A priest in Cordoba in the 9th century, Roderick was falsely declared to have converted to Islam by his apostate brother while he was unconscious. Refusing to renounce his Christian faith before the qadi, he was imprisoned with Solomon. Both were executed in 857 for their fidelity to Christ.
Guided reading
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SAINT RODERICK AND SAINT SOLOMON, MARTYRS OF CORDOBA (857).
Context of Mozarabic Spain
Ninth-century Spain was under Moorish rule, marked by deep religious divisions within Christian families and numerous apostasies.
A Spanish author begins the acts of the martyrs of Cordoba under Abd al-Rahman II and his son Muhammad as follows:
"At that time, by a just judgment of God, Spain was oppressed by the Moors..."
Reading the acts of the martyrs of this era indeed gives a rather poor impression of the Christians, descendants of the Visigoths and the Iberians. Division reigned in families, and there were few that did not count apostates among their members. The Muslims themselves were scandalized by the lack of energy with which the Spaniards defended their religion and did not spare them mockery on this subject.
The acts of Saint Roderick and Saint Solomon, of which we i nsert the summ saint Rodrigue Spanish priest and martyr of the 9th century. ary her e, seem to us saint Salomon King of Brittany and martyr in the 9th century. to perfectly depict the social state of Spain in the 9th century.
Family conflict and slander
Rodrigue is the victim of a violent dispute between his two brothers, one a Muslim and the other a bad Christian, who wound him before falsely claiming that he had converted to Islam.
Rodrigue Rodrigue Spanish priest and martyr of the 9th century. had two brothers, one of whom abjured the religion of his fathers to become a Muslim, and the other was a very bad Christian; this often caused disputes with the third. One night when they were pushing them to excess, Rodrigue tried to appease them. They both threw themselves upon him, and, without intending to, they wounded him mortally. While he was trying in vain to lie down on his bed, not having the strength, the Muslim had him placed on a stretcher and carried through the neighboring streets, saying: "Here is my brother whom God has enlightened, let him be a priest, he has embraced our religion, and, finding himself, as you see, at the point of death, he did not want to die without declaring his change to you."
Arrest and trial in Cordoba
Denounced by his brother for apostasy from Islam, Rodrigo affirms his Christian faith and his priesthood before the cadi, then is imprisoned with Salomon.
After a few days, Rodrigo recovered his health; but he had no memory of what had happened, because he had neither feeling nor consciousness at the time, so overwhelmed was his body by the mistreatment he had received. He was told what his apostate brother had done, and, following the example of the Lord who felt he must escape the snares of Herod, he withdrew from his country house to another place. Obliged to come to Cordoba for some business, he was met by this Muslim brother, who took him to the cadi, accusing him of having abandoned the sect of Muhammad. Rodrigo denied that he had ever embraced it, and declared that he was not only a Christian, but a priest. The cadi, after having tried in vain to shake his resolve, sent him to prison. There, Rodrigo formed a friendship with Salomo n, impr Salomon King of Brittany and martyr in the 9th century. isoned for the same cause. The cadi, informed of the good works they were doing together and of their bond, had them separated, with orders to let no one see them; then he had them brought before him three times. Seeing that his speeches made no impression on their minds, he condemned them to death. Both prepared themselves for this torment with the sign of the cross. Rodrigo was executed first. Saint Eulogius, having learned that th ey had consu Saint Euloge Author of the acts of the martyrs and witness to their execution. mmated their martyrdom, celebrated Mass, then came to the bank of the river where their bodies had been exposed. He noticed there that the infidels were taking stones stained with the blood of these martyrs and throwing them into the river, for fear that the Christians might keep them as relics. They are honored in the Church on March 13, the day of their martyrdom, in 857.
The martyrdom and the testimony of Eulogius
Rodrigue and Salomon were executed in 857; their bodies were thrown into the river while Saint Eulogius collected the account of their sacrifice.
We owe these Acts to Saint Eulog saint Euloge Author of the acts of the martyrs and witness to their execution. ius, whose life we provided on March 11.
Annexes & related entities
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