The arrival of the Seven Apostolic Men in Acci
The Legend of the Seven Apostolic Men tells that the missionaries arrived near the city of Acci after a long journey from Rome. Tired from their travels, they decided to rest on the outskirts of the city while some of their disciples went in to buy food.
At that moment, the inhabitants of the city were celebrating a pagan festival dedicated to Jupiter and Mercury. When the disciples began to preach the Christian faith, the pagan inhabitants reacted with hostility and began to persecute them.
The persecution led the Christians to a nearby river. According to the tradition recounted in the Legend of the Seven Apostolic Men, the bridge that crossed the river miraculously collapsed, causing the pursuers to fall into the water and thus allowing the disciples to escape.
This episode is considered one of the first miracles associated with the arrival of Christianity in the region.
The conversion of Luparia and the first baptisms
After learning what had happened, some inhabitants of the city began to fear the divine power that seemed to accompany the missionaries.
Among them was a noblewoman named Luparia, who, according to the Legend of the Seven Apostolic Men, was deeply moved by the Christian message.
Luparia decided to welcome the missionaries and listen to their teachings. Convinced by their message, she asked to receive Christian baptism.
Before baptizing her, the missionaries asked her to build a church and a baptistery, which allowed them to establish one of the first Christian communities in the area.
After her baptism, many inhabitants of Acci followed her example and embraced the new faith.
The expansion of Christianity in Hispania
After consolidating the Christian community in Acci, the missionaries decided to continue their evangelizing work in other cities of the peninsula.
The Legend of the Seven Apostolic Men tells how each of them went to different territories to spread Christianity:
- San Torcuato – Acci (Guadix)
- Saint Tesiphon – Bergi
- San Indalecio – Urci (present-day Almería)
- Saint Secondus – Abula
- Saint Euphrasius – Iliturgi
- San Cecilio – Ilíberis (Granada)
- Saint Esiquius – Carcesa
Thanks to his preaching, many communities adopted the Christian faith, giving rise to some of the first dioceses on the Iberian Peninsula.
This story makes the Legend of the Seven Apostolic Men one of the foundational narratives of Christianity in Spain.
The miracle of the sacred olive tree
One of the best-known traditions associated with the Legend of the Seven Apostolic Men is the story of the miraculous olive tree.
According to tradition, the seven missionaries planted an olive tree at the entrance to the church they had founded. Every year, on the eve of their feast day, the tree suddenly blossoms, and the following day ripe olives appear.
For centuries, the faithful have collected these olives as devotional objects, believing they possess protective or miraculous properties.
This tale forms part of the legendary heritage associated with the early Christians in Guadix.
The legacy of the Seven Apostolic Men in Guadix
The tradition of the Legend of the Seven Apostolic Men remains alive in Guadix, where the figure of Saint Torquatus occupies a central place in the city's religious history.
Inside Guadix Cathedral, visitors can learn about this tradition in the Chapel of Saint Torquatus, where part of the historical memory linked to these events is preserved.
Furthermore, devotion to Saint Torquatus continues in the city through celebrations such as the Saint Torquatus Pilgrimage, which brings together numerous faithful each year.
The Legend of the Seven Apostolic Men is part of the historical and spiritual identity of Guadix and is one of the oldest stories associated with the city.
