Saint Columba of Spain
Encyclopedia
Saint Columba of Spain, or Columba of Cordova (Cordoba), was a nun
who was born in Cordoba
, Spain
and died around 853.
She was a nun at Tabanos, near Cordoba, but was driven from there by the Moorish persecution in 852. She took refuge in Cordoba, where, being called on to deny Christ by the Muslims, she openly rejected Mohammed and was beheaded. Her body is said to have been thrown into the Guadalquivir
, but was rescued by the Christians. Her relics were kept and venerated in Old Castile
at two churches, the priory of St. Columba and the royal Abbey of Our Lady at Nájera
.
; her cult, according to Allyson M. Poska, was "probably a combination of the cults of two virgin martyrs." These were Columba of Sens
and Columba of Spain.
A Galician legend held that before becoming a virtuous virgin martyr, Comba was a witch. This legend relates that one day, the witch Comba, encountering Jesus Christ on a Galician road, changed her life after Christ remarked, “Go ahead and be the witch, but you will not enter my kingdom.” The tale states that Comba converted to Christianity
and was martyred for her faith after refusing to deny it, or after refusing the sexual advances of men. She became the patron saint
of witches in Galicia, acting both as an intercessor on behalf of witches and as an intercessor against witches.
At Coimbra
, according to one 19th century travel guide, there was a small chapel that was said to mark the spot where Comba suffered martyrdom, and that "towards the close of the spring, the young girls of Coimbra deck her shrine with wreaths of roses in remembrance of the rosy crown of martyrdom they believe she won."
Nun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
who was born in Cordoba
Córdoba, Spain
-History:The first trace of human presence in the area are remains of a Neanderthal Man, dating to c. 32,000 BC. In the 8th century BC, during the ancient Tartessos period, a pre-urban settlement existed. The population gradually learned copper and silver metallurgy...
, 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...
and died around 853.
She was a nun at Tabanos, near Cordoba, but was driven from there by the Moorish persecution in 852. She took refuge in Cordoba, where, being called on to deny Christ by the Muslims, she openly rejected Mohammed and was beheaded. Her body is said to have been thrown into the Guadalquivir
Guadalquivir
The Guadalquivir is the fifth longest river in the Iberian peninsula and the second longest river to be its whole length in Spain. The Guadalquivir is 657 kilometers long and drains an area of about 58,000 square kilometers...
, but was rescued by the Christians. Her relics were kept and venerated in Old Castile
Old Castile
Old Castile is a historic region of Spain, which included territory that later corresponded to the provinces of Santander , Burgos, Logroño , Soria, Segovia, Ávila, Valladolid, Palencia....
at two churches, the priory of St. Columba and the royal Abbey of Our Lady at Nájera
Nájera
Nájera is a small town located in the "Rioja Alta" region of La Rioja, Spain on the river Najerilla. Nájera is a stopping point on the Way of St James.-History:...
.
Saint Comba
Veneration of "Saint Comba" in Galicia dates from the Middle AgesMiddle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
; her cult, according to Allyson M. Poska, was "probably a combination of the cults of two virgin martyrs." These were Columba of Sens
Columba of Sens
Saint Columba of Sens was a saintly virgin associated with Sens in France and a fountain named d'Azon.Her whole history is somewhat legendary. It is reported that, at the age of 16, she fled Spain for Gaul to escape the persecutions of Emperor Aurelian. She was located, and imprisoned...
and Columba of Spain.
A Galician legend held that before becoming a virtuous virgin martyr, Comba was a witch. This legend relates that one day, the witch Comba, encountering Jesus Christ on a Galician road, changed her life after Christ remarked, “Go ahead and be the witch, but you will not enter my kingdom.” The tale states that Comba converted to Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
and was martyred for her faith after refusing to deny it, or after refusing the sexual advances of men. She became the 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...
of witches in Galicia, acting both as an intercessor on behalf of witches and as an intercessor against witches.
At Coimbra
Coimbra
Coimbra is a city in the municipality of Coimbra in Portugal. Although it served as the nation's capital during the High Middle Ages, it is better-known for its university, the University of Coimbra, which is one of the oldest in Europe and the oldest academic institution in the...
, according to one 19th century travel guide, there was a small chapel that was said to mark the spot where Comba suffered martyrdom, and that "towards the close of the spring, the young girls of Coimbra deck her shrine with wreaths of roses in remembrance of the rosy crown of martyrdom they believe she won."
External links
- http://www.orthodoxengland.btinternet.co.uk/saintsc.htm