Vincent of Saragossa
A deacon from the early 4th century, he suffered a particularly cruel martyrdom in Valencia during the persecution of Diocletian, becoming one of the most venerated martyrs in Spain.
- Late Antiquity
- Feast day January 22
- † 304
- Martyr
- Priest
- Deacon
Saint Vincent, a deacon of Saragossa and disciple of Bishop Valerius, was arrested with his master during the Great Persecution of Diocletian, under Emperor Maximian's reign, and brought before Governor Dacian in Valencia. Speaking on behalf of his bishop, Saint Vincent courageously confessed his faith and endured atrocious tortures: he was stretched on the rack, lacerated with iron hooks, burned with red-hot irons, and thrown onto a bed of pottery shards. Despite his extreme suffering, he refused to renounce his faith, dying as a martyr in 304. His body was thrown into the sea, but tradition holds that it was washed ashore and recovered by Christians.
Patronage
Sayings for the day — January 22
- A la Saint Vincent, l'hiver monte ou descend
- A la Saint-Vincent, les glaçons perdent leurs dents ou les recouvrent pour longtemps.
- Saint Vincent clair et beau plus de vin que d'eau — Loir et Cher