Discover Romanesque: Peoples and Legends

Saint Luxorius

In a letter dated 599 A.D., Saint Gregory the Great recalled the presence of a monastery in Sardinia dedicated to the saints Gavinus and Luxorius. The latter was supposedly born in Cagliari in the second half of the 3rd century. A Roman citizen educated to Paganism, he soon started a military career. At the moment of his conversion to the Christian faith, he was covering the role of Guard to the Roman Governor of Sardinia, Delasio. The latter had Luxorius imprisoned as, since some time, he had abandoned his military career to devote himself to preaching and meditation. Tortured and flagellated to death in Forum Traiani (the current Fordongianus), he suffered martyrdom, yet without losing his life. Healed by miracle, Luxorius secluded himself in prayer near the Grotte di Romana, in the area of Villanova Monteleone. Once again imprisoned, he was executed in a desolate land near Cagliari, in Selargius. Two young men were executed with him, Cesello and Camerino. Today, a Romanesque homonymous church stands in the place where Luxorius suffered his first martyrdom.