Saint eulalia, copatron saint of barcelona, was a yearold roman christian virgin who suffered martyrdom in barcelona during the persecution of christians in the reign of emperor diocletian, towards the end of the ban on christianity. Eulalia is the saint who acts as the cathedrals namesake, and while the og patron saint of barcelona, gets a pretty lacklustre fiesta compared to saint merce s in september, which is resplendent with devils and fire runs and giants and human tours and concerts everywhere. A fervent christian, she refused to adore the roman gods and because of that she was tortured times, one for each year she was old, in the most horrific ways, until she was. From that very time, white geese became the symbol of the martyr eulalia of barcelona. In memory of this act he set up an inscription yet preserved in the. Until 23 november, 874, the body of the barcelona bartyr reposed outside the walls of the city in the church of santa maria del mar. Eulalia of merida was a young roman christian martyred in augusta emerita, the capital of lusitania, during the persecution of christians under diocletian. Saint eulalia one of the most wellknown and endearing part of the cathedral of barcelona is the crypt of saint eulalia. The acts of her life and martyrdom were copied early in the twelfth century, and with elegant conciseness, by the learned ecclesiastic renallus grammaticus bol. Long before her name became associated with a 175yearold barcelonabased fashion brand, santa eulalia was widely known as young.
St eulalia church and office will be closed until further notice. Until 23 november, 874, the body of the barcelona martyr reposed outside the walls of the city in the church of santa maria del mar. What little else is known of her to date is based mostly on legend. They say the geese have been here for 500 years, always of them, to honor saint eulalia who died at age. On that date both the body and the tomb were transferred to his cathedral by bishop frodoinus. Barcelona has a patron, santa eulalia or saint eulalia, and logically, there is a festival every year to celebrate her. There is debate whether saint eulalia of barcelona, whose story is similar, is the same person. In its more than 2000 m2 you will find a carefully selected array of international luxury brands and collections for men and women. Alibrarlatierraagloriarlapatriaaellossantaeulalia1714. There is some dispute as to whether she is the same person as saint eulalia of merida, whose story is similar.
Of barcelonas three patronesses, the legend of saint eulalia is the most deeprooted in the city. The ultimate self guided tour of the barcelona cathedral. But the barcelona cathedral is truly a treasure unto itself and worth exploring in its entirety. Saint eulalia, a single legend claimed by two different places. Eulalia is the saint who acts as the cathedrals namesake, and while the og patron saint of barcelona, gets a pretty lacklustre fiesta compared to saint merces in september, which is resplendent with devils and fire runs and giants and human tours and concerts everywhere. In memory of this act he set up an inscription yet preserved in the museo provincial of barcelona no. One of the most wellknown and endearing part of the cathedral of barcelona is the crypt of saint eulalia. Her tomb resides in the barcelona cathedral bearing her name, where her. In the time of the emperor diocletian she was tortured with fire and the rack. Other views place her death at the time of trajan decius. The barcelona eulalia was said to be martyred on february 12, but the earliest account of her life is from the 7th century and is merely a copy of prudentius. In this poem the torturers claw at her body with iron hooks and hold lighted. The tomb of saint eulalia is here and, out in the cloister, i loved the chapel of santa rita who is the patron saint of impossible causes.
They draw their details from different aspects of different legends. Barcelona saint the legend of st eulalia, the only saint that buried in the cathedral of barcelona. Eulalia, a 1214 year old who suffered a nightmarish death in the 4th century. Several villages in guienne and languedoc are named for her. The donation of these paintings to barcelona city council is a considerable boost to the citys cultural heritage. The cathedral of saint eulalia, the church of santa maria del mar and antonio gaudis world renowned sagrada familia must stand out as three architectural and historic sites within the great city. She is invoked against miscarriage and for or against rain and calm waters. Eulalia was a young girl living at sarria during the 4th century, a town located in the outskirts of barcino name of barcelona during the roman period. There is a parade with giants and other fantasy characters, sardana folk dancers, correfoc fireruns. The martyr eulalia lived in spain, near the city of barcionum now barcelona, and she was raised by her parents in piety and the christian faith.
