The holy Martyred Children Justus and Pastor of Alcala de Henares in Spain.
Dacian was the governor sent by Diocletian into Spain to persecute the Christians, and he was responsible for the torture and death of the most illustrious of the early Martyrs of Spain, such as Saint Vincent the Deacon, Saint Eulalia of Merida, and many others. When he arrived at Complutum, the modern Alcala de Henares near Madrid, Justus and Pastor, schoolboys and brothers aged 7 and 9, upon hearing of it, threw down their books while at school and ran to where Dacian was interrogating the Christians and professed their faith. They endured torments with a courage that put him to shame, and he beheaded them. They are patrons of Alcala and Madrid, and are celebrated by Prudentius as among the most glorious martyrs of Spain. They were so highly venerated that Saint Paulinus of Nola had his little son buried close to them at Alcala. The ancient name of Alcala is Complutum, for which the famous Complutensian Polyglot Bible received its name. Alcalá is a Spanish corruption of the Arabic al-qala’ which means the fortress.
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