Engratia
Encyclopedia
Saint Engratia is venerated as a virgin martyr
and saint
. Tradition states that she was martyred with eighteen companions in 303 AD. She should not be confused with the 8th century Spanish martyr of the same name
.
who had been promised in marriage to a nobleman of Roussillon
. He sent as her escort to Gaul her uncle Lupercius (sometimes identified with the Luperculus
who was a bishop of Eauze) and a suite of sixteen noblemen and a servant named Julie or Julia.
Upon reaching Zaragoza
, they learned of the persecution of Christians there by the governor Dacian, who reigned in the time of the emperors of Diocletian
and Maximian
. She attempted to dissuade him from his persecution, but was whipped and imprisoned when it was discovered that she was a Christian. She died of her wounds. Her companions were decapitated
.
Prudentius
, a native of Zaragoza, wrote a hymn
in honor of these martyrs, and lists their names, and describes the terrible tortures suffered by Encratis (Engratia). Engratia was certainly the most venerated of the group, and her cult was diffused throughout Spain and the Pyrenees
.
During a synod
held at Zaragoza in 592, the church dedicated to her there was reconsecrated, an act celebrated on November 3, which sometimes served as an alternate feast day.
The Church of Santa Engrácia
in Lisbon is dedicated to her.
The Church of Santa Engracia de Zaragoza
was built on the spot where Engratia and her companions were said to have been martyred. It was destroyed in the Spanish War of Independence
, with only the crypt and the doorway being left. It was rebuilt in the late 19th or early 20th century, and served as a parish church
.
Martyr
A martyr is somebody who suffers persecution and death for refusing to renounce, or accept, a belief or cause, usually religious.-Meaning:...
and saint
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
. Tradition states that she was martyred with eighteen companions in 303 AD. She should not be confused with the 8th century Spanish martyr of the same name
Saint Fructus
Saint Fructus was a Castilian hermit of the eighth century venerated as a saint. Christian tradition states that he had two siblings, named Valentine and Engratia . They all lived as hermits on a mountain in the region of Sepúlveda...
.
Legend
Engratia was a native of BragaBraga
Braga , a city in the Braga Municipality in northwestern Portugal, is the capital of the Braga District, the oldest archdiocese and the third major city of the country. Braga is the oldest Portuguese city and one of the oldest Christian cities in the World...
who had been promised in marriage to a nobleman of Roussillon
Roussillon
Roussillon is one of the historical counties of the former Principality of Catalonia, corresponding roughly to the present-day southern French département of Pyrénées-Orientales...
. He sent as her escort to Gaul her uncle Lupercius (sometimes identified with the Luperculus
Luperculus
Luperculus is venerated as a saint by the Roman Catholic Church. Christian tradition states that he was a bishop of Eauze and was martyred by the governor Dacian during the reign of Decius...
who was a bishop of Eauze) and a suite of sixteen noblemen and a servant named Julie or Julia.
Upon reaching Zaragoza
Zaragoza
Zaragoza , also called Saragossa in English, is the capital city of the Zaragoza Province and of the autonomous community of Aragon, Spain...
, they learned of the persecution of Christians there by the governor Dacian, who reigned in the time of the emperors 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....
and Maximian
Maximian
Maximian was Roman Emperor from 286 to 305. He was Caesar from 285 to 286, then Augustus from 286 to 305. He shared the latter title with his co-emperor and superior, Diocletian, whose political brain complemented Maximian's military brawn. Maximian established his residence at Trier but spent...
. She attempted to dissuade him from his persecution, but was whipped and imprisoned when it was discovered that she was a Christian. She died of her wounds. Her companions were 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...
.
Martyrs of Zaragoza
Many others, called the Martyrs of Zaragoza, were martyred at the same time. Also called the Countless Martyrs of Zaragoza, their number includes, besides Engratia, Lupercius and Julia:- Caius, Crescentius, Successus, Martial, Urban, Quintilian, Publius, Fronto, Felix, Cecilian, Evodius, Primitivus, Apodemius, and four men all sharing the name Saturninus.
Veneration
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...
, a native of Zaragoza, wrote a hymn
Hymn
A hymn is a type of song, usually religious, specifically written for the purpose of praise, adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification...
in honor of these martyrs, and lists their names, and describes the terrible tortures suffered by Encratis (Engratia). Engratia was certainly the most venerated of the group, and her cult was diffused throughout Spain and the Pyrenees
Pyrenees
The Pyrenees is a range of mountains in southwest Europe that forms a natural border between France and Spain...
.
During a synod
Synod
A synod historically is a council of a church, usually convened to decide an issue of doctrine, administration or application. In modern usage, the word often refers to the governing body of a particular church, whether its members are meeting or not...
held at Zaragoza in 592, the church dedicated to her there was reconsecrated, an act celebrated on November 3, which sometimes served as an alternate feast day.
The Church of Santa Engrácia
Church of Santa Engrácia
The Church of Santa Engrácia is a 17th century monument of the city of Lisbon, in Portugal. In the 20th century the church has been converted into the National Pantheon , in which important Portuguese personalities are buried...
in Lisbon is dedicated to her.
The Church of Santa Engracia de Zaragoza
Church of Santa Engracia de Zaragoza
The Church of Santa Engracia de Zaragoza is a basilica church in Zaragoza, Spain. It was built on the spot where Saint Engratia and her companions were said to have been martyred in 303 AD....
was built on the spot where Engratia and her companions were said to have been martyred. It was destroyed in the Spanish War of Independence
Siege of Saragossa (1809)
The Second Siege of Saragossa was the French capture of the Spanish city of Zaragoza during the Peninsular War.It is particularly noted for its brutality.-Prelude:...
, with only the crypt and the doorway being left. It was rebuilt in the late 19th or early 20th century, and served as a parish church
Parish church
A parish church , in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches....
.