Elpidius of Atella
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Elpidius was born in 388 to a noble family. He had a brother named Canius and a nephew named Elpidius, both priests. In about 420, at the age of 30, he was consecrated bishop. Later, due to the vandalic persecution of Gaiseric, twelve bishops, including Elpidius, were sentenced to death. They were embarked on a ship without oars or sails, but the boat was wrecked near the coast of Castel Volturno, in Campania.[2][3][4]
In 432 he became bishop of Atella. Elpidius, informed of the death of bishop Canius, erected a small temple on the site to guard his venerated remains, and placed this couplet in front of the basilica: Elpidius praesul hoc templum condidit almum, o Canio martyr, ductus amore tuo.[5][6][7] On May 24, 452, he died.[8]