The Nicene Age · AD 313–400
Valerius of Saragossa
d. c. AD 315 (in peace, after exile) · Bishop of Caesaraugusta · Confessor · Saragossa, Hispania
The Nicene Age
Who Valerius of Saragossa was
Bishop of Caesaraugusta arrested with his deacon Vincent and haled before the governor Dacian at Valencia — where, hindered by a defect of speech, the old man let Vincent answer for them both, and the deacon's answers became the most famous martyr-acts of Spain. Valerius himself was sentenced only to exile, and died in peace: the bishop who survived his deacon, and is remembered because of it. Distinct from Valerius Bito of 1 Clement.
Also listed in bishops beyond the great sees and roman emperors.
Common questions
When did Valerius die?
Valerius of Saragossa is dated d. c. AD 315 (in peace, after exile) in the archive, which places Valerius in the Nicene Age (AD 313–400). The dating is traditional and approximate; the archive marks it as uncertain rather than fixing a year the sources do not give.
What did Valerius write?
Valerius of Saragossa has 1 catalogued writing in the archive: The Canons of the Council of Elvira.
Which early sources mention Valerius?
Valerius of Saragossa is named in 3 primary-source passages catalogued here, drawn from The Council of Elvira, Early Spanish acta and The Hieronymian compilers. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Valerius from?
The archive associates Valerius of Saragossa with Saragossa, Hispania. The sources record more than one location, so the places are listed in the order the record moves through them.
Writings (1)
The Canons of the Council of Elvira
c. AD 300–324Eighty-one canons, subscribed by the nineteen bishops alone.Read the interlinear source text →
Primary-source mentions (3)
Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
The subscription list of the Council of Elvira (Codex Pithianus, as printed by Hefele)
c. AD 305Hosius of Corduba, Sabinus of Hispalis, Camerinus of Tucci, Sinaginus of Epagra, Secundinus of Castulo, Pardus of Mentesa, Flavian of Eliberis, Cantonius of Urci, Liberius of Emerita, Valerius of Caesaraugusta, Decentius of Legio, Melantius of Toledo, Januarius of Fibularia, Vincent of Ossonoba, Quintianus of Elbora, Successus of Eliocroca, Eutychian of Basti, and Patricius of Malacca.The Council of Elvira · Subscriptions of the Council of Elvira · source text
The Passion of Vincent (Passio Vincentii)
c. AD 315Since Valerius the bishop, by reason of an impediment of his speech, answered nothing readily, Vincent his deacon spoke: 'Father, if thou biddest, I will answer the judge for thee.'Early Spanish acta · source text
Martyrologium Hieronymianum (Valerius of Saragossa, 28 January)
c. AD 450Connected in the archive
People
Named alongside Valerius in the sources
These figures are placed with Valerius by the record — in a council roll, a martyr-act, a letter or a history — without Valerius naming them in return.
- Camerinus of Tucci
- Cantonius of Urci
- Decentius of Legio
- Eutychian of Basti
- Flavian of Eliberis
- Januarius of Fibularia
- Liberius of Emerita
- Melantius of Toletum
- Pardus of Mentesa
- Patricius of Malaca
- Quintianus of Elbora
- Secundinus of Castulo
- Sinaginus of Epagra
- Successus of Eliocroca
- Vincent of Ossonoba
Events in this lifetime
- AD 250 · The Decian persecution, AD 250
- AD 251 · The Novatianist schism, AD 251
- AD 257 · The Valerian persecution, AD 257
- AD 260 · Gallienus’ edict of toleration, AD 260
- AD 268 · Antioch deposes Paul of Samosata, AD 268
- AD 272 · Aurelian awards the Antioch church, AD 272
- AD 301 · Hripsime and her company, AD 301
- AD 303 · The Great Persecution begins, AD 303
- AD 303 · The search of the church at Cirta, AD 303
- AD 306 · The Council of Elvira, AD 306
- AD 311 · Galerius’ edict of Serdica, AD 311
- AD 313 · The Edict of Milan, AD 313
- AD 314 · The Council of Arles, AD 314
Place
Places served
The 2 places the sources put Valerius, in the order the record moves through them. This is what the sources attest, not a reconstructed route.