Serapion of Algiers

Saint Serapion of Algiers

The Martyrdom of Saint Serapion by Francisco de Zurbarán.
Martyr
Born 1179
Ireland
Died November 14, 1240
Algiers
Honored in Roman Catholic Church
Feast November 14

Saint Serapion of Algiers (1179 – November 14, 1240) was a Mercedarian friar who is venerated as a martyr by the Catholic Church, and as a proto-martyr by the Mercedarian Order.[1] According to tradition, he was born either in Ireland or England[2] and served in the armies of Richard the Lion-Heart and Leopold VI during the Crusades.[3]

He then participated in the Reconquista, serving in the army of Alfonso VIII. [4]

He met St. Peter Nolasco and became a Mercedarian in 1222.[5]

The Mercedarians’ goal was to free Christian captives held by Muslim states, and Serapion offered himself as a hostage at Algiers in exchange for some Christian captives. When the ransom money did not arrive in time (or because he refused to stop preaching Christianity),[6] Serapion was killed. According to Christian tradition, he was nailed on an X-shaped cross and was dismembered.[7] Spanish Baroque artist Francisco Zurbarán depicts Serapion in his painting, The Martyrdom of Saint Serapion.

References

  1. ^ http://www.angelfire.com/planet/avemaria/mercy/serapion.html
  2. ^ Matthew Bunson, Margaret Bunson, Stephen Bunson, Our Sunday Visitor's Encyclopedia of Saints (Our Sunday Visitor Publishing, 2003), 743.
  3. ^ http://www.orderofmercy.org/Saints.htm#stserapion
  4. ^ http://www.orderofmercy.org/Saints.htm#stserapion
  5. ^ http://www.orderofmercy.org/Saints.htm#stserapion
  6. ^ Matthew Bunson, Margaret Bunson, Stephen Bunson, Our Sunday Visitor's Encyclopedia of Saints (Our Sunday Visitor Publishing, 2003), 743.
  7. ^ http://www.orderofmercy.org/Saints.htm#stserapion

External links