech in Henry V, Act 4, scene 3.
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