Saint Christina
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| Saint Christina | |
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| Virgin and Martyr | |
| Born | 3rd Century, Persia |
| Died | 3rd Century |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church |
| Major shrine | Palermo |
| Feast | 24 July (two saints of this name) 13 March (sixth-century Persian martyr) |
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Saint Christina or Christine is the name of several recognized saints, the most recent of whom is Christina the Astonishing (1150–1224), whose feast is on 24 July.
Another is a Persian martyr Christina. Her feast is on 13 March, and the Roman Martyrology describes her as follows: "In Persia, Saint Christina, martyr, who was flogged with rods and concluded the witness of martyrdom under King Chosroes I of the Persians."[1] Sixth-century Chosroes I reigned from 531 to 579.
More widespread is devotion to the saint known in the Eastern Orthodox Church as Christina the Great Martyr.[2] She is known also as Christina of Tyre and Christina of Bolsena. Her feast is on 24 July.
The entry for her in the Roman Martyrology is very brief: "At Bolsena in Tuscany, Saint Christina, virgin and martyr". This saint was once included in the Roman Catholic calendar of saints to be commemorated universally, wherever the Roman Rite was celebrated, but, while her cult remains approved, she was removed from that list in 1969, "because nothing is known of this virgin and martyr apart from her name and her burial at Bolsena." [3]
Archaeological excavations of an underground cemetery constructed at her tomb have shown that she was venerated at Bolsena by the fourth century.
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[edit] Legend of Saint Christina
However, nothing is now known about her life. But by the ninth century, an account of her martyrdom was composed, which developed many variants. According to these, she was born either in Tyre (Eastern stories) or in Persia (Western stories) during the 3rd century or 5th century..
While the accounts of her martyrdom vary widely, they seem to agree on some details: Christina was the daughter of a wealthy pagan magistrate named Urbanus who had his daughter tortured because of her faith, but God thwarted his efforts on several occasions. The nature of the torture varies with each telling, and can include iron hooks, grilling by fire, placement in a furnace, torture on the wheel, assault by snakes, assailment by arrows, drowning at sea, and other assorted methods. After her father's death, his successor, Dion, continued to torture her. In all versions of the tale Christina eventually perishes, but not before God exhibits his wrath by lashing out at her tormentors.
Some scholars have concluded that her legend is the result of pious fiction being mistaken for history. The theme of her legend (a beautiful Christian maiden is tortured to death by pagan men, who in return suffer the wrath of God) is repeated in many ancient and medieval hagiographies, particularly that of Saint Barbara.
[edit] Relics
Toffia in the Province of Rieti displays her relics in a transparent urn. Palermo, of which Christina is one of four patron saints, also claims to hold her relics.
The Eastern tradition that connects Saint Christina with Tyre, Lebanon may be due to confusion with the name of a locality near Bolsena.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- The Passio of Saint Christina (in Italian)
- Santa Cristina (in Spanish)
- Saint Christina
