Justus and Pastor

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Saints Justus and Pastor
Sculptures of Saints Justus and Pastor. Belltower of the church of Sant Just, Barcelona.
Martyrs
Died~304 AD
outside Alcalá de Henares
Honored inRoman Catholic Church, Orthodox Catholic Church
Major shrineAlcalá de Henares
FeastAugust 6
PatronageAlcalá de Henares; Madrid

Saints Justus and Pastor (died ca. 304) are venerated as Christian martyrs. According to their Acts, they were two schoolboys (Justus was 13 years old, Pastor less than 9) who were killed for their faith during the persecution of Christians by the Roman Emperor Diocletian. Flogged and beheaded outside the Spanish city of Alcalá de Henares (known in Roman times as Complutum), they are today considered the patron saints of both Alcalá and Madrid. They are mentioned by Prudentius.

Veneration[edit]

Relics believed to be those of Justus and Pastor were discovered in the 8th century and taken to Huesca. In 1568, they were brought back to Alcalá and interred beneath the high altar of the city's Cathedral, which is named for them. The ancient Cathedral is still in daily use, and the Saints' tomb is accessible to the public.

The story of Justus and Pastor is probably best known to the public due to its mention in the 2001 film The Others by Spanish director Alejandro Amenábar[citation needed].

External links[edit]

fr:Just et Pasteur la:Iustus et Pastor