Saint Beatrice
Saint Beatrice | |
|---|---|
 Santa Beatrice by Odorigo Misare | |
| Martyr | |
| Born | ~1200 |
| Died | ~1228 |
| Venerated in | The Catholic Church |
| Major shrine | Abbey of Santa Beatrice della Montagna |
| Feast | August 9 |
| Attributes | A young woman holding a torch. |
| Patronage | Aciria, refugees, warriors |
Beatrice of Chegallari, or Saint Beatrice (Acirian: Santa Beatrice), was a martyr who died in the early years of the introduction of Catholicism to modern day Aciria. The patron saint of Aciria, Saint Beatrice is particularly venerated in Aciria, among the Acirian diaspora and Metzettan Catholics. The lack of written records from the time have left the exact years of her life vague, but it's generally accepted that Beatrice lived in the early 13th century.
Works of historians that lived during her lifetime cite her to have been the daughter of a local chieftain who had converted to Catholicism, and was raised as a Catholic. Beatrice was exposed to Catholic texts from an early age, which allowed her to study them extensively to convert the tribesmen to the faith. Her eventual death in the hands of pagans to rescue Catholics cemented her as not only an important figure in Acirian Catholicism, but in Acirian history following the birth of Beatricism.
Life
Scholars typically associate Beatrice's birth around the year 1200, but the exact years are hotly debated. Beatrice was born to Tharia, the daughter of the chief of Arsos and Culi, the chieftain of the Norcii, one of the largest tribes in central modern day Aciria. The two were wed in order to bring together the long-warring tribes, with Beatrice's older brother Verza expected to unite the two tribes following the death of their father. Beatrice contracted an unknown illness shortly after her birth, and according to legend, his father in desperation turned to God, who he promised both his and his tribes conversion to Catholicism would he save his daughter. The next morning Beatrice had recovered from her illness, which resulted in Culi converting to Catholicism. Even after recovering, Beatrice suffered from episodes of unconsciousness, followed by her detailing meeting Christ on multiple occasions. Spending extensive periods of time among biblical writings, she learned Istroyan in order to spread the faith to the tribe. Her devotion to God reminded many of her tribesmen of the Three Sisters, which further encouraged conversion to Catholicism following her teachings.
Following his brothers ascension to the throne in around 1222, the two tribes were initially unified as intended. The Arsos tribe, which Beatrice's mother belonged to, still fervently followed the pagan faith, with their distrust of Catholicism resulting in the tribal kingdom to break apart into a bloody war. The Arsos managed to rally the support of other paganic tribes of the area, slowly swallowing more and more of the land and men of the Catholic Norcii. The war eventually culminated at River Ripulire, where the Norcii were evacuating towards the south. The evacuation took place at night, with Beatrice holding a torch to show the way to her tribesmen. The torch also caught the attention of the Arsos, who attacked the evacuating Norcii at the river. Instead of joining the other women in escaping, Beatrice remained by the Norcii warriors to light the way for the evacuees, eventually resulting in Beatrice's death.
Beatricism
Beatricism is the term used to describe the early veneration of Saint Beatrice in Aciria as near divine. The life and death of Beatrice was passed on by the Catholic converts who survived the battle at River Ripulire, with many pagans finding similarities between Beatrice and the Three Sisters of the local beliefs. The local pagans were also educated on Catholicism, which further strengthened the pagan belief that Beatrice was the supreme god Taia born into human form.
In the early years of Catholic Aciria, Beatricism was a significant competitor of Catholicism. The persecution they faced by the Catholic church eventually forced the followers of Beatricism to go practice their faith in secret, with some evidence suggesting that Beatricism managed to survive in the mountainous highlands until the 18th century.
Veneration
9 August, commonly known as Beatrice Day (Acirian: Giorno di Beatrice), was chosen as her feast day not due to her death date despite the popular belief, but because that is the day Beatrice's remains were put to rest at the Abbey of Santa Beatrice della Montagna, where they remain to this day. The abbey remains a popular destination for both Catholic and secular Acirians alike due to her importance to Acirian history.
While a Saint, Beatrice doesn't enjoy much popularity outside of Aciria. The only major exception to this is among Metzettan Catholics due to the fact that Acirian were the ones to introduce them to Catholicism, and naturally to Saint Beatrice.
Places associated with Saint Beatrice
- Abbey of Santa Beatrice della Montagna
- Thought to be the final resting place of Saint Beatrice following an expedition lead by her followers to find her body, bringing it here and constructed the abbey in her honour.
- The name of the region located at the center of Aciria, named after Saint Beatrice due to her birth, life and death around this area.
- Monte di Santa Beatrice
- Name of one of the tallest mountains of Aciria.