Hesychius

Saint Hesychius (Hesiquio, Isicio) is venerated as the patron of the town of Cazorla in Spain. He is one of the Seven Apostolic Men, seven clerics ordained at Rome by the apostles Peter and Paul and sent to preach the Gospel in Spain; the others are Torquatus, Caecilius, Ctesiphon, Euphrasius, Indaletius and Secundus.

The legend around them dates probably from the seventh century, and in reality the seven seem to have lived in the second century. Tradition makes Hesychius a Christian missionary of the apostolic age, who brought the faith to the town of Carcere (Carteia or Carcesi, identified with Cazorla), was its first bishop, and was stoned to death at La Pedriza. Migne, however, speaks of Gibraltar, where he is said to have died "in peace", that is, not as a martyr. The sources add that Carcere may be Cieza, not Cazorla.

According to tradition, Hesychius gave the people of Cabra a statue of the Mother of God carved by Saint Luke; Nuestra Señora de la Sierra, which in fact dates from the end of the thirteenth century, stands in the sanctuary near Cabra. In 1535 the people of Cazorla entrusted themselves to their patron and a terrible plague ceased, and since then a pilgrimage in his honor is made every year on 14 and 15 May. He is commemorated on 15 May at Cazorla and on 1 March elsewhere in Spain. A statue of him stands in the cathedral of Guadix.