The first martyr in Spanish history, St. Vincent, was a deacon in the third century. He was captured alongside his bishop, Valerius of Saragossa, when Dacian, the Spanish governor, was being persecuted. Valerius was exiled, but Vincent endured severe torments before passing away from his injuries.

Details of his demise describe his skin being pierced by iron hooks, his body being chained and burned on a red-hot gridiron, and his being taken to a prison and placed on a floor covered with shattered pottery. Nevertheless, he persevered through everything, which caused his jailer to convert, and he lived until his friends were able to see him and make a bed for him, where he passed away.

His feast day is celebrated on January 22. He is honored as patron in Valencia, Saragossa and Portugal. In art, he has as emblems a cross, a raven, a grate, or a fire-pile.

Other Saints of the Day
Saint Vincent Pallotti
Saint Anastasius XIV
Saint Dominic of Sora
Saint Francis Gil de Frederich
Saint Matthew Alonso Leziniana