Saint Flora of Córdoba[a][b] (died November 24, 851 AD) was a Mozarabic woman, she was venerated by the Roman Catholic Church as a virgin martyr, and was executed during the reign of Abd ar-Rahman II (r. 822–852).[1]


Flora of Córdoba
Saint Flora depicted at the Mosque–Cathedral of Córdoba.
Virgin martyr
Died(851-11-24)24 November 851
Córdoba, Spain
Cause of deathExecuted by Beheading
Venerated inRoman Catholic Church
Feast24 November

Biography

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Early life and background

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Flora was born to an Islamic father and Christian mother,[2] a native of Ausinianos.[3] Her father died when she was young, and in turn, Flora and her sisters was brought up by her mother into Christianity.[2][4]

According to the hagiography by Eulogius of Córdoba, After Flora's elder brother asked her to convert to Islam, she refused and sought refuge elsewhere.[1]

Martyrdom

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Saint Flora (right) and Saint Pelagius (left)

Flora and Maria met at the church of Saint Acisclus.[4] They came up with a plan to denounce Islam.

After promises and threats, Flora's brother took her to court, where she admitted to a qadi: as a Christian she consecrated her virginity to god.[5] Following her admission, Flora and Maria were subsequently imprisoned.[1] In alignment with Shari'a law, Flora and her partner were found guilty and were beheaded on 24 November 851[1]

After their deaths, they were thrown into a river. The body of Maria was recovered and taken to a convent and their heads were buried at the church of St Acisilus in Cordoba.[6]

See also

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References

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Notes

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  1. ^ Also spelled as Flora of Cordova, Córdova, and Cordoue.
  2. ^ (Arabic: القديسة فلورا من قرطبة; Spanish: Santa Flora de Córdoba)

Footnotes

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  1. ^ a b c d Haines 2019, p. 41.
  2. ^ a b Wolf 1984, p. 50.
  3. ^ Flórez 1792, p. 266.
  4. ^ a b Christys 2013, p. 76.
  5. ^ Wolf 1984, p. 52.
  6. ^ Fell & Challoner 1750, pp. 251–254.

Bibliography

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