Voto

Saint Voto is, according to tradition, a hermit of Zaragoza, regarded as founder of the monastery of San Juan de la Peña in Aragon. His historical existence is, however, rather legendary: he is called the "mythical founder" of the monastery.

Voto and his brother Felix lived at the beginning of the 8th century; they were Christians of Zaragoza, of a noble family. Tradition says that Voto was chasing a stag and fell from a cliff. As he fell he commended himself to Saint John; the horse came gently to rest on a rock and, after a few meters, reached a cave in which lay the body of the hermit John of Atarés. Voto buried him and, impressed by the discovery and by his miraculous rescue, returned to Zaragoza. There, with his brother Felix, he gave his goods to the poor and they went to the cave, where they lived as hermits. The devil tempted them repeatedly, but they resisted and attained holiness. Soon disciples came who wished to follow their example and formed a community that adopted the Benedictine rule. In the year 754 the two brothers died and a bright light is said to have come down from heaven, a witness to their holiness. They were buried beside John of Atarés, and around the cave and the chapel the monastery of San Juan de la Peña grew. They are venerated there, and their commemoration is on 29 May. He is honored by the faithful, without synodal canonization.