Emeterius

Saint Emeterius of Barcelona, called in Catalan Medir or Ermenter, was a Hispano-⁠Roman farmer, regarded as a saint and martyr in the Catholic Church. He is celebrated on 3 March (new style). There is no evidence of his existence; according to some he is a doublet of Saint Emeterius of Calahorra, and he is regarded as a probably non-⁠existent saint, born of other legends.

According to tradition he lived around 303 in the Gausac valley, in the Serra de Collserola, near Sant Cugat del Vallès. In the persecution of Diocletian, Bishop Severus of Barcelona, pursued by the Romans, fled along the old road from Barcino toward Castrum Octavianum and met Medir sowing beans in his field. He told him why he was fleeing and, resolved to die for faith in Christ, asked him to tell the truth if he was questioned. The legend says that the beans Medir had sown grew miraculously, and that he was beheaded for having helped the bishop. He is co-⁠patron of the town of Sant Cugat del Vallès; in Barcelona a church and parish are dedicated to the farmer saint, in the La Bordeta district, and a Romanesque chapel bears his name.