Eulalia of Mérida
Eulalia of Mérida | |
|---|---|
Image of Santa Eulalia in Merida Cathedral | |
| Virgin martyr | |
| Born | c. AD 290 Mérida, Spain |
| Died | c. AD 304 Mérida |
| Venerated in | Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church |
| Canonized | 304 |
| Major shrine | Cathedral of San Salvador |
| Feast | 10 December |
| Attributes | cross, stake, and dove |
| Patronage | Mérida, Spain; Oviedo, Spain; runaways; torture victims; widows; inclement weather |
Eulalia of Mérida (Augusta Emerita in 292 - Augusta Emerita 10 December, 304) was a young Roman Christian martyred in Augusta Emerita, the capital of Lusitania (modern Mérida, Spain), during the Persecution of Christians under Diocletian. Other views place her death at the time of Trajan Decius (AD 249–51). There is debate whether Saint Eulalia of Barcelona, whose story is similar, is the same person. Up till the proclamation of James, son of Zebedee, Eulalia was invoked as the protector of Christian troops in the Reconquista and was patron of the territories of Spain during their formation.