Saint Vincent of Saragossa Saint Vincent of Saragossa was a
Christian deacon martyred in A.D. 304 under Emperor Diocletian.
He was born at Saragossa and was educated and ordained as deacon
by Valerius, Bishop of Saragossa. Vincent preached for Bishop
Valerius. By order of the provincial governor, Dacian, Vincent
and Valerius were taken in chains to Valencia and imprisoned.
Valerius was exiled. Vincent, who refused to sacrifice to pagan
gods and consign Christian Scripture to the fire, was tortured.
He was scourged, placed on the rack, imprisoned in a cell full
of sharp broken potsherds, and finally placed on a soft bed
where he died. His body was thrown outside to be devoured by
vultures and foxes, but it was defended by a raven. Dacian had
Vincent’s body cast into the sea, but it came to shore and was
buried by a pious widow outside the walls of Valencia. His
relics were claimed by churches in Valencia and Saragossa (in
modern-day Spain) and portions of Saint Vincent's tunic and
jawbone were given as royal g