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Saint Vincent of Saragossa
Image: Tomás Giner · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Saint Vincent of Saragossa

Deacon of Saragossa martyred at Valencia around 304, widely honoured in Spain

Rank
Saint
Kind
Martyr
Life
d. ~304
Era
4th century
Feast
22 January
Countries
Spain, Portugal
PortugalSpain

Life story

Vincent was a deacon of the Church of Saragossa, in the Roman province of Hispania, today Spain. The oldest source about him is a hymn by the poet Prudentius around the year 400, while the more detailed Acts date only from around the eighth or ninth century and draw heavily on oral tradition. The details of his biography should therefore be read with care.

According to tradition, during the Diocletian persecution the governor Dacian ordered the arrest of Bishop Valerius and the deacon Vincent and had them brought to Valencia. The bishop is said to have had a speech difficulty, so Vincent spoke for him. Valerius was banished, while Vincent was tortured and refused to hand over the sacred books. Sources describe him as beaten, burned on a gridiron and left in a dark cell. He died around 304.

Legend says his body was left in the open, guarded from birds and beasts by a raven, then thrown into the sea, but the waves carried it ashore and a widow buried it. A chapel was afterwards built over the tomb outside Valencia. His relics were later said to have been moved, including to Cape Sagres in Portugal and then to Lisbon.

Devotion to him spread fast. Augustine of Hippo preached several sermons on his feast day. His day of remembrance is 22 January in the West, while the Eastern Orthodox keep him on 11 November.

Works and witness

  • Deacon of Saragossa under Diocletian
  • Tortured by the governor Dacian at Valencia around 304
  • Prudentius wrote a hymn about him around 400
  • His tomb at Valencia drew pilgrims, and his relics were later said to be taken to Lisbon
  • Augustine preached several sermons on his feast

Patron of

Lisbon, Winemakers

Saints from the same country

Saint Dominic, Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Saint Teresa of Ávila, Saint Francis Xavier

References

  • Prudentius, Peristephanon
  • Martyrologium Romanum
  • Catholic Encyclopedia (New Advent) – St. Vincent, Deacon of Saragossa

Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.