Torquatus from Acci
Torquatus of Acci was one of seven legendary bishops who are said to have been sent to the Iberian Peninsula by the apostles Peter and Paul in the 1st century . The common feast day of the saints is May 1st .
Lore
The tradition of these "Seven Apostolic Men" (siete varones apostólicos) names Torquatus as bishop of Acci (today: Guadix ): Caecilius of Illiberis (today: Granada ), Ctesiphon of Vergium (today: Berja ), Secundus of Abula (today : Abla ), Indaletius of Urci (today: Almería ), Hesychius of Carteia (today: Cazorla ) and Euphrasius of Illiturgum (today: Andújar ). This tradition comes from the martyrology of Lyon from the year 806, which in turn is based on a source from the 5th century. According to manuscripts from the 10th century, the seven men went ashore in Cádiz , where they were persecuted by the local population but miraculously saved. The historical existence of these bishops is doubtful, even if Pope John Paul II explicitly referred to the seven bishops as missionaries of Spain during a visit to Spain in 1982.
Torquatus' bones are said to have been buried in an unadorned sarcophagus in the small Visigothic church of the former Santa Comba de Bande monastery in Galicia .
Adoration
Only a few churches in Spain bear his patronage ; in other regions of Europe it is almost unknown. Torquatus is worshiped almost exclusively in the Andalusian city of Guadix, of which he is the patron saint .
presentation
Medieval representations of the saint are unknown; the few modern portraits show him as a bishop.
Web links
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Torquatus from Acci |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Spanish bishop |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 1st century |
| DATE OF DEATH | 1st century |