Saint Venera
Venera | |
|---|---|
| Martyr | |
| Born | 100 AD. ca. |
| Died | 143 AD. ca. |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church Eastern Orthodox Church |
| Major shrine | Acireale Cathedral |
| Feast | November 14 ; July 26 |
| Attributes | crown; book; palm; cross; a palm of martyrdom interlaced with a triple crown (signifying the fact that she was a Virgin, an Apostle, and a Martyr) |
| Patronage | Acireale; Santa Venera, Malta; Grotte, Santa Venerina, Avola; in Sicily, invoked against volcanic eruptions, specifically those associated with Mount Etna, as well as earthquakes. |
Saint Venera (Veneranda, Veneria, Venerina, Parasceve) is venerated as a Christian martyr of the 2nd century. Little is known of this saint. The date of her death is traditionally given as July 26, 143 AD.
In the Catalogo Sanctorum, composed by Petrus de Natalibus between 1369 and 1372, he cites in Chapter 61 the name of a virgin martyr named Veneranda. According to de Natalibus, Veneranda was born in Gaul in the 2nd century and martyred in Rome during the time of Emperor Antoninus Pius (138-161 AD).