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Nathalie's Name Day
8th September |
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Historically Famous NathaliesTwo Natalias are venerated as martyrs, together with their husbands. Nothing much is known of the ninth century Natalia and Aurelius, except that they were beheaded in Toledo during the Moorish persecutions. The earlier Natalia is thought, in fact, to have died in peace long after witnessing the cruel execution of Adrian, her husband. He was one of the pagan officers in Nicomedia, and was so impressed by the courage of the Christian prisoners in his charge that he became a Christian himself, inevitably ending up in his own jail. Natalia did all she could to alleviate the Christians' sufferings, but she could not prevent their deaths at the stake. A great storm quenched the fires before the bodies were burned, and Natalia - along with some of the Christian community - took the remains of these martyrs to be buried at Argyropolis. She remained there until her death, when she was buried alongside them |