Victor and Corona

Saints Victor and Corona

Illuminated miniature of the martyrdom of Saints Victor and Corona, on a full leaf from a Book of Hours, France (Paris), ca. 1480.
Martyrs
Died ~170 AD
Venerated in Roman Catholic Church
Feast 14 May
Patronage Feltre; Castelfidardo; Corona is invoked in connection with superstitions involving money, such as gambling or treasure hunting
St Victor of Siena (left) and St Corona (above) by the Master of the Palazzo Venezia Madonna (Statens Museum for Kunst, Copenhagen DK).

Saints Victor and Corona are two Christian martyrs. Most sources state that they were killed in Roman Syria during the reign of Marcus Aurelius (170s AD). However, various hagiographical texts disagree about the site of their martyrdom, with some stating that it was Damascus, while Coptic sources state that it was Antioch. Some Western sources state that Alexandria or Sicily was their place of martyrdom. They also disagree about the date of their martyrdom. They may have been martyred during the reign of Antoninus, Diocletian, while the Roman Martyrology states that it was in the third century when they met their death.[1] Saint Corona was popular in folk treasure magic, being called upon by a treasure hunter to bring treasure, and then sent away through a similarly elaborate ritual.[2]

Legend

Their legend states that Victor was a Roman soldier of Italian ancestry, serving in the city of Damascus in Roman Syria during the reign of Emperor Antoninus Pius. He was tortured - including having his eyes gouged out - by a commander named Sebastian.

While he was suffering from these tortures, the sixteen-year-old spouse of one of his brothers-in-arms, named Corona,[3] comforted and encouraged him. For this, she was arrested and interrogated. According to the passio of Corona, which is considered largely fictional, Corona was bound to two bent palm trees and torn apart as the trunks were released.

Victor was beheaded in Damascus in 160 AD.

Other sources state that they were husband and wife.[4]

Veneration

Victor and Corona's memorial day is 24 November (11 November in the Orthodox church calendar). Their feast day is 14 May. Outside the town of Feltre on the slopes of Mount Miesna is the church of SS. Vittore e Corona, erected by the Crusaders from Feltre after the First Crusade.

Corona is especially venerated in Austria and eastern Bavaria. She is invoked in connection with superstitions involving money, such as gambling or treasure hunting.

Otto III, around AD 1000, brought Corona's relics to Aachen.

Notes

  1. ↑ Santi Vittore e Corona
  2. ↑ Dillinger, Johannes (2011). Magical Treasure Hunting in Europe and North America. Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 89–90. ISBN 0230000045.
  3. ↑ Also known as Stefania, Stephana, a Greek translation of her Latin name, meaning "crown"
  4. ↑ Saint Patrick's Church: Saints of May 14
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