Saint Torquatus (Spanish: Santo Torcuato) is venerated as the patron saint of Guadix, Spain. Tradition makes him a Christian missionary of the 1st century, during the Apostolic Age. He evangelized the town of Acci, identified as Guadix, and became its first bishop.
Torquatus' relics and those of Euphrasius were translated to Galicia.[2] Torquatus’ relics remained for a long time in the Visigothic church of Santa Comba de Bande (Ourense) (Santa Comba de Baños).
In 1592, the sepulcher at Celanova was opened and part of Torquatus’ relics was distributed to Guadix, Compostela, and Ourense, and also to El Escorial, and to the Jesuit college at Guadix, and in 1627, to Granada.[1] The relics that remained in San Salvador de Celanova were placed in the main chapel of the church of the monastery, together with those of Saint Rudesind, the monastery's founder.[1]
The cathedral of Guadix conserves three relics associated with Saint Torquatus: his arm, his jawbone, and his calcaneus (this last relic is not on display).[2]
It has been theorized[3] that Torquatus, may be a Christian version of the Celtic god Bandua.[3]
This article uses material from the Wikipedia article St._Torquatus, and is written by contributors.
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