| Saints Justus and Pastor | |
|---|---|
Sculptures of Saints Justus and Pastor. Belltower of the church of Sant Just, Barcelona. |
|
| Martyrs | |
| Died | ~304 AD outside Alcalá de Henares |
| Honored in | Roman Catholic Church, Orthodox Catholic Church |
| Major shrine | Alcalá de Henares |
| Feast | August 6 |
| Patronage | Alcalá de Henares; Madrid |
Saints Justus and Pastor (died ca. 304) are venerated as Christian martyrs. According to their Acts, they were two schoolboys (Justus was 13 years old, Pastor less than 9) who were killed for their faith during the persecution of Christians by the Roman Emperor Diocletian. Flogged and beheaded outside the Spanish city of Alcalá de Henares (known in Roman times as Complutum), they are today considered the patron saints of both Alcalá and Madrid. They are mentioned by Prudentius.
Relics believed to be those of Justus and Pastor were discovered in the 8th century and taken to Huesca. In 1568, they were brought back to Alcalá and interred beneath the high altar of the city's Cathedral, which is named for them. The ancient Cathedral is still in daily use, and the Saints' tomb is accessible to the public.
The story of Justus and Pastor is probably best known to the public due to its mention in the 2001 film The Others by Spanish director Alejandro Amenábar.