Marina of Aguas Santas Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Saint Marina
Santa Marina, by Francisco de Zurbarán.
Virgin and martyr
Born	119 AD
Died	139 AD
Venerated in	Catholic Church
Feast	July 18
Patronage	Ourense

Saint Marina of Aguas Santas (also called Marina of Ourense) lived around 120-135 AD. She is known as a virgin martyr from Aguas Santas, a place in the Ourense province of Spain. Her story mixes facts with old legends.

The Legend of Saint Marina
Another Story of Saint Marina
How Saint Marina is Honored
Who Saint Marina Protects
Images for kids
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The Legend of Saint Marina

Santa Marina de Aguas Santas, Seville

The traditional story says Santa Marina was born in Xinzo de Limia. This area, called La Limia, was a Roman town back then. An important Roman road, the Vía Nova, passed through it.

Marina's father, Theudio, was an important person. Her mother died when Marina was born. Theudio found a nurse named Aya to care for his daughter. Aya lived on a farm in Pinnitus, where a priest named Teotimo taught the community. Marina grew up with Aya and chose to become a Christian. She was baptized, which made her father, who followed Roman beliefs, unhappy.

Marina lived a simple farm life, caring for animals. One day, when she was about fifteen, she was looking after cattle near a road. A young Roman leader named Olibrio saw her. He was impressed by her beauty. He wanted her to be his wife, partner, or servant. Marina refused him many times.

Because she kept refusing, Olibrio accused her of being a Christian. This was a serious charge at the time. Marina was put in prison and tortured in different ways.

A law from the Roman emperor Trajan said Christians had to die if they did not give up their faith. At her trial, Marina did not deny her Christian beliefs. She also refused to offer incense to the Roman gods. She was sentenced to death by beheading, as she was a Roman citizen. She was taken to a field outside the town. When her head was cut off, water flowed from the spot where it touched the ground.

Another Story of Saint Marina

Sometimes, Marina is also thought to be one of nine sisters. These sisters, including Quiteria and Librata, were said to be born in Braga, Portugal. Their parents were Lucius Catilius Severus, a Roman governor, and his wife Calcia. Calcia secretly left her daughters with Christian families. Marina and her sisters were baptized by Bishop Saint Ovidius and raised as Christians.

When they were twenty, they were accused of being Christians. They were brought before their father, the governor. He recognized them as his own daughters and asked them to give up their faith. He promised them a life of luxury. But the sisters refused and were put in prison. They managed to escape but were later killed for their faith. A spring of water appeared where they were beheaded. This place was called Aguas Santas, meaning "Holy Waters."

Some stories combine both of these accounts.

How Saint Marina is Honored

Igrexa de Santa Mariña de Augas Santas, Allariz

After the Edict of Milan in 313 AD, Christians could worship freely. Marina's burial site was near the Ribeira Sacra. It is likely that monks or hermits lived there to remember the saint. They also cared for people who came to visit her tomb. Around the year 800, people started to honor Santa Marina more widely. This led to the building of the Santa Mariña de Augas Santas church in the late twelfth century. This church is in Aguas Santas.

A historian named Juan Muñoz de la Cueva strongly supported honoring Marina of Aguas Santas. He found an old manuscript that said her story came from a holy priest named Teotimus.

Marina is believed to have died near the city of Ourense, in Aguas Santas. Her remains are kept in a church there that is named after her. Many churches and holy places are dedicated to her in Galicia, Astorga, and other places like Cordoba and Seville.

Her feast day, a special day to remember her, is celebrated on July 18. The site where she died is still a place where people go on pilgrimages. Many believe the waters there have healing powers.

However, there is not much clear information about Marina's exact life or when she lived. Her story was sometimes mixed up with that of Margaret of Antioch, who was also sometimes called Marina.

Who Saint Marina Protects

Marina of Aguas Santas is the patron saint of Ourense. The Church of Santa Marina de Aguas Santas is in the town of the same name. It is about 15 kilometers from Ourense, near Allariz. Many believe her relics, or remains, are kept there.

She is also honored in Córdoba at the Parish of Santa Marina de Aguas Santas. A church is dedicated to her in Fernán Núñez.

She is also the patron saint of a Portuguese town called Santa Marinha e São Pedro da Afurada in Vila Nova de Gaia.

In Spain, she is celebrated in many towns. These include Aracaldo, Escurial de la Sierra, El Collado, and Villarcayo. She is also honored in Villandiego, Castrillejo de la Olma, and Magán. Other towns include Fontihoyuelo, Cigales, Izagre, and Rabé de las Calzadas. She is also celebrated in Valverde de Mérida and Buelna.

In Galicia, many people deeply respect this saint. Many towns and parishes honor her. These include Carracedo, Rubiá, Teo, Ginzo de Limia, Cambados, Las Nieves, and Maroñas.

In Asturias, she is the patron saint of Andeyes village. In Aragon, there is a chapel of Santa Marina in Estopiñán del Castillo. In Seville, the Church of Santa Marina was built in the thirteenth century.