Eurosia

Saint Eurosia
Image of Saint Eurosia, whose hands have been cut off, Colle Umberto, Italy, 17th century.
Martyr
Died	714 AD; or 880 AD
Venerated in	Roman Catholic Church, Orthodox Catholic Church
Canonized	Cultus confirmed in 1902 by Pope Leo XIII
Major shrine	Jaca
Feast	25 June

Eurosia (or Orosia) is the patron saint of Jaca, a city in the province of Huesca of northeastern Spain, in the Pyrenees, the center of her cult. In Spain, the "Fiesta de Santa Orosia" is celebrated on 25 June. Tradition states that she was born in Bayonne (or perhaps Bohemia) and died in 714, martyred by the Moors at Jaca.

Her legend states that she was of noble birth and promised to a Moor in an arranged marriage. Eurosia escaped and hid in a cave. Unfortunately, the smoke from her fire led to her capture. She was dragged from the cave by her hair and martyred.

According to an alternate tradition, she was born Dobroslava into the ducal family of Bohemia in 864. When orphaned, Dobroslava was adopted by the succeeding duke, Borivoj I. Borivoj's wife was Saint Ludmila, who converted her adoptive daughter to the Christian faith. Dobroslava became Eurosia ("eloquent") – the Greek translation of her Slavic name.

Borivoj was deposed by pagans, but restored thanks to the efforts of Saint Methodius. In 880, Methodius was ordered by Pope John VIII to find a worthy spouse for the son of the king of Pamplona, Prince Fortún; this son was heir to the throne of Aragon and Navarre, and would be a critical player in the fight against the Moors in Spain.