St. Eurosia is a local saint of Jaca, a Spanish town in the Pyrenees. Devotion to St. Eurosia has always centered around Jaca, but spread into northern Italy during the Middle Ages. As the Italian painting of her to the left demonstrates, place has always played an important part of Eruosia’s images.

Eurosia’s date of birth is unknown: different legends cite the date of death from anywhere from the early eighth century to the late ninth century.

Eurosia’s cult developed at a time of great animosity in northern Spain towards the southern, Muslim half of Spain. Eurosia was believed to have been either a French or Bohemian princess who was promised in marriage to a nobleman from the south.

Eurosia did not wish to marry, particularly did not want to marry a non-Christian, but rather wished to live her life in devotion to God. She ran away from her husband, and escaped into the Pyrenees.

She was pursued and caught, but Eurosia invoked the help of heaven and a lightning bolt struck some of her captors. Eurosia was quickly executed, her limbs cut off, as shown in the image to the left, and beheaded.

Devotion to Eurosia grew when a shepherd discovered her relics in the eleventh century. As Jaca was a stop on the wildly popular Camino de Santiago, Eurosia grew in popularity, due to the steady stream of pilgrims visiting her relics. Perhaps it was due to pilgrims seeking spiritual healing or restoration that she became the patron intercessor of those experiencing demonic possession.

Pope Leo XIII affirmed her cult in 1902.

St. Eurosia, intercessor for those who suffer from demonic possession—pray for us!