Shrine of Saint Eulalia, Baixada de Santa Eulalia

Shrine of Saint Eulalia, Baixada de Santa Eulàlia "Saint Eulalia's descent"

Eulalia (c. 290 – February 12, 303), co-patron saint of Barcelona, was a 13-year-old Roman Christian virgin who was martyred in Barcelona during the persecution of Christians in the reign of emperor Diocletian (although the Sequence of Saint Eulalia mentions the "pagan king" Maximian). There is some dispute as to whether she is the same person as Eulalia of Mérida, whose story is similar.

History

The daughter of a noble family, 13-year-old Eulalia lived near the city of Barcelona. During the persecutions under Diocletian, governor Dacian arrived in the city intent on enforcing the decrees. Some time later, Eulalia left her home, entered the city and confronted the governor for his merciless persecution of Christians. Unable to dismiss her eloquent arguments, Dacian had the girl undressed and flagellated, followed by further tortures that would not cease unless she admitted the error of her ways. Resisting to the end, she prayed that God would take her to Heaven, until she died.

A dove is supposed to have flown forth from her mouth following her death. Then, a sudden snowstorm covered her body like a garment.

It is traditionally believed that her tortures culminated in her crucifixion on an X-shaped cross, and she is depicted with this cross as the instrument of her martyrdom. However, it has been posited that she was instead publicly tortured to death on an X frame and her body left on display, artistic depictions of this leading to the later belief that she was crucified.

Veneration

There are a number of similarities with the description of the martyrdom of Eulalia of Mérida.

Her body was originally interred in the church of Santa Maria de les Arenes (St. Mary of the Sands; now Santa Maria del Mar, St. Mary of the Sea). It was hidden in 713 during the Moorish invasion, and only recovered in 878. In 1339, it was relocated to an alabaster sarcophagus in the crypt of the newly built Cathedral of Santa Eulalia.[4] The festival of Saint Eulalia is held in Barcelona for a week around her feast day on February 12.

Eulalia is commemorated with statues and street names throughout Barcelona.[6] Baixada de Santa Eulàlia "Saint Eulalia's descent") reflects a tradition that Eulalia was placed in a barrel with shards of glass and rolled down a street.

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