Eurosia
Encyclopedia
Eurosia or Orosia is the patron saint
of Jaca
, a city
in the province of Huesca
of northeastern Spain
, in the Pyrenees
, the center of her cult. In Spain
, the "Fiesta of Santa Orosia" is celebrated on June 25. Tradition states that she was born in Bayonne
and died in 714, martyr
ed by the Moors
at Jaca. The Moors had invaded Spain in 711. She may not have existed at all.
Her legend states that she was a member of the nobility and promised to a Moor in an arranged marriage
. Eurosia escaped and hid in a cave
. Unfortunately, the smoke from her fire led to her capture. She was dragged from the cave by her hair and martyred.
. Borivoj's wife was Saint Ludmila
, who converted Dobroslava to the Christian faith. Dobroslava became "Eurosia" ("eloquent") –the Greek
translation of her Slavic
name.
Borivoj was deposed by pagans, but restored thanks to the efforts of Saint Methodius. In 880, Methodius was ordered by Pope John VIII
to find a worthy spouse for the son of the king of Pamplona, Fortún of Pamplona
. This son was heir to the throne of Aragon and Navarre, and would be a critical player in the fight against the Moors in Spain
.
Eurosia, now sixteen years old, was considered a good candidate, and was brought to Spain in 880. As she crossed the Pyrenees
, she planned to meet her future spouse at Jaca. However, this area had become a war zone
. A Moorish captain named Aben Lupo planned to wed Eurosia for himself and attacked the Bohemian party. However, thanks to the bravery of Eurosia's escort, the young bride-to-be managed to escape through the mountains. She was pursued and eventually caught. Eurosia invoked the heavens and a lightning bolt hit the ground near her captors. Nevertheless, her limbs were amputated and she was beheaded
. After she was beheaded, a storm came, terrorizing her tormentors.http://www.santiebeati.it/dettaglio/59325
. Drawing pilgrims to his city, he shifted the traditional route of the Way of St. James
, which had followed the Roman military route of the Puerto del Palo by the Monastery of San Pedro de Siresa to Berdún. He established a route through Somport
and Jaca, to bring traffic through his city, reinforced by publicized miracles at the urban shrine that was now on the direct route of the Camino de Santiagohttp://www.andarines.com/culturapopular/santa.htm
There is a chapel dedicated to her in La Seo Cathedral
, Zaragoza
.
Her cult spread throughout Béarn
and northern Italy
thanks to the subsequent campaigns of the Spanish realm in those regions.
It is unclear when Eurosia became patroness of the demonically possessed. Until 1947, when the Bishop of Jaca prohibited the practice, those who were afflicted with possession were brought together in a procession and followed an urn
carrying her relics.http://www.andarines.com/culturapopular/santa.htm
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...
of Jaca
Jaca
Jaca is a city of northeastern Spain near the border with France, in the midst of the Pyrenees in the province of Huesca...
, a city
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
in the province of Huesca
Huesca (province)
Huesca , officially Huesca/Uesca, is a province of northeastern Spain, in northern Aragon. The capital is Huesca.Positioned just south of the central Pyrenees, Huesca borders France and the French Departments of Pyrénées-Atlantiques and Hautes-Pyrénées...
of northeastern Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, in the Pyrenees
Pyrenees
The Pyrenees is a range of mountains in southwest Europe that forms a natural border between France and Spain...
, the center of her cult. In Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, the "Fiesta of Santa Orosia" is celebrated on June 25. Tradition states that she was born in Bayonne
Bayonne
Bayonne is a city and commune in south-western France at the confluence of the Nive and Adour rivers, in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department, of which it is a sub-prefecture...
and died in 714, 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 by the Moors
Moors
The description Moors has referred to several historic and modern populations of the Maghreb region who are predominately of Berber and Arab descent. They came to conquer and rule the Iberian Peninsula for nearly 800 years. At that time they were Muslim, although earlier the people had followed...
at Jaca. The Moors had invaded Spain in 711. She may not have existed at all.
Her legend states that she was a member of the nobility and promised to a Moor in an arranged marriage
Arranged marriage
An arranged marriage is a practice in which someone other than the couple getting married makes the selection of the persons to be wed, meanwhile curtailing or avoiding the process of courtship. Such marriages had deep roots in royal and aristocratic families around the world...
. Eurosia escaped and hid in a cave
Cave
A cave or cavern is a natural underground space large enough for a human to enter. The term applies to natural cavities some part of which is in total darkness. The word cave also includes smaller spaces like rock shelters, sea caves, and grottos.Speleology is the science of exploration and study...
. Unfortunately, the smoke from her fire led to her capture. She was dragged from the cave by her hair and martyred.
Eurosia as a Bohemian princess
An alternate tradition states that she was born in 864 to the family of the Dukes of Bohemia. as Dobroslava. When she was orphaned, she was adopted by the succeeding duke, Borivoj I of BohemiaBorivoj I of Bohemia
Bořivoj I was the first historically documented Duke of Bohemia and founder of Přemyslid dynasty.As the head of the Přemyslids who dominated the environs of present-day Prague, around 870 Bořivoj declared himself kníže - in latin dux, which means sovereign prince...
