Anonymous, Cecilíu saga

Natalie M Van Deusen (University of Alberta)

Ed. by Ármann Jakobsson, University of Iceland
The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.3.4: Icelandic Writing and Culture.
Vol. editors: Ármann Jakobsson (University of Iceland), Kjerstin Moody (Gustavus Adolphus College), Sven Hakon Rossel (Universitat Wien), Herbert Rowland (Purdue University), Jakob Stougaard-Nielsen (University College London)

Dates

First circulation or publication c. 1400

Places

Iceland (Country of Origin)

Genres and Modes

Prose Fiction Narrative

Resources

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The Old Norse-Icelandic legend of St. Cecilia, named

Cecilíu saga

, relates the legend of an early third-century noblewoman and virgin martyr from Rome. She was to be married to a man named Valerian, but Cecilia had previously sworn a vow of virginity. Valerian agreed to a chaste marriage after Cecilia convinced him to be baptised by Pope Urban I on the Via Appia, and he and Cecilia were crowned with flowers by an angel. Valerian’s brother, Tibertius, was subsequently also baptised, and the two men dedicated themselves to burying the Christian martyrs whom the pagan prefect Almacius had put to death, until Almacius summoned the two men and they were tortured and killed. After the brothers’ martyrdoms, Cecilia herself was seized and ordered to sacrifice to pagan idols, but she remained…

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1062 words

Citation: Van Deusen, Natalie M. "Cecilíu saga". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 02 March 2023 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=40945, accessed 20 April 2024.]

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