August 26: Saint Alexander, martyr

Soldier of Christ

According to the Acts of his martyrdom, Alexander was a Roman imperial centurion commander belonging to the Theban Legion, a military unit composed of Christian soldiers. When the legion was transferred to the West to face incursions by the Germanic tribes of the Quadi and Marcomanni, during the crossing of the Valais region, they received orders to persecute Christians, against whom a new wave of persecutions had broken out. The Christian soldiers, refusing to obey, were massacred. Alexander was one of the few survivors and managed to flee to Italy.

Upon reaching Milan, however, he was recognized and imprisoned. After attempting to escape from prison, he was recaptured and sentenced to death by beheading. Nevertheless, he miraculously escaped execution and found refuge in Bergamo, where he was sheltered by Prince Crotacius. There he continued to preach the Gospel, but was again discovered and arrested, and this time the sentence was carried out publicly.

It was August 26 of the year 303. From the very beginning, Alexander was venerated with great devotion in the place where he had been killed, and a basilica was soon built in his honor in Bergamo. The martyr’s public veneration is attested at least as early as the 6th century, and to this day Bergamo venerates him as its principal Patron Saint.