Felix of Alcalá

Holy Martyr Felix of Alcalá was born at Alcalá de Henares around 830 and was martyred at Córdoba on 14 June 853. He belongs to the group of the martyrs of Córdoba. He was a Mozarabic Benedictine monk. His parents were Muslims of North African origin (from Getulia, in present-⁠day Libya), settled in Asturias.

As a grown man he chose to become a Christian in order to enter the Benedictine order and live the monastic life. A young monk, he was charged with his brothers to support and spread monastic life in Asturias, Galicia and Aragon, rebuilding many monasteries; then he was sent to strengthen the Benedictine monastery of Saints Justus and Pastor on the outskirts of Córdoba. He arrived there at the worst moment: the Umayyad emir Muhammad I, like his father Abd al-⁠Rahman II, decided to force Christians to convert to Islam, putting an end to the peaceful coexistence between Christians and Muslims.

Felix was beheaded on 14 June 853 together with his companions Anastasius and Digna. His body was displayed nailed to a plough and then the corpse was burned; the bones left were thrown into the Guadalquivir. He is honored as a saint of the undivided Church.