Who Was Saint Augurio of Tarragona?

Saints

A deacon of Tarragona martyred alongside his bishop, Fructuosus, in one of Spain’s most well-documented ancient martyrdoms.

Saint Augurio was a deacon of Tarragona in Roman Spain, martyred in 259 alongside his bishop, Fructuosus, and a fellow deacon, in an account preserved in one of the most detailed surviving records of an ancient Christian martyrdom.

No known portrait of Saint Augurio De Tarragona
No portrait or image of Saint Augurio De Tarragona is known to survive; this icon marks pages without an identifiable image.

Quick Facts

  • Died: January 21, 259, Tarragona, Spain
  • Venerated as: Deacon and martyr
  • Companion: Saint Fructuosus of Tarragona

Who Was Saint Augurio of Tarragona?

Saint Augurio served as a deacon to Bishop Fructuosus of Tarragona in Roman Spain. When Fructuosus was arrested and condemned to death for his faith during the persecution of Valerian, Augurio and a fellow deacon were arrested and executed alongside him, burned together at the stake in 259. Their martyrdom is recorded in an unusually detailed and early account preserved from antiquity.

Historical Setting

The persecution under the emperor Valerian in the mid-third century specifically targeted Christian clergy, seeking to disrupt the Church’s leadership by executing bishops and their closest assistants, as happened to Fructuosus and his deacons at Tarragona.

Why the Church Remembers Saint Augurio of Tarragona

Augurio is remembered for his loyalty to his bishop even to the point of sharing his martyrdom, an account that became one of the most cherished and carefully preserved records of persecution-era Spain.

Canonization and Feast Day

No formal canonization process is recorded for Saint Augurio, consistent with a martyr of this ancient period. His veneration rests on the exceptionally well-preserved ancient account of his martyrdom alongside Fructuosus.

What Catholics Can Learn Today

Augurio’s loyalty to his bishop even unto death is a reminder of the bonds of service and fidelity that can unite clergy of different ranks in a single shared witness to Christ.

A Prayer to Saint Augurio of Tarragona

Saint Augurio of Tarragona, faithful deacon who shared your bishop’s martyrdom, pray for deacons and all who serve faithfully alongside their pastors. Amen.

Sources

  • Acta Sanctorum
  • the Passion of Saints Fructuosus, Augurius, and Eulogius
  • the Catholic Encyclopedia (New Advent)