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Mystery Martyr Monk

B

Bert45

Veteran Member
Time of past OR future Camino
2003, 2014, 2016, 2016, 2018, 2019
In the church Santa Maria of Los Arcos there is a small museum. One of the exhibits is a bust of a man with a knife at the neck. It sits on a wooden base in a glass box. On the base it says "BRAMIRO MONGE MARTIR". I've googled, of course, but found nothing. Does anybody know anything about this monk and his martyrdom? Thanks.
 
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Bert45 said:
In the church Santa Maria of Los Arcos there is a small museum. One of the exhibits is a bust of a man with a knife at the neck. It sits on a wooden base in a glass box. On the base it says "BRAMIRO MONGE MARTIR". I've googled, of course, but found nothing. Does anybody know anything about this monk and his martyrdom? Thanks.
Click to expand...
Could it be this man? B Ramiro

Ramiro de León - Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre

es.wikipedia.org es.wikipedia.org
 
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The first edition came out in 2003 and has become the go-to-guide for many pilgrims over the years. It is shipping with a Pilgrim Passport (Credential) from the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela.
I guess it must be him. I did get a few results from Google saying "Did you mean 'Ramiro'?" and I did google <ramiro martyr "los arcos">, but I saw nothing in the first page of results that looked promising. There is nothing in the Wiki article connecting him with Los Arcos. Also no explanation for the 'B' or the knife at his neck. Obviously, I suppose, it is the way he was martyred, but the Wiki article doesn't say how he was killed.
 

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Altus BALI Sleeping bag liner
Altus BALI Sleeping bag liner
Ideal sleeping bag liner whether we want to add a thermal plus to our bag, or if we want to use it alone to sleep in shelters or hostels. Thanks to its mummy shape, it adapts perfectly to our body.

€46,-
Bert45 said:
I guess it must be him. I did get a few results from Google saying "Did you mean 'Ramiro'?" and I did google <ramiro martyr "los arcos">, but I saw nothing in the first page of results that looked promising. There is nothing in the Wiki article connecting him with Los Arcos. Also no explanation for the 'B' or the knife at his neck. Obviously, I suppose, it is the way he was martyred, but the Wiki article doesn't say how he was killed.
Click to expand...
Here's more info, including a picture that could explain the knife at his neck.

www.es.catholic.net

Vicente, Ramiro y Doce Compañeros, Santos

Mártires, 12 de marzo
www.es.catholic.net www.es.catholic.net
 
Canuck said:
Could it be this man? B Ramiro
Click to expand...
Yes, that's him. The "B" could be an abbreviation of "Bendito" (Blessed). Saints are often depicted with the sword or other instrument that led to their death as a martyr. In this case, a knife.

And while there doesn't have to be a particular connection for a saint to be venerated in a town, there is a special connection between Los Arcos and San Ramiro: In 1601, the parish of Los Arcos was gifted a relic of San Ramiro.

http://www.losarcos.es/lugar-y-gentes/historia/personajes-ilustres/
 
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Kathar1na said:
Yes, that's him. The "B" could be an abbreviation of "Bendito" (Blessed). Saints are often depicted with the sword or other instrument that led to their death as a martyr. In this case, a knife.

And while there doesn't have to be a particular connection for a saint to be venerated in a town, there is a special connection between Los Arcos and San Ramiro: In 1601, the parish of Los Arcos was gifted a relic of San Ramiro.

http://www.losarcos.es/lugar-y-gentes/historia/personajes-ilustres/
Click to expand...
And that bust in the photo does bear as strong resemblance to a reliquary. That looks like an oval window in the chest, where one might see the relic, if the lighting were better.
 
David Tallan said:
And that bust in the photo does bear as strong resemblance to a reliquary. That looks like an oval window in the chest, where one might see the relic, if the lighting were better.
Click to expand...
Yes, David. When I zoom in on the gold oval, I can see a crack in the glass (I mean, I didn't realise it was a window until you mentioned it. Zooming in on the image and seeing the crack confirmed that it was a window.) Kathar1na's link gives the whole story (more or less): "On September 14, 1601, ... , he donated to the parish a series of famous relics ... a medal of Saint Torcuato, disciple of Santiago, bishop and martyr, with a relic of his inside his chest, on a golden litter; another medal of San Ramiro, martyr, with a relic of his inside the chest;" I think that the Spanish must have a couple of typos; I think 'medalla' should be 'modelo'. And the 'B' could indeed be for 'Bendito', though I thought that the title 'Blessed' was conferred to a person before sainthood was conferred. Since Ramiro is a saint, I would have thought the inscription should be "SRAMIRO", but that's a minor detail.
Thanks, Canuck, Kathar1na and David.
 
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