Saint Eulogius of Córdoba

Saint Eulogius of Córdoba (Spanish: San Eulogio de Córdoba (died 11 March 859)) was one of the Martyrs of Córdoba. He lived during the reigns of the Cordovan emirs Abd ar-Rahman II and Muhammad I (mid-9th century). In the ninth century, the Moorish conquerors of the southern half of the Iberian Peninsula made Córdoba their capital. Christians were accorded a subaltern status, and subject to a monthly tax. Though restricted, they were permitted to worship. Some, like Eulogius's younger brother, rose to high positions in the government. In the large cities like Toledo and Córdoba, Christians in some cases observed the civil laws that applied during the time of Visigothic rule. The government was exercised by the comes (count), president of the council of senators. During this time, the faithful could, it is true, worship freely, and retained their churches and property on condition of paying a tribute for every parish, cathedral, and monastery; frequently such tribute was increased at the will of the conqueror, and often the living had to pay for the dead. Many of the faithful then fled to Northern Spain; others took refuge in the monasteries of Sierras, and thus the number of Christians shrank eventually to small proportions. Under Abd-er Rahman II there came a change in the attitude of the Arab rulers, and a fierce persecution ensued, during which many Christians were accused of abusing the memory of Mohammed, of entering mosques, and of conspiracy against the Government. It is not certain on what date or in what year of the 9th century he was born; it must have been before 819, because in 848 he was a highly esteemed priest among the Christians of Catalonia and Navarre, and priesthood was conferred only on men thirty years of age. The family of the saint was of the senatorial class and held land in Córdoba from Roman times.