Servandus and Germanus

The Holy Martyrs Servandus and Germanus were two Spanish soldiers of Christ, beheaded near Cádiz around 305 in the persecution of Diocletian. They are saints of the undivided Church.

According to tradition they were sons of Saint Marcellus of León or, in other accounts, natives of Mérida. They joined the Roman army and were imprisoned when it was learned that they were Christians, and they made new converts even in prison. The vicarius of Mérida, Viator, tortured them and meant to take them to Mauritania Tingitana; he made them walk barefoot and in chains from Mérida to Cádiz. Finding no ship, he had them beheaded on a hill in the district of Cádiz. The body of Germanus was buried at Mérida and that of Servandus at Cádiz, later moved to Seville. They are named in the martyrologies of Bede, Ado and Usuard and in the Mozarabic breviary, and are patrons of the city of Cádiz.

They are commemorated on 23 October, the liturgical date in the Orthodox calendar (the same day number on the old and new calendars).