Saint Leo of Patara
Martyr
Saint Leo, witness to the martyrdom of his friend Paregorius in Patara, was arrested after overturning the torches of the temple of Fortune. Despite his advanced age, he refused to honor the idols and was condemned to be dragged over stones until his death. His body, thrown into a precipice, remained intact and the site miraculously became accessible.
Guided reading
5 reading sections
SAINT LEO AND SAINT PAREGORIUS OF PATARA, IN LYCIA (d. s.).
The desire for martyrdom
Saint Leo witnesses the martyrdom of his friend Paregorius and expresses regret at not yet having shared his fate for Christ.
Saint Paregorius had just shed his blood for Jesus Christ; Sain t Leo, who saint Léon Martyr in Lycia, known for his zeal against paganism. had been the witness of his struggle, found himself torn between the joy caused by his friend's happiness and the sorrow of not yet having been able to share it.
The act of faith at the temple of Fortune
Indignant at the blindness of the pagans, Leo extinguishes and tramples the torches of the temple of Fortune.
One day, as he was making his way past the temple of Fortune, h temple de la Fortune Pagan edifice where Leo manifests his opposition to idols. e saw it illuminated by a great number of torches. Touched by the blindness of the pagans, he extinguished these torches and trampled them underfoot.
The trial before the governor
Despite his advanced age, Leo refuses to honor the pagan gods and is sentenced to be dragged over stones to the place of execution.
Brought before t he governo gouverneur Roman authority who condemned Saint Leo. r, the latter begged him in vain to have pity on his great age and to say only that the gods are great. A sentence was pronounced against him, which decreed that he would be tied by the foot and dragged over the stones to the place of execution.
Posthumous miracle and veneration
After his death, the site of his fall miraculously becomes passable and his body, preserved, is buried by the faithful.
His body was thrown into a quagmire at the foot of a rock, but it was not damaged in the fall. Furthermore, this place, which was previously a dreadful precipice whose very sight frightened travelers, became entirely passable; the ground firmed up and one could walk there without running the slightest danger. The faithful gathered the body of the servant of Jesus Christ to bury it; they noticed on his face a vermilion color, mixed with a certain majesty and a sweet smile. The Greeks honor Saint Leo on this day.
Documentary source
Reference to the Acta Sanctorum for the account of the saint's life.
Acta Sanctorum Acta Sanctorum Monumental hagiographic collection by the Bollandists.
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Witness to the martyrdom of his friend Paregorius
- Destruction of torches in the temple of Fortune
- Arrest and refusal to apostatize before the governor
- Condemned to be dragged by the foot over stones
- Body thrown into a quagmire at the foot of a rock
Miracles
- Body undamaged after a fall into a quagmire
- Transformation of a frightening precipice into firm and passable ground
- Face retaining a vermilion color and a smile after death