Speusippus, Eleusippus and Meleusippus

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Shrine in the Basilica of St. Vitus in which u. a. the bones of the horse saints are kept

The saints Speusippus, Eleusippus and Melapsippus (Meleusippus) († 175 ) are venerated as Christian martyrs . The legend of these were kappadozische triplets under Marcus Aurelius suffered martyrdom. Since they are said to have been horse breeders, they are also called horse saints . Their eldest sister Leonilla was killed with them.

In an alternative version recorded in the Roman Martyrology , Leonilla was the grandmother. The mother of the three was therefore Junilla .

The author of their acts of martyrdom is the saint Neo or Neon, who also suffered martyrdom himself.

The feast day of the saints is January 17th ; on this day the cold market , a horse market, took place until the 17th century .

Word meanings

Speusippos from ancient Greek σπουδάζω "hurry up" and ἵππος "horse", that is, racehorse. Meleusippos from ancient Greek μέλας "black", so black. Eleusippos probably from ancient Greek ἐλαύνω "to ride", meaning riding horse.

Relics

In 490 the alleged relics of the saints were transferred to the Saint-Mammès cathedral in Langres . Most of the relics were brought to Ellwangen in 764 by Hariolf and Erlolf , the founders of the Ellwangen Monastery , and are venerated today in the St. Vitus Basilica there .

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