St Faith

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Saint Faith

Medieval depiction of martyrdom of St. Faith
Born unknown
Died 3rd Century in France
Venerated in Roman Catholicism
Feast October 6
Saints Portal

Saint Faith (Latin Sancta Fides, French Sainte Foy, Spanish Santa Fe) is a saint who reportedly lived in Gaul (now France) in the late 3rd century, called "Virgin and Martyr" in traditional lists of saints.

A girl or young woman from Agen in Aquitaine, she was arrested during persecutions of Christians by the Roman empire and refused to make pagan sacrifices even under torture. Her death is sometimes said to have occurred in the year 287 or 290, sometimes in the large-scale persecution under Diocletian beginning in 303. A number of legends later grew up about her. In the year 866, her remains were transferred to Conques, which was along the pilgrimage route to Compostela.

Her feast day is October 6.

It is now believed by many scholars that she is simply a misinterpretation of the expression "holy faith."

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Heraldic arms attributed to St. Faith in late medieval England. (Click on image for explanation and larger version.)
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Heraldic arms attributed to St. Faith in late medieval England. (Click on image for explanation and larger version.)
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