AFRA, saint, martyr. — Victim of the Diocletian persecution in Augusta (Augsburg). The life (Conversio s. Afrae) is legendary; but the Passio of the fifth century is of greater historical value. From this Passio some reliable facts concerning the martyr can be gleaned: she was a courtesan by profession; converted to Christianity but not yet baptized, she was condemned to be burned at the stake. The ancient cult of the martyr is attested by Venantius Fortunatus in his Vita s. Martini, IV, vv. 640–43, and by the Martir. geronimiano (7 Aug., with anticipation to the 5th and 6th of the same month). The Martir. romano records her on 5 Aug. At Augusta, on the site of the tomb, stands the very ancient church of SS. Ulrico e Afra.
BIBL.: Passio et Conversio, ed. Kraach, in MGH, Script. Rev. Mem. III, pp. 55–64; BIII, 107–109; Martyr. Hieronyminum, p. 423; Martyr. Romanum, p. 324; O. Riedner, Der geschichtliche Wert der Afralegende, Kempten 1913. Giuseppe Löw