Euphrasius of Illiturgis

Saint Euphrasius of Illiturgis
Saint Euphrasius, altarpiece at Jaén Cathedral, 18th century
Bishop and martyr
Died	1st century Illiturgis, Spain
Venerated in	Roman Catholic Church
Major shrine	Santa María do Mao, Galicia, Spain
Feast	May 15; March 13
Attributes	episcopal attire
Patronage	diocese of Jaén; Andújar; Corsica; Ajaccio, Corsica

Saint Euphrasius of Illiturgis (Spanish: San Eufrasio) is venerated as a Christian missionary of the 1st century, during the Apostolic Age. Euphrasius’ diocese was traditionally associated with Illiturgis (Iliturgi), located between Bailén and Andújar. He is said to have been martyred at Illiturgis. According to tradition, he is one of the group of Seven Apostolic Men (siete varones apostólicos), seven Christian clerics ordained in Rome by Saints Peter and Paul and sent to evangelize Spain. Besides Euphrasius, this group includes Sts. Hesychius, Ctesiphon, Torquatus, Indaletius, and Secundius (Isicio, Cecilio, Tesifonte, Eufrasio, Hesiquio y Segundo).

The communal feast of the Seven Apostolic Men was celebrated in the Mozarabic Liturgy.

In the 7th century, Sisebut built a church over the saint’s sepulcher at Illiturgis, but during the invasion of Spain by the Moors in the 8th century, his relics were translated to the Valley of the Mao River in Galicia, in Lugo Province. He is buried in the church of Santa María do Mao, in the municipality of O Incio, near the monastery of San Xulián de Samos in Samos.

Euphrasius is also patron of Corsica and of Ajaccio; “this seems to have been due to a secondary translation of his relics.”