Victor and Corona | |
|---|---|
 Illuminated miniature of the martyrdom of Saints Victor and Corona, on a full leaf from aBook of Hours, France (Paris), c. 1480. | |
| Martyrs | |
| Died | c. 170 AD |
| Venerated in | Catholic Church Eastern Orthodox Church |
| Feast | 14 May (Catholic Church) 11 November (Eastern Orthodox Church,Julian calendar) |
| Patronage | Feltre;Castelfidardo; Corona is invoked in connection with causes involving money, such as gambling or treasure hunting. |
Saints Victor and Corona (also known asSaints Victor and Stephanie) are twoChristian martyrs. Victor was a Roman soldier who was tortured and killed; Corona was killed for comforting him. Corona is invoked as a patron of causes involving money; she was not historically associated with pandemics or disease, but has been invoked against thecoronavirus pandemic.
Their legend states that Victor was aRoman soldier of Italian ancestry, who was tortured, including having his eyes gouged out, and wasbeheaded. Most sources state that he and Corona were killed inRoman Syria during the reign ofMarcus Aurelius (around the 160s-170s AD), but varioushagiographical texts disagree about the site of their martyrdom, with some stating that it wasDamascus, whileCoptic sources state that it wasAntioch. Some Western sources state thatAlexandria orSicily was their place of martyrdom. They also disagree about the date of their martyrdom. They may have been martyred during the reign ofAntoninus Pius, orDiocletian, while theRoman Martyrology states that it was in the third century when they met their death.[1]
While he was suffering from the tortures, the sixteen-year-old wife of another soldier, named Corona or Stephanie (orStefania orStephana, from Greekστέφᾰνος,stéphanos 'crown', the Greek version of her Latin name, which also means 'crown')[2][3][4] comforted and encouraged him. For this, she was arrested and interrogated. According to thepassio of Corona, Corona was bound to two bentpalm trees and torn apart as the trunks were released; thepassio is considered largely fictional, and she herself may also be fictional.[5] Other sources state that Victor and Corona were husband and wife.[6][7]
There is also debate as to where Corona was from; differing accounts place her inSyria,Sicily, andMarseille.[7]
Victor and Corona's memorial day is 24 November (11 November in theJulian Calendar). Their feast day is 14 May. Outside the town ofFeltre in northern Italy, on the slopes of Mount Miesna, is the church of SS. Vittore e Corona, erected by theCrusaders from Feltre after theFirst Crusade.
Corona is especially venerated inAustria and easternBavaria. There is a chapel dedicated to her inSauerlach, nearMunich.[7] There are two churches named after her in theRoman Catholic Diocese of Passau and two towns named after her inLower Austria.[7] A statue of her stands in theMünster Cathedral.[7]
Around 1000 ADOtto III, Holy Roman Emperor brought Corona'srelics toAachen in western Germany.[7] Her relics were rediscovered during excavation work atAachen Cathedral in 1910. The relics were removed from a crypt and placed in a shrine inside the cathedral.[7]
Corona is the patroness of causes involving money, such asgambling andtreasure hunting, a result of a later treasure hunter who credited his success to invoking her.[5][8][9] She is called upon by a treasure hunter to bring treasure, and then sent away through a similarly elaborate ritual.[10] She was not historically a patron saint of or invoked against pandemics or disease, but has been invoked against theCOVID-19 pandemic.[5][9] Her relics will be available for public veneration once the pandemic has passed.[9][11]
Media related toVictor of Damask at Wikimedia Commons Media related toSaint Corona at Wikimedia Commons