Torquatus of Acci
Encyclopedia
Saint Torquatus is venerated as the patron saint
of Guadix
, Spain
. Tradition makes him a Christian
missionary of the 1st century, during the Apostolic Age
. He evangelized the town of Acci, identified as Guadix, and became its first bishop.
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 Torquatus, this group includes Sts. Hesychius
, Caecilius
, Ctesiphon, Euphrasius, Indaletius
, and Secundius
(Isicio, Cecilio, Tesifonte, Eufrasio, Hesiquio y Segundo).
It is not certain whether Torquatus was a martyr or confessor of the faith
.
.
Torquatus' relics and those of Euphrasius were translated
to Galicia. Torquatus’ relics remained for a long time in the Visigothic church of Santa Comba de Bande (Ourense
) (Santa Comba de Baños).
In the 10th century, Torquatus' relics were translated to San Salvador de Celanova (in Celanova
, Ourense).
In 1592, the sepulcher at Celanova was opened and part of Torquatus’ relics were distributed to Guadix, Compostela
, and Orense, and also to El Escorial
, and to the Jesuit college at Guadix, and in 1627, to Granada
. The relics that remained in San Salvador de Celanova were placed in the main chapel of the church of the monastery, together with those of Saint Rudesind, the monastery’s founder.
The cathedral of Guadix conserves three relics associated with Saint Torquatus: his arm, his jawbone, and his calcaneus (this last relic is not on display).
It has been theorized that Torquatus, may be a Christian version of the Celtic god Bandua
.
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 Guadix
Guadix
Guadix, a city of southern Spain, in the province of Granada; on the left bank of the river Guadix, a sub-tributary of the Guadiana Menor, and on the Madrid-Valdepeñas-Almería railway...
, 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...
. Tradition makes him a Christian
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 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 Acci, identified as Guadix, and became its first bishop.
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 Torquatus, 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
Caecilius of Elvira
Saint Caecilius is venerated as the patron saint of Granada, Spain. Tradition makes him a Christian missionary of the 1st century, during the Apostolic Age. He evangelized the town of Iliberri or Iliberis , and became its first bishop. He is thus considered the founder of the archdiocese of...
, Ctesiphon, 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 Secundius
Secundus of Abula
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....
(Isicio, Cecilio, Tesifonte, Eufrasio, Hesiquio y Segundo).
It is not certain whether Torquatus was a martyr or confessor of the faith
Confessor of the Faith
The title Confessor, the short form of Confessor of the Faith, is a title given by the Christian Church to a type of saint.-Western Christianity:...
.
Veneration
Torquatus' relics were rediscovered in the 8th century during the Moorish invasion of Spain, in a church built in his honor, near the Limia RiverLimia River
The Limia River is a river in Galicia, Spain, and Portugal, with an extension of 108 km.The source of the Limia is Talariño Mountain , close to the Paradiña village in the Sarreaus municipality...
.
Torquatus' relics and those of Euphrasius were translated
Translation (relics)
In Christianity, the translation of relics is the removal of holy objects from one locality to another ; usually only the movement of the remains of the saint's body would be treated so formally, with secondary relics such as items of clothing treated with less ceremony...
to Galicia. Torquatus’ relics remained for a long time in the Visigothic church of Santa Comba de Bande (Ourense
Ourense (province)
Ourense is a province of northwestern Spain, in the southeastern part of the Autonomous Community of Galicia. It is bordered by the provinces of Pontevedra in the west, Lugo in the north, León and Zamora in the east, and by Portugal in the south. With an area of 7,278 square km it is the only...
) (Santa Comba de Baños).
In the 10th century, Torquatus' relics were translated to San Salvador de Celanova (in Celanova
Celanova
Celanova is a village and municipality located in the province of Orense, Galicia, Northern Spain. Situated near the border with Portugal, the village is bordered by Ramirás, Cartelle, A Merca, A Bola, Verea and Quintela de Leirado....
, Ourense).
In 1592, the sepulcher at Celanova was opened and part of Torquatus’ relics were distributed to Guadix, Compostela
Santiago de Compostela
Santiago de Compostela is the capital of the autonomous community of Galicia, Spain.The city's Cathedral is the destination today, as it has been throughout history, of the important 9th century medieval pilgrimage route, the Way of St. James...
, and Orense, and also to El Escorial
El Escorial
The Royal Seat of San Lorenzo de El Escorial is a historical residence of the king of Spain, in the town of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, about 45 kilometres northwest of the capital, Madrid, in Spain. It is one of the Spanish royal sites and functions as a monastery, royal palace, museum, and...
, and to the Jesuit college at Guadix, and in 1627, to Granada
Granada
Granada is a city and the capital of the province of Granada, in the autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain. Granada is located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains, at the confluence of three rivers, the Beiro, the Darro and the Genil. It sits at an elevation of 738 metres above sea...
. The relics that remained in San Salvador de Celanova were placed in the main chapel of the church of the monastery, together with those of Saint Rudesind, the monastery’s founder.
The cathedral of Guadix conserves three relics associated with Saint Torquatus: his arm, his jawbone, and his calcaneus (this last relic is not on display).
It has been theorized that Torquatus, may be a Christian version of the Celtic god Bandua
Bandua
In classical Celtic polytheism as well as in Gallaecian and Lusitanian mythology, Bandua was a theonym used to refer to a god or goddess worshipped in Iberia by Gallaeci and Lusitanians. Whether the name referred to a discrete deity or was an epithet applied to different deities is arguable.-Extent...
.