Olivia of Palermo

Oliva Palermo (c. 448 in Palermo, † June 10 463 in Tunis ) is a saint of the Catholic Church and patron saint of Palermo.

Life

Oliva was next to Ninfa, Agata and Cristina one of the four patron saints of Palermo, to their worship lost by the discovery of the alleged relics of St. Rosalia during the plague epidemic in 1624 in importance.

Legend has it that Oliva was born around 448 as a child of a noble family in Palermo, and was worshiped by all men because of their grace. From a young age they are actively lived their Christian faith, leaning fame and fortune from, gave alms, and said to the sick consolation.

With the invasion of the Vandals under Genseric in 454, there was persecution of Christians in Sicily. Oliva said the captive Christians to courage and strength demanded of them in the faith.

Because of their make and origin because of their growing popularity dared the Vandals not, in full public view in Palermo. So she was sent to Tunis to the local governor Almira, who should break their will and they turn from Christianity. But here also converted Oliva pagans to Christianity, so that it was more futile attempts to dissuade them from the faith, sent into the desert in the hope that they would be devoured by wild animals. Oliva survived, so it was returned to Tunis, tortured and finally beheaded on 10 June 463.

Her body was kidnapped by some Christians and brought secretly to Palermo, where she was buried in the grave and one dedicated to her church was built, which was redesignated as the 16th century in San Francesco di Paola. Another legend reports that they have lived in the 10th century at the time of the Arabs and was sent by them to Tunis, where I suffered martyrdom. Your feast day is June 10, it is usually represented as a young woman with an olive branch in his hand.