Pexine

Pexine (Saint Pexine, in Latin Sancta Pecina) is a little-⁠known virgin and martyr whose origin is debated, both as to time and as to history. She is said to have died around 726. She is venerated in the Western Church; according to the Roman Martyrology published by order of Gregory XIII she is commemorated on 26 June, while other sources give 25 June.

Her name has more than ten variants: Pechine, Pecine, Pezenne, Pezaine, Pazanne, Perseveranda and others. One version calls her Saint Pécine and presents her as a virgin who fled Spain conquered by the Saracens and took refuge in the diocese of Poitiers. Another says a Roman praetor drove her out of Spain. The account tells that she led a severe and penitent life with another virgin named Columba, and then died in Poitou at Thorignac, and that Count Hugh of Vermandois discovered her relics and took them to Saint-⁠Quentin, where he built a church and founded a collegiate chapter. Another version makes her a Spanish princess persecuted by her father, who walked seven days and died of exhaustion around 732 at the gates of Niort, at Sainte-⁠Pezenne. In another, she was persecuted by a lord named Olivier. Dom Chamard places her at the beginning of the 4th century.

The sources do not agree, so her life and time remain uncertain.