Pancras

died circa 304

Men carry a statue of St. Pancras before the start of a pilgrimage to the shrine named after him in La Roda de Andalucia, Spain, May 13. Spaniards, who have the highest unemployment level in the eurozone, take fresh sprigs of parsley to the saint to ask for jobs and good health. In the fourth century, at age 14, St. Pancras was beheaded for publicly declaring his faith and, according to legend, fresh parsley must be placed before him to bring good luck. (CNS photo/Marcelo del Pozo, Reuters)

According to an early legend, the Roman martyr Pancras was a native of Syria or Phrygia (now Turkey) brought to Rome by an uncle after he was orphaned. They converted to Christianity there and were martyred during the persecution of Emperor Diocletian. Pancras reportedly was only 14, the likely reason for his being a patron saint of children. A strong cult of Pancras developed in Rome and in England from the time of St. Augustine of Canterbury, who dedicated a church to him around 600. Pancras is also mentioned in St. Bede’s martyrology and in most medieval English calendars, and the famous north London train station takes its name from an ancient church there dedicated to St. Pancras.

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Author: Catholic News Service

Catholic News Service is the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ news and information service.

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