Justus and Pastor
| Saints Justus and Pastor | |
|---|---|
|
Sculptures of Saints Justus and Pastor. Belltower of the church of Sant Just, Barcelona. | |
| Martyrs | |
| Died |
c. 304 outside Alcalá de Henares |
| Venerated in |
Roman Catholic Church Orthodox Catholic Church |
| Major shrine | Alcalá de Henares |
| Feast | August 6 |
| Patronage | Alcalá de Henares; Madrid |
Saints Justus and Pastor (Latin: Iustus et Pastor; died c. 304) are venerated as Christian martyrs. According to their Acts, they were two schoolboys (Justus was 13 years old, Pastor less than 9) who were killed for their faith during the persecution of Christians by the Roman Emperor Diocletian. Flogged and beheaded outside the Spanish city of Alcalá de Henares (known in Roman times as Complutum), they are today considered the patron saints of Alcalá. They are mentioned by Prudentius.
Veneration
The Basilica of Saint Justus and Pastor in Barcelona is located at Rera Sant Just, no number, 08002 Barcelona, Spain. The basilica was erected in the 16th century in gothic style. [1]
Relics believed to be those of Justus and Pastor were discovered in the 8th century and taken to Huesca.
In 1568, they were brought back to Alcalá and interred beneath the high altar of the city's cathedral, known as Cathedral-Magistral of Saints Justus and Pastor, or formally in Spanish as the Santa e Insigne Catedral-Magistral de los Santos Justo y Pastor or more familiarly as the Catedral de los Santos Niños. Constructed between 1497 and 1514,the ancient cathedral is still in daily use, and the saints' tomb is accessible to the public.
Narbonne Cathedral located in the town of Narbonne in southern France is also dedicated to Justus and Pastor.
In popular culture
The story of Justus and Pastor is probably best known to the public due to its mention in the 2001 film The Others by Spanish director Alejandro Amenábar.
References
- ↑ Source: basilicasantjust.cat
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Saints Justus and Pastor. |