Saint Torquatus of Acci | |
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Bishop | |
Died | 1st century Guadix, Spain |
Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church |
Major shrine | Guadix Cathedral |
Feast | May 15, May 1 (with Seven Apostolic Men); June 14 (Guadix) |
Patronage | Guadix |
Saint Torquatus (Spanish: San 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.
He is one of the group of Seven Apostolic Men (siete varones apostólicos), seven Christian clerics ordained in Rome by Saints Peter and Paul and sent to evangelize Hispania. Besides Torquatus, this group includes Sts. Hesychius, Caecilius, Ctesiphon, Euphrasius, Indaletius, and Secundius (Isicio/Hesiquio, Cecilio, Tesifonte, Eufrasio, Indalecio y Segundo).
It is not certain whether Torquatus was a martyr or confessor of the faith.[1]