The barcelona cathedral is one of three majestic churches in barcelona, spain, a city noted for its magnificent churches and art noveau architecture. For emergencies that require a priest, please call. The main catholic church of barcelona is the littleknown cathedral of the holy cross and st. Barcelona cathedral barcelona barcelona travel guide. Barcelona proudly commemorates the saint in streetnames, statues and monuments around the old part of the city and surrounding areas. Most people simply refer to the edifice as the barcelona cathedral but its real name reveals that it is dedicated to the copatron saint of barcelona, saint eulalia of barcelona. The square is always full of bystanders, street vendors, street musicians and tourists. Virginmartyr eulalia of barcelona and the martyr felix. Eulalia of barcelona, saint, a spanish martyr in the persecution of diocletian february 12, 304, patron of the cathedral and city of barcelona, also of sailors. Patron saint of barcelona, sailors, against drought, against dysentery, boatmen, mariners, pregnant women, for rain, safe sailing, safe seafaring, sailors, travellers, watermen. Behold, god helps me, and the lord is the defender of my soul ps.
The magnificent gothic tomb incorporates romanesque elements from other sources, such as the bases and capitals holding up the structure of the polychromed marble sarcophagus solemnly inaugurated in 39. Saint eulalia of barcelona 290304 find a grave memorial. Lived 290 to 303 born to a wealthy family, legend has it that eulalia was a child prodigy. Virginmartyr eulalia of barcelona and the martyr felix orthodox. Up till the proclamation of james, son of zebedee, eulalia was invoked as the protector of christian troops in the reconquista and was patron of the territories of spain during their. She was a yearold christian girl who was tortured to death and became a martyr during the persecution of christians by roman emperor diocletian. Santa eulalia, catalunyas first patron saint barcelona metropolitan. Saint eulalia, a single legend claimed by two different. It is an ancient building in a romanesque style, based partially on the architecture of early byzantine basilicas, but with pronounced gothic elements. The horrible history of barcelonas saint eulalia stoke. Eulalias parish located in roaring brook township, pennsylvania is a vibrant and growing community of faith who. But who was eulalia and what is the history of the event. Already at fourteen years of age, the maiden spent a solitary life in her parental home with others of her own age, occupied in prayer, the reading of.
Today, shbarcelona will talk about the saint eulalia festival and the activities that are usually held to commemorate this date, which are many. Media in category saint eulalia of barcelona the following 9 files are in this category, out of 9 total. Eulalia of merida, virgin and martyr feast day december 10 eulalia of merida was born in spain in the last decade of the third century. The cathedral of the holy cross and saint eulalia in barcelona it is impossible to bypass the building, which is located in the center of the gothic quarter. Luxury store founded in 1843, santa eulalia is a benchmark in the world of fashion. The barcelona history museum is hosting an exhibition of various works depicting episodes of the life of saint eulalia by the leading 19thcentury painter josep bernat flaugier. The horrible history of barcelonas saint eulalia stoke travel. Saint eulalia parishs commitment to unshakable faith and purity is a legacy to be revered by those who would honor her name. She was educated in the christian religion and was taught the sentiments of perfect piety. Our church of saint eulalia in winchester, massachusetts was dedicated on may 23, 1966 with monsignor joseph lyons as pastor. She was but twelve years old when the bloody edicts of diocletian were issued.
Eulalia descended from one of the most prominent families in spain in 290 ad. Eulalia presented herself before the cruel judge dacianus, and reproached him for attempting to destroy souls by compelling them to renounce the only true god. The festival of saint eulalia, also known as laia, is celebrated annually on february 12th. Each year, on february, there is a festival dedicated to her, to know more, read my. And now in the barcelona cathedral there is a separate inner courtyard, where thirteen white geese live as per the age of the saint and the number of her tortures, and the young virginchristian is considered the heavenly patroness of the city. Eulalia, martyr and patron of barcelona, pray for the.
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