Pancras of Taormina

Pancras of Taormina ( † angebl. Around 40 in Taormina) was, according to legend, a martyr and saint. His historical existence is doubtful.

Pancras is originally from Antioch and be pulled with his parents to Jerusalem and there be met Jesus of Nazareth. Later he had to be baptized in Antioch and retreated on the Black Sea coast in a cave, where Paul found him. This got him to the mission in the Sicilian Taormenum (now Taormina) sent where Pancras have held office as the first bishop of the city and he was eventually stoned to death for his Christian faith.

Commemoration of the Holy is traditionally April 3, but the Pancras is now mainly intended on 8 July and 9 July; latter date is considered the day of his martyrdom. Relics of Pancras are kept in Rome, and on Mount Athos. In Taormina a former temple of Isis in a church was converted, dedicated to the saint.