Peter of Mezonzo

Holy Hierarch Peter of Mezonzo was born around 930 in Galicia, in the family of Martin Placentiz, and reposed on 10 September 1003 at Santiago de Compostela as bishop of Iria Flavia. He was a monk, an abbot and a spiritual guide to the people in a time of great need.

As a child he served the family of the counts of Présaras, then entered the monastery of Santa María de Mezonzo, where he received a fine education in the classical authors and the Holy Fathers. When that monastery was merged in 955 with the one at Sobrado, he moved there and served as notary, and in 965 he was elected abbot. Under him Sobrado became one of the most important monastic centers of Christian Spain. In the time of the Norman raids he kept the people's hope alive and worked to restore the monastery of Santa Eulalia de Curtis. Later he headed the monastery of San Pelayo de Antealtares.

In November 985 he appears as bishop of Iria and of the Apostolic See (that is, of Saint James), after his predecessor resigned. He shepherded the Church in the days of the raids of Almanzor, which the sources link with the destruction of Compostela in 997. He is honored as a saint of the undivided Church and commemorated on 10 September, by the Western calendar (new style).