St. Fructuosus of Tarragona

St. Fructuosus of Tarragona

A bishop and martyr; d. 21 January, 259. During the night of 16 January, he, together with his deacons Augurius and Eulogius, was led into prison, and on 21 January tried by the judge Aemilianus. He confessed that he was a Christian and a bishop, whereupon all three were sentenced to be burnt alive. They underwent the ordeal courageously, and, praying and with outstretched hands, gave up the ghost. In this position they are depicted. St. Augustine mentions them in one of his sermons (273), and the Spanish poet Prudentius has celebrated them in a hymn (Peristephanon, hymn, 6).

GABRIEL MEIER