Serapion of Algiers

Saint Serapion of Algiers

Martyr
Born 1179
Ireland
Died November 14, 1240
Algiers
Venerated 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