The Saint of the day August 26 is Saint Alexander of Bergamo, which name day is celebrated and other saints are celebrated on this date.

St. Alexander of Bergamo

St. Alexander of Bergamo, born in the third century and died in Bergamo on August 26, 303, was a soldier of the Theban legion, probably of Egyptian origin, who suffered martyrdom in Bergamo and is today venerated as a saint by the Catholic Church.

According to tradition, the army of which Alexander was commander was moved around the year 301 from Mesopotamia to the western regions, first to Cologne, then to Brindisi, until reaching Africa.

During the long journey of the legionaries, several persecutions against the Christians were ordered by the emperor Maximian, but the soldiers refused to carry out the orders paying with their life, which took place in Agaunum, in today's Saint Maurice-en-Valais which is located in the canton of Valais in Switzerland.

Among the survivors of the massacre, Alexander took refuge with some of his companions in Italy, but was imprisoned in Milan, in the place where the basilica of Sant'Alessandro in Zebedia stands today, in the homonymous square.

With his refusal to deny the Christian faith, as the overbearing emperor Maximian would claim, he gave his first exemplary Christian testimony.

He then escaped from prison, with the help of Fedele from Como and the bishop Materno, while he was heading towards Como, according to legend, he performed the miracle of raising a dead man.

After being recognized, captured and brought back in front of Maximian, Alexander shot down the altar prepared for the sacrifice to the Roman gods, angering the emperor, who sentenced him to death for beheading, but legend has it that the executioner was unable to accomplish the murder because he was afraid of hitting him, as Alexander appeared to him as a mountain and, terrified, his arms stiffened, for this he was thrown back into prison to try to make him starve but he managed once again to escape, miraculously crossing the dry Adda river and hiding first in a wood near Bergamo then, at the Ponte della Morla, in the house of the patrician Crotacio.

In Bergamo Alexander began a great work of conversion of the inhabitants of the city to the Christian faith, including the future martyrs Fermo and Rustico, relatives of Crotacio.

After a short time he was unfortunately discovered by some Roman soldiers who brought him in chains to Bergamo, where he was sentenced to beheading, which took place on August 26, 303 in the place where the Church of Sant'Alessandro in Colonna is still located today.

Thanks to the noblewoman Santa Grata, the Martyr's body was stolen and transported to a family farm located outside the city.

Recommended readings

• August 6: saint of the day, name day
• August 5: saint of the day, name day
• August 31: saint of the day, name day
• August 19: saint of the day, name day
• August 26: saint of the day, name day

Other saints and celebrations on August 26th

• Blessed Ambrose of Benaguacil (Luis Valls Matamales)

Priest and martyr

• Sant ’Anastasio di Salona (the washerman)

Martyr

• Sant ’Eleuterio of Auxerre

Bishop

• Blessed Felice (Félix) Vivet Trabal

Salesian religious, martyr

• Blessed James Retouret

Carmelite priest, martyr

• Saint Giovanna Elisabetta Bichier des Ages
• Blessed Lorenza (Leukadia) Harasymiv

Virgin and martyr

• Saint Mary of Jesus Crucified (Mariam Baouardy)

Carmelite



• Saint Maximilian of Rome

Martyr

• San Melchisedech

King of Salem and priest

• Sant ’Oronzo (Oronzio)

Bishop

• Blessed Pietro da Benisa (Alejandro Mas Ginestar)

Priest and martyr

• Saint Teresa of Jesus Jornet and Ibars

Founder

അനുദിന വിശുദ്ധർ (Saint of the Day) November 26th- Saint John Berchmans (April 2024)