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| Saint Pelagius, Pray for us ! |
⛪ Saint of the Day : June 26
⛪ Other Names :
• Pelagius the Martyr • Paio, Pelayo
⛪ Born :
c.912 at Asturias, Spain
⛪ Died :
• Tortured to death in 925
• Relics moved to Leon, Spain in 967
• Relics moved to Oviedo, Spain in 985
⛪ Patronage :
• Abandoned people • Torture victims
• Castro Urdiales, Spain • Torreira, Portugal
St. Pelagius was a thirteen year old Christian who was martyred for refusing to denounce his faith and convert to Islam in Cordoba, Spain in 925.
10th century Cordoba was the most powerful and glorious time in the world for the muslim caliphates and they boasted the largest mosque outside of the Caaba in Mecca.
Pelagius, as a ten year old boy, was taken hostage by the Moors of Cordoba during a rampage in a Christian town. He was in captivity for three years and nobody had made any attempt to ransom him.
The Emir of Cordoba offered him his freedom if he would convert to Islam. The boy refused and the Emir had him tortured and killed. He is said to have endured six hours of constant excruciating pain until he died.
Saint Pelagius is venerated in Leon, Cordoba, and Oviedo, where his relics have been kept since they were transferred there in 985.
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| The martyrdom of Saint Pelagius of Cordova |