Serapion of Algiers

Infobox Saint
name= Saint Serapion of Algiers
birth_date=1179
death_date=November 14, 1240
feast_day= November 14
venerated_in= Roman Catholic Church


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caption= "The Martyrdom of Saint Serapion" by Francisco de Zurbarán.
birth_place= Ireland
death_place=Algiers
titles= Martyr
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Saint Serapion of Algiers (1179 – November 14, 1240) was a Mercedarian friar who is venerated as a martyr by the Catholic Church, and as a proto-martyr by the Mercedarian Order. [http://www.angelfire.com/planet/avemaria/mercy/serapion.html] According to tradition, he was born either in Ireland or England [Matthew Bunson, Margaret Bunson, Stephen Bunson, "Our Sunday Visitor's Encyclopedia of Saints" (Our Sunday Visitor Publishing, 2003), 743.] and served in the armies of Richard the Lion-Hearted and Leopold VI during the Crusades. [http://www.orderofmercy.org/Saints.htm#stserapion]

He then participated in the Reconquista, serving in the army of Alfonso VIII. [http://www.orderofmercy.org/Saints.htm#stserapion]

He met St. Peter Nolasco and became a Mercedarian in 1222. [http://www.orderofmercy.org/Saints.htm#stserapion]

The Mercedarians’ goal was to free Christian captives held by Muslim states, and Serapion offered himself as a hostage at Algiers in exchange for some Christian captives. When the ransom money did not arrive in time (or because he refused to stop preaching Christianity [Matthew Bunson, Margaret Bunson, Stephen Bunson, "Our Sunday Visitor's Encyclopedia of Saints" (Our Sunday Visitor Publishing, 2003), 743.] ), Serapion was killed. According to Christian tradition, he was nailed on a X-shaped cross and was dismembered. [http://www.orderofmercy.org/Saints.htm#stserapion]

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*no icon [http://www.katolsk.no/biografi/salger.htm Den hellige Serapion av Alger (1179-1240)]