Cucuphas facts for kids

Saint Cucuphas was an early Christian martyr from Spain. A martyr is someone who dies for their beliefs. His special day, called a feast day, is usually July 25. However, some places celebrate it on July 27. This avoids clashing with the important day of Santiago, who is a patron saint of Spain. Cucuphas's name might come from the Phoenician language. It is thought to mean "he who jokes" or "he who likes to joke."

Life of Saint Cucuphas

Cucuphas was born in 269 AD. His family was noble and Christian. They lived in a place called Scillis in North Africa. He and Saint Felix were both deacons in the Catholic Church in Carthage. Deacons are helpers in the church. They traveled to Barcelona to share the Christian faith. This is called evangelizing.

Cucuphas worked as a merchant in Barcelona. While working, he also preached Christianity. He helped many people become Christians. He also helped the Christian community there. Stories say he was very kind to the poor. He was also said to perform miracles.

He died near Barcelona around 304 AD. This happened during a time when Christians were persecuted. This means they were treated badly for their faith. The Roman governor ordered his torture. Cucuphas was put in prison near Barcelona. He was finally killed in 304 AD. Two Christian women, Juliana and Semproniana, buried his body. They were also martyred for their actions.

The Sant Cugat del Vallès is a famous abbey. It is believed to be built where Cucuphas died. This place was once a Roman site called Castrum Octavianum.

Saint Cucuphas's Relics

Relics are special objects connected to a saint. They can be parts of their body or things they used. In the 9th century, a group of monks started a monastery at Sant Cugat. They dedicated it to Saint Cucuphas. The monastery has claimed to have Cucuphas's relics since the 8th century.

In the 8th century, Saint Fulrad took some of Cucuphas's relics. He moved them from Sant Cugat to Saint-Denis in France. These relics are still honored in the apse of the Saint Denis church.

From the 14th century, Sant Cugat kept the saint's remains in a special chest. This chest was decorated with pictures of his life. In 1950, a relic from this chest was brought back to Sant Cugat. Today, some of his relics are in the crypt of Santa Maria del Mar basilica. Many churches in Europe also claimed to have his relics.

Veneration in France

Saint Cucuphas is honored in Paris, France. Some of his relics are kept in the Saint-Cucuphas Chapel. This chapel is inside the church of Saint-Denis.

Near Rueil-Malmaison, there is a forest called Bois de St-Cucufa. There is also a small lake named after the saint. This forest was once called Bois Béranger. In the 13th century, Benedictines monks built a chapel there. They dedicated it to Saint Cucuphas. People used to go on pilgrimages to this shrine. A pilgrimage is a special journey to a holy place. These pilgrimages continued until the 18th century.

Other place names in France might also show his worship. These include Guinelat, Conat, and Coplian.

Veneration in Spain

Many churches in the Girona area are named after Saint Cucuphas. For example, San Cucao de Llanera is a town in Llanera, Asturias.

In 2001, some people in Catalonia were worried. They thought Saint Cucuphas's name was removed from a church book. This book is called the Roman Martyrology. But he was still there! He was listed under his Latin and English name, "Cucuphas." The book described him as a "martyr of the persecution of Diocletian." It said he was "killed with a sword" in the "Fourth century" and was "African."

Saints Juliana and Semproniana are still honored in Mataró on July 27. They appear with Cucuphas on the front of the Santa Maria de Mataró church.

In local stories, people pray to Saint Cucuphas when they lose things. They ask for his help to find their belongings again.

Patronage

A patron saint is like a special protector. Saint Cucuphas is not usually linked to a specific patronage. However, some old traditions say he was the patron saint of hunchbacks. These are people with a curved spine. He was also said to be the patron saint of those who committed petty thefts. Petty theft means stealing small things. The reason for this unusual patronage is not known.

Gallery

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  Sant Cugat monastery

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  Ceramic tile designs from the Saint-Cucuphas Chapel, Saint-Denis

See also

In Spanish: Cucufato para niños

• Casket of Saint Cugat