Saint Patrici de Màlaga

Saint Patrick (Málaga?, 3rd century – Gaul, March 16, 307) is listed as Bishop of Málaga in the acts of the Council of Elvira, held near the city of Granada between 300 and 313. He was accompanied by priests from Teba, Ronda la Vieja, and Alhaurín el Grande, who served as his advisors. This council strengthened the presentation of Christianity and significantly increased the number of conversions, to the point that churches were filled to overflowing and many new ones had to be built. He exercised his apostolate during the reign of the Roman Emperor Diocletian and the Western Tetrarch Maximian, a time when Christians suffered harsh religious persecution. This period saw numerous martyrs, most notably Saint Cyriacus and Saint Paula, the patron saints of Málaga, who according to popular legend were martyred on the banks of the Guadalmedina. Patrick himself was a target of this cruel persecution and was forced to constantly move from place to place. He eventually went into exile in Gaul, where he died on March 16, 307. Pope Gregory XVI decreed his public veneration. There is no record of his episcopal successors until the year 579. A street in the Victoria area and a church in the Huelin neighborhood of Málaga are dedicated to him.