Saint Marino was a stonemason originally from Rab, now Croatia. When the great Emperor Diocletiano persecuted the Christian faith, he had to flee his homeland. When he fled to Italy, he was ordained a deacon by Bishop Gaudentio Rimini. Not long after, a psychotic woman came to recognize Marino as her long-lost husband, causing him to flee again and get lost in the mountains of Titano. There, in 301, he built a chapel and a monastery, and lived in seclusion until his death in 366.
The strange thing is that this hermitage became the center of a community that would later become the nation of San Marino. Over time, the desolate land around the monastery of Marino became more and more inhabited, for on this high mountain one could be safe from the persecution of the great Diocletiano. When this large group of people on the mountain was discovered, the lord Felicissima ordered them to be established as a permanent Catholic community, and called on them to always live in unity, which they do steadfastly to this day. .
Before he left, Saint Marino said to the community around him: "I leave you free from the two of you", referring to the Roman emperor and the Papal state, because San Marino means nothing. which party belongs. Therefore, today the slogan of San Marino is "Libertas", which means "freedom". The small community around the monastery on Mount Titano became a nation, and took the name of the monastery's founder as the country's name.
Despite being a small community living in the mountains, San Marino has prospered for 1700 years. In 1631, it was recognized as independent by Pope Clement VIII. San Marino has only invaded twice in its history, and each time did not last for more than a year; Once threatened by King Napoleon, however, the head of state of San Marino at that time, Antonio Onofri, won Napoleon's heart, causing the king not only to not invade but also to recognize the independence of San Marino. in 1797 and promised to keep the place safe. San Marino remained neutral during the two world wars of the twentieth century, as well as being a refuge for thousands of Italians who fled Fascist Italy.
San Marino was the first country in Europe to be led by a Communist party, from 1945-1957, and the only place in the world where the Communist party came to power through a democratic election. In 1990, the Communist Party of Sammarinese dissolved.
Today, San Marino is one of the wealthiest countries in the world (in terms of GDP per capita). The economy of this country is extremely stable, mainly based on tourism. The country has no public debt, so it always enjoys an economic surplus. San Marino is also home to the lowest unemployment rate in Europe, excluding the Vatican.
The people of San Marino remain faithful to their original faith. Today 97% of San Marinos are Catholic. National Day is the feast of Saint Marino, September 3, the national patron saint and founder of the country. Despite being an independent and almost catechetical country, no bishop has ever lived on San Marino soil, because the entire country belongs to an Italian diocese, the diocese of Montefeltro.
Translated by Aleteia