AFRA, Saint, Martyr. - Victim of the Diocletianic persecution in Augusta (Augsburg). The life (Conversio s. Afrae) is legendary; but the Passio of the 5th century is of better repute. From this Passio some reliable data concerning the martyr can be derived: 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 (Aug. 7, with anticipation to the 5th and 6th of the same month). The Martir. romano records her on Aug. 5. At Augusta, on the site of the tomb, stands the very ancient church of Sts. Ulrich and Afra.

Bibliography5 works

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

@incollection{ec1_afra_santa_martire, author = {Lów, Giuseppe}, title = {Afra, santa, martire}, booktitle = {Enciclopedia Cattolica}, volume = {I}, pages = {377}, note = {Cited by column}, publisher = {Ente per l’Enciclopedia Cattolica e per il Libro Cattolico}, address = {Città del Vaticano}, year = {1948}, url = {https://azioneromana.com/article/afra-santa-martire} }

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Afra, Saint, Martyr

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