Caecilius of Elvira

Holy Hierarch Caecilius of Elvira, known in Spanish as San Cecilio, is counted as the first bishop of the city of Elvira (Iliberri), today Granada in Spain, and is the patron of Granada. According to tradition he lived in the 1st century, in the apostolic age.

Tradition says that he was sent with six others by the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, ordained at Rome, to proclaim the Gospel in Spain. The seven are called the Apostolic Men: Torquatus, Ctesiphon, Secundus, Indaletius, Caecilius, Hesychius and Euphrasius. Caecilius first worked as an itinerant bishop in the region of Roussillon, then preached at Iliberri and founded the Church there. He is said to have written some didactic treatises and to have been burned to death in the reign of Nero. The legend seems to have taken shape in the 7th century.

Granada honors him as its patron in the Fiesta de San Cecilio, held at Sacromonte at the beginning of February, and the seven Apostolic Men are commemorated together on 15 May, by the Western calendar (new style). He is a saint of the undivided Church.