Cardinal Franc Rodé will attend the Oct. 17 celebration, which marks the 1,200th anniversary of the transfer of Trifon’s relics to Kotor, where he is patron.
The feast of St. Trifon has been celebrated in the Gulf of Kotor since the ninth century. Today the entire region joins in the celebrations, which begin with special prayers staring at the end of January, and leading up to Feb. 3, the day on which his feast is celebrated in the area. According to the Roman calendar, his feast is Feb. 1, the anniversary of his martyrdom, which took place in 251 in Asia Minor.
His relics are venerated by Orthodox and Catholics.
In 251, during the Decian persecution, Trifon and his companion martyr Respicius were captured for being Christians and sent to Nicaea where they were mercilessly tortured and eventually beheaded.
