Acislus and Victoria

Acislus and Victoria, martyrs and patrons of Cordoba (Spain), early 4th century. Acislus was venerated as a martyr from the 6th century or earlier. In the 8th century a Passion was written of little historical value. This made them brother and sister, who were imprisoned and executed in the amphitheatre, one by beheading and the other by being pierced with arrows. Their bodies were buried by a Christian lady Minciana on her estate outside the city, where a church was built over their tombs: this subsequently was also the burial place of martyrs under the Arab persecutions. Eulogius of Cordoba (8th century) highly praised them as had the earlier Prudentius (348–410): they enjoyed a prominent cult in the Mozarabic liturgy and relics were sent both to Gerona and to Toulouse (by Charlemagne). To this day they are invoked against storms, especially in their native city of Cordoba. Feast: 17 November.

Bibliography
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• Bibl SS., i. 160–1: B.L.S., xi. 154–5