Secundus of Abula
Encyclopedia
Saint Secundus or Secundius is venerated as a Christian
missionary and martyr of the 1st century, during the Apostolic Age
. He evangelized the town of Abula, which has been identified as either Ávila or Abla
, and became its first bishop.
Ávila may have been the ancient town known as Abula, mentioned by Ptolemy
in his Geographia (II 6, 60) as being located in the Iberian region of Bastetania. Abula is mentioned as one of the first cities in Hispania
that was Christianized
, specifically by Secundus. However, Ávila may have been the ancient Obila instead, while Abula may have been the town of Abla.
He is one of the group of Seven Apostolic Men
(siete varones apostólicos), seven Christian clerics ordained in Rome
by Saints Peter
and Paul
and sent to evangelize Spain. Besides Secundius, this group includes Sts. Hesychius
, Caecilius, Torquatus, Euphrasius, Indaletius
, and Ctesiphon.
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
missionary and martyr of the 1st century, during the Apostolic Age
Apostolic Age
The Apostolic Age of the history of Christianity is traditionally the period of the Twelve Apostles, dating from the Crucifixion of Jesus and the Great Commission in Jerusalem until the death of John the Apostle in Anatolia...
. He evangelized the town of Abula, which has been identified as either Ávila or Abla
Abla
-External links: - Diputación Provincial de Almería...
, and became its first bishop.
Ávila may have been the ancient town known as Abula, mentioned by Ptolemy
Ptolemy
Claudius Ptolemy , was a Roman citizen of Egypt who wrote in Greek. He was a mathematician, astronomer, geographer, astrologer, and poet of a single epigram in the Greek Anthology. He lived in Egypt under Roman rule, and is believed to have been born in the town of Ptolemais Hermiou in the...
in his Geographia (II 6, 60) as being located in the Iberian region of Bastetania. Abula is mentioned as one of the first cities in Hispania
Hispania
Another theory holds that the name derives from Ezpanna, the Basque word for "border" or "edge", thus meaning the farthest area or place. Isidore of Sevilla considered Hispania derived from Hispalis....
that was Christianized
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
, specifically by Secundus. However, Ávila may have been the ancient Obila instead, while Abula may have been the town of Abla.
He is one of the group of Seven Apostolic Men
Seven Apostolic Men
According to Christian tradition, the Seven Apostolic Men were seven Christian clerics ordained in Rome by Saints Peter and Paul and sent to evangelize Spain...
(siete varones apostólicos), seven Christian clerics ordained in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
by Saints Peter
Saint Peter
Saint Peter or Simon Peter was an early Christian leader, who is featured prominently in the New Testament Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles. The son of John or of Jonah and from the village of Bethsaida in the province of Galilee, his brother Andrew was also an apostle...
and Paul
Paul of Tarsus
Paul the Apostle , also known as Saul of Tarsus, is described in the Christian New Testament as one of the most influential early Christian missionaries, with the writings ascribed to him by the church forming a considerable portion of the New Testament...
and sent to evangelize Spain. Besides Secundius, this group includes Sts. Hesychius
Hesychius of Cazorla
Saint Hesychius is venerated as the patron saint of Cazorla, Spain. Tradition makes him a Christian missionary of the 1st century, during the Apostolic Age. He evangelized the town of Carcere, Carteia, or Carcesi, identified as Cazorla, became its first bishop, and was martyred there by being...
, Caecilius, Torquatus, Euphrasius, Indaletius
Indaletius
Saint Indaletius is venerated as the patron saint of Almería, Spain. Tradition makes him a Christian missionary of the 1st century, during the Apostolic Age. He evangelized the town of Urci , near the present-day city of Almería, and became its first bishop. He may have been martyed at Urci...
, and Ctesiphon.