Saint Regina
Saint Regina (born c. 3rd century AD in Alise-Sainte-Reine, Côte-d'Or, France; died c. 286 AD in Alise-Sainte-Reine, France) was a Christian virgin martyr of Burgundy whose name is given to the town of Alise-Sainte-Reine in the Côte-d'Or department of France. She is one of the most beloved early French martyrs, with an ancient cult throughout Burgundy and beyond. Her feast day is September 7.
Stored in Cargo: Saint Regina
| Saint Regina | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | September 07 |
| Profession | Virgin martyr; daughter of a shepherd (traditional); Christian layperson |
| Rel. Affiliation | Catholic Church; early Gaulish church; Burgundy; Diocese of Autun (historical); Alise-Sainte-Reine; healing spring tradition |
| Patronage | Alise-Sainte-Reine; the Côte-d'Or department; Burgundy; those with skin diseases (from the healing spring); women who refuse forced marriage; virgins; France broadly |
| Attributes | Palm of martyrdom; sword (beheading); head carried in hands (cephalophory); spring of water; royal dress or shepherd's daughter; Alesia setting; anise flowers (connection to Flavigny) |
| Birthplace | Alise-Sainte-Reine, Côte-d'Or, Burgundy, France (traditional) |
| Death Place | Alise-Sainte-Reine, Côte-d'Or, France (traditional) |
| Cause of Death | Martyrdom; beheaded at Alise (near the site of ancient Alesia, where Julius Caesar defeated Vercingetorix in 52 BC) c. 286 AD; she was tortured and beheaded by order of the prefect Olybrius for refusing to marry him and for refusing to apostatize from Christianity |
| Primary Shrine | Basilica of Saint-Reine, Alise-Sainte-Reine, Côte-d'Or — her relics; the healing spring adjacent; site of the annual Fête de Sainte-Reine mystery play; one of the oldest Christian pilgrimage sites in Burgundy |
| Liturgical Class | Optional Memorial (Roman Rite); September 7; Feast in the Diocese of Dijon; widely observed in Burgundy |
| Historic Class | Not in universal 1962 calendar; observed locally |
Biography
Regina was a Christian girl of the Burgundy region (modern Côte-d'Or, France) martyred c. 286 AD. According to her Acts, she was the daughter of a pagan shepherd who converted to Christianity after her birth and sent her to be raised by a Christian woman.
The prefect Olybrius saw her and wanted to marry her. She refused his proposal and refused to apostatize. After torture she was beheaded at Alise (near the site of ancient Alesia, famous for Caesar's defeat of Vercingetorix in 52 BC).
According to tradition, after her beheading she walked headless and carried her head to the site of a sacred spring (Fontaine Sainte-Reine), which then produced healing waters. The town was renamed Alise-Sainte-Reine in her honor.
The Fête de Sainte-Reine — a September pilgrimage with a theatrical mystery play reenacting her martyrdom — has been held at Alise-Sainte-Reine since the 17th century and is one of France's oldest surviving popular Catholic theatrical traditions.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Alise-Sainte-Reine, Côte-d'Or, Burgundy, France (traditional)
Death location: Alise-Sainte-Reine, Côte-d'Or, France (traditional)
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Dynamic content
Parishes
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| This map created from a Cargo query () |
| Parish | Diocese | City | AdministrativeSubdivision | Country | ParishWebsite |
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| Parish | Diocese | City | AdministrativeSubdivision | Country | ParishWebsite |
| St. Eleanor Regina (Diocese of Harrisburg) | Diocese of Harrisburg | Gardners, PA | Pennsylvania | United States | https://www.steleanorregina.org/ |
| St. Eleanor Regina (Diocese of Harrisburg) | Diocese of Harrisburg | York, PA | Pennsylvania | United States | https://www.steleanorregina.org/ |
Media
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Shrines
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Known shrines
- Basilica of Saint-Reine, Alise-Sainte-Reine — relics and healing spring; annual Fête de Sainte-Reine mystery play.
Feast day
September 7
Veneration
Saint Regina is a 3rd-century Burgundian virgin martyr whose name is given to the town of Alise-Sainte-Reine. Her healing spring and annual mystery play make her one of the most tangibly venerated local saints of France. Her feast is September 7.
Prayers
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Intercessory
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