Emeterius and Celedonius
Encyclopedia
Saints Emeterius and Celedonius are venerated as saints by the Catholic Church. Two Roman
legionaries (and possibly also brothers), they were martyr
ed for their faith around 300. They are patron saint
s of Calahorra
(La Rioja
), which is traditionally regarded as the place of their death.
They are said to have been serving in this city at the end of the third century or at the beginnings of the fourth. According to one legend, they were the sons of the martyr Marcellus the Centurion. It may have been during either the persecutions of Diocletian
or of Valerian
when they were imprisoned and forced to decide between renouncing the faith or leaving the army.
Their legend states that they were tortured and finally decapitated
on the banks of the Cidacos River
outside of Calahorra, which became the site of the actual cathedral of the city and explains its strange location beyond the city walls
. The heads of these saints are said to have floated to Santander aboard a boat
made of stone
. A community of monks who lived in that city became custodians of these holy relics.
According to Prudentius
, the brothers Emeterius and Celedonius, soldiers of the Legio VII Gemina
, were martyred at Calahorra
, but the exact date of their martyrdom is unknown.
from distant lands came to pray at the tomb of these saints, whose relics are still preserved in Calahorra Cathedral.
At Santander
, Alfonso II of Aragon
founded the abbey
of Saints Hemeterius and Celedonius, or Santander Abbey, where the heads of those holy martyrs were kept. The toponym "Santander" actually takes its name not from Saint Andrew
as some, misled by the sound of the name, believe, but from Saint Emeterius (Santemter, Santenter, Santander), one of the patrons of the city and ancient abbey, the other being Saint Celedonius. The former abbey church is now Santander Cathedral
.
They are patron saints of Calahorra, Santander, and other towns of Cantabria
. Their feast day is August 30.
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
legionaries (and possibly also brothers), they were martyr
Martyr
A martyr is somebody who suffers persecution and death for refusing to renounce, or accept, a belief or cause, usually religious.-Meaning:...
ed for their faith around 300. They are patron saint
Patron saint
A patron saint is a saint who is regarded as the intercessor and advocate in heaven of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or person...
s of Calahorra
Calahorra
Calahorra, , La Rioja, Spain is a municipality in the comarca of Rioja Baja, near the border with Navarre on the right bank of the Ebro. During ancient Roman times, Calahorra was a municipium known as Calagurris.-Location:...
(La Rioja
La Rioja (Spain)
La Rioja is an autonomous community and a province of northern Spain. Its capital is Logroño. Other cities and towns in the province include Calahorra, Arnedo, Alfaro, Haro, Santo Domingo de la Calzada, and Nájera.-History:...
), which is traditionally regarded as the place of their death.
They are said to have been serving in this city at the end of the third century or at the beginnings of the fourth. According to one legend, they were the sons of the martyr Marcellus the Centurion. It may have been during either the persecutions of Diocletian
Diocletian
Diocletian |latinized]] upon his accession to Diocletian . c. 22 December 244 – 3 December 311), was a Roman Emperor from 284 to 305....
or of Valerian
Valerian (emperor)
Valerian , also known as Valerian the Elder, was Roman Emperor from 253 to 260. He was taken captive by Persian king Shapur I after the Battle of Edessa, becoming the only Roman Emperor who was captured as a prisoner of war, resulting in wide-ranging instability across the Empire.-Origins and rise...
when they were imprisoned and forced to decide between renouncing the faith or leaving the army.
Their legend states that they were tortured and finally decapitated
Decapitation
Decapitation is the separation of the head from the body. Beheading typically refers to the act of intentional decapitation, e.g., as a means of murder or execution; it may be accomplished, for example, with an axe, sword, knife, wire, or by other more sophisticated means such as a guillotine...
on the banks of the Cidacos River
Cidacos River
The Cidacos is a tributary of the Ebro. Its source is Los Campos, in Soria, and it flows for 77 km until its reaches the Ebro at Calahorra ....
outside of Calahorra, which became the site of the actual cathedral of the city and explains its strange location beyond the city walls
Walls
- Other uses :*Wall's , a company that makes ice cream*Wall's sausages, a British sausage brand*Walls, an episode of Power Rangers S.P.D.- Music :*Walls EP, a 2005 album by The Red Paintings*Walls , 2007...
