Acisclus

Infobox Saint
name=Saint Acisclus
birth_date=3rd century
death_date=304
feast_day=17 November
venerated_in=


imagesize=
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birth_place=Córdoba, Spain
death_place=Córdoba, Spain
titles=Martyr
beatified_date=
beatified_place=
beatified_by=
canonized_date=
canonized_place=
canonized_by=
attributes=with Saint Victoria, his sistercite web | last = Jones | first = Terry | title = Acislus | work = Patron Saints Index | url=http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintaa8.htm | accessdate = 2007-03-07] , crowned with roses
patronage=Córdoba, Spain
major_shrine=
suppressed_date=
issues=

Saint Acisclus (also Ascylus, Ocysellus; es icon Santo Acisclo; fr icon Saint Aciscle) (died 304) was a martyr of Córdoba, in Hispania (the Iberian Peninsula — modern Portugal and Spain). His life is mentioned by Eulogius of Cordoba. He suffered martyrdom during the persecutions of Diocletian along with his sister Victoria. Their feast day is November 17. There is doubt about the historical veracity of Victoria's existence, but both martyrs were honored in Mozarabic liturgical rites.

After they were arrested, Acisclus and Victoria were tortured. According to tradition, Victoria was killed by arrows and Acisclus was beheaded.

One 10th century "passio" relates that the Roman prefect of Córdoba, Dion, an "iniquitous persecutor of Christians," had Acisclus and Victoria cast into a fiery furnace. However, when he heard Acisclus and Victoria sing songs of joy from within the furnace, Dion had them bound to stones and cast into the Guadalquivir. They were soon floating unharmed on the river's surface. He then suspended them over a fire. The fire, however, raged out of control and killed hundreds of pagans. The two saints then submitted to martyrdom, having proved their point and demonstrated their faith. [http://libro.uca.edu/martyrs/cm6.htm]

Their home was turned into a church. During the ninth century, some of the Martyrs of Córdoba were associated with this church, including Perfectus, a priest there.

Veneration

Acisclus, along with his sister Victoria are patron saints of Córdoba, and their cult was venerated throughout Hispania and southern France, especially in Provence. There was a minor church dedicated to Saint Acisclus on the slopes of Montserrat. The church of Sant Aciscle i Santa Victòria can be found in Alcalà de Xivert, Castellón..

Iconography

Acisclus and Victoria are represented in art as a young man and woman crowned with roses.

References

ources

* [http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/1117.htm November 17: Acisclus]
* [http://candleslightingcandles.ipbhost.com/index.php?s=7ac8ef15dbda55f9f7295bbe99aba281&showtopic=1457 Saint of the Day: Acisclus]
* [http://libro.uca.edu/martyrs/cm6.htm Martyrdom without Miracles, Christian Martyrs in Muslim Hispania]
* [http://www.cc.jyu.fi/mirator/pdf/Morris.pdf "Patronage and Piety: Montserrat and the Royal House of Medieval Catalonia-Aragon"] Detailed history of the abbey (PDF)