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Repubblica di San Marino |
Marin
was born in Lopar on island Rab more than 17 centuries ago and he trained
to be a stonecutter. With his life friend Leon, he left island and went
to another side of the Adriatic Sea, to the coast of the Apennine peninsula,
in town Rimini. The youngsters most likely left island in order to find
job. Because Marin was diligent and virtuous, the Christian community there
became very fond of him so soon he became a deacon to the bishop Gaudientium.
He was persecuted because of his Christian sermons so he fled to the hill
Titan, where he built a small church, which soon became a gathering place
for all who found their new home and laws in it, thus founding a
new community.
Those
were the beginnings of the today's city and the state of San Marino, named
after him. A humble stone-cutter, who founded a small community of simple,
poor and believing people on Mount Titano left as his legacy, besides his
style life, freedom, a value which enabled Sammarineses to safeguard the
same community to date, keeping it aside from historical circumstances.
Marin was buried in the small church he had built and he was recognized
a Saint by the population and by the Church. The official date of foundation
of the Republic dates back to 3 September 301 AD. San Marino is the Europe's
oldest existing republic.
Today
people San Marino and Rab cherish a close friendship and in Mai 2004 community
of Rab erected a monument to St. Marin.
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