. The heads of these saints are said to have floated to Santander aboard a boat
Boat
A boat is a watercraft of any size designed to float or plane, to provide passage across water. Usually this water will be inland or in protected coastal areas. However, boats such as the whaleboat were designed to be operated from a ship in an offshore environment. In naval terms, a boat is a...
made of stone
Rock (geology)
In geology, rock or stone is a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals and/or mineraloids.The Earth's outer solid layer, the lithosphere, is made of rock. In general rocks are of three types, namely, igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic...
. A community of monks who lived in that city became custodians of these holy relics.
According to Prudentius
Prudentius
Aurelius Prudentius Clemens was a Roman Christian poet, born in the Roman province of Tarraconensis in 348. He probably died in Spain, as well, some time after 405, possibly around 413...
, the brothers Emeterius and Celedonius, soldiers of the Legio VII Gemina
Legio VII Gemina
Legio septima Gemina was a Roman legion; its full name was Legio VII Gemina Felix. VII Gemina dates back to the Year of the four emperors , when the governor of Hispania Tarraconensis, Galba, levied a legion to march on Rome...
, were martyred at Calahorra
Calahorra
Calahorra, , La Rioja, Spain is a municipality in the comarca of Rioja Baja, near the border with Navarre on the right bank of the Ebro. During ancient Roman times, Calahorra was a municipium known as Calagurris.-Location:...
, but the exact date of their martyrdom is unknown.
Veneration
In the fourth century pilgrimsPilgrims
Pilgrims , or Pilgrim Fathers , is a name commonly applied to early settlers of the Plymouth Colony in present-day Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States...
from distant lands came to pray at the tomb of these saints, whose relics are still preserved in Calahorra Cathedral.
At Santander
Santander, Cantabria
The port city of Santander is the capital of the autonomous community and historical region of Cantabria situated on the north coast of Spain. Located east of Gijón and west of Bilbao, the city has a population of 183,446 .-History:...
, Alfonso II of Aragon
Alfonso II of Aragon
Alfonso II or Alfons I ; Huesca, 1-25 March 1157 – 25 April 1196), called the Chaste or the Troubadour, was the King of Aragon and Count of Barcelona from 1164 until his death. He was the son of Ramon Berenguer IV of Barcelona and Petronilla of Aragon and the first King of Aragon who was...
founded the abbey
Abbey
An abbey is a Catholic monastery or convent, under the authority of an Abbot or an Abbess, who serves as the spiritual father or mother of the community.The term can also refer to an establishment which has long ceased to function as an abbey,...
of Saints Hemeterius and Celedonius, or Santander Abbey, where the heads of those holy martyrs were kept. The toponym "Santander" actually takes its name not from Saint Andrew
Saint Andrew
Saint Andrew , called in the Orthodox tradition Prōtoklētos, or the First-called, is a Christian Apostle and the brother of Saint Peter. The name "Andrew" , like other Greek names, appears to have been common among the Jews from the 3rd or 2nd century BC. No Hebrew or Aramaic name is recorded for him...
as some, misled by the sound of the name, believe, but from Saint Emeterius (Santemter, Santenter, Santander), one of the patrons of the city and ancient abbey, the other being Saint Celedonius. The former abbey church is now Santander Cathedral
Santander Cathedral
Santander Cathedral is located in the Spanish city of Santander. Its structure is mainly Gothic, although it has been extended and renovated in later times.- History :...
.
They are patron saints of Calahorra, Santander, and other towns of Cantabria
Cantabria
Cantabria is a Spanish historical region and autonomous community with Santander as its capital city. It is bordered on the east by the Basque Autonomous Community , on the south by Castile and León , on the west by the Principality of Asturias, and on the north by the Cantabrian Sea.Cantabria...
. Their feast day is August 30.
External links
- Diocese of Calahorra and La Calzada from the Catholic EncyclopediaCatholic EncyclopediaThe Catholic Encyclopedia, also referred to as the Old Catholic Encyclopedia and the Original Catholic Encyclopedia, is an English-language encyclopedia published in the United States. The first volume appeared in March 1907 and the last three volumes appeared in 1912, followed by a master index...
- Santander from the Catholic EncyclopediaCatholic EncyclopediaThe Catholic Encyclopedia, also referred to as the Old Catholic Encyclopedia and the Original Catholic Encyclopedia, is an English-language encyclopedia published in the United States. The first volume appeared in March 1907 and the last three volumes appeared in 1912, followed by a master index...
Cantabria: Santos Martires Spanish Wikipedia article on Celedonius Spanish Wikipedia article on Emeterius San Emeterio