. Borivoj's wife was Saint Ludmila
Saint Ludmila
Saint Ludmila is a Czech saint and martyr venerated by the Orthodox and the Roman Catholics. She was born in Mělník as daughter of a Slavic prince Slavibor...
, who converted Dobroslava to the Christian faith. Dobroslava became "Eurosia" ("eloquent") –the Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
translation of her Slavic
Slavic languages
The Slavic languages , a group of closely related languages of the Slavic peoples and a subgroup of Indo-European languages, have speakers in most of Eastern Europe, in much of the Balkans, in parts of Central Europe, and in the northern part of Asia.-Branches:Scholars traditionally divide Slavic...
name.
Borivoj was deposed by pagans, but restored thanks to the efforts of Saint Methodius. In 880, Methodius was ordered by Pope John VIII
Pope John VIII
Pope John VIII was pope from December 13, 872 to December 16, 882. He is often considered one of the ablest pontiffs of the ninth century and the last bright spot on the papacy until Leo IX two centuries later....
to find a worthy spouse for the son of the king of Pamplona, Fortún of Pamplona
Fortún of Pamplona
Fortún Garcés , called the One-Eyed or the Monk, was the king of Pamplona from 882 to 905.He was the eldest son of King García Íñiguez, himself the son of king Íñigo Íñiguez Arista, the founder of the kingdom, and Fortún was to be the last king of the Arista dynasty.Prince Fortún was taken...
. This son was heir to the throne of Aragon and Navarre, and would be a critical player in the fight against the Moors in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
.
Eurosia, now sixteen years old, was considered a good candidate, and was brought to Spain in 880. As she crossed the Pyrenees
Pyrenees
The Pyrenees is a range of mountains in southwest Europe that forms a natural border between France and Spain...
, she planned to meet her future spouse at Jaca. However, this area had become a war zone
War Zone
A war zone is a location of military conflict, but the term may also refer to:* War Zone , a 1998 documentary about street harassment* The War Zone, a 1999 film starring Ray Winstone...
. A Moorish captain named Aben Lupo planned to wed Eurosia for himself and attacked the Bohemian party. However, thanks to the bravery of Eurosia's escort, the young bride-to-be managed to escape through the mountains. She was pursued and eventually caught. Eurosia invoked the heavens and a lightning bolt hit the ground near her captors. Nevertheless, her limbs were amputated and she was beheaded
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...
. After she was beheaded, a storm came, terrorizing her tormentors.http://www.santiebeati.it/dettaglio/59325
Veneration
A shepherd of Yebra de Basa is said to have discovered her relics in the 11th century thanks to an apparition of the Virgin Mary that identified their resting place. Her head remained at the original simple shrine, while Sancho Ramírez, recognizing the importance of Eurosia's relics, brought her body to Jaca, which he had designated his capital of his kingdom of AragonAragon
Aragon is a modern autonomous community in Spain, coextensive with the medieval Kingdom of Aragon. Located in northeastern Spain, the Aragonese autonomous community comprises three provinces : Huesca, Zaragoza, and Teruel. Its capital is Zaragoza...
. Drawing pilgrims to his city, he shifted the traditional route of the Way of St. James
The Aragonese Way
The Aragonese Way is a route of the Way of St. James beginning at the French-Spanish border at the pass of Somport and joining the French Way at Puente la Reina in Navarre...
, which had followed the Roman military route of the Puerto del Palo by the Monastery of San Pedro de Siresa to Berdún. He established a route through Somport
Somport
Somport is a mountain pass in the central Pyrenees on the border of France and Spain. The pass, whose name is derived from the Latin Summus portus, was one of the most popular routes for crossing the mountains for soldiers, merchants, and St...
and Jaca, to bring traffic through his city, reinforced by publicized miracles at the urban shrine that was now on the direct route of the Camino de Santiagohttp://www.andarines.com/culturapopular/santa.htm
There is a chapel dedicated to her in La Seo Cathedral
La Seo Cathedral
The Cathedral of the Savior is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Zaragoza, Spain. It is part of the World Heritage Site Mudéjar Architecture of Aragon....
, Zaragoza
Zaragoza
Zaragoza , also called Saragossa in English, is the capital city of the Zaragoza Province and of the autonomous community of Aragon, Spain...
.
Her cult spread throughout Béarn
Béarn
Béarn is one of the traditional provinces of France, located in the Pyrenees mountains and in the plain at their feet, in southwest France. Along with the three Basque provinces of Soule, Lower Navarre, and Labourd, the principality of Bidache, as well as small parts of Gascony, it forms in the...
and northern Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
thanks to the subsequent campaigns of the Spanish realm in those regions.
It is unclear when Eurosia became patroness of the demonically possessed. Until 1947, when the Bishop of Jaca prohibited the practice, those who were afflicted with possession were brought together in a procession and followed an urn
Urn
An urn is a vase, ordinarily covered, that usually has a narrowed neck above a footed pedestal. "Knife urns" placed on pedestals flanking a dining-room sideboard were an English innovation for high-style dining rooms of the late 1760s...
carrying her relics.http://www.andarines.com/culturapopular/santa.htm