Sts. Justus and Pastor of Alcalá

Justus and Pastor, venerated as Christian martyrs, were two schoolboy brothers (Justus was 13 years old, Pastor less than 9) who were killed for their faith during the Diocletian persecutions. The boys are today considered the patron saints of Alcalá. They are mentioned by Prudentius.

After the imperial proclamation was made public in Complutum, Justus and Pastor, were at school. Stimulated by their desire to give their lives for Jesus Christ, they chucked the tablets they used for writing and ran to Dacianus’ residence to bear witness of their faith to the point of martyrdom, despite their young age. They confessed to Dacianus that they were Christians and were reluctant to sacrifice to idols. He tried to win them over with gifts, but he was unable to persuade them. They were viciously flogged for denouncing the Roman religion and later beheaded outside the Spanish city of Alcalá de Henares (known in Roman times as Complutum).

Relics believed to be those of Justus and Pastor were discovered in the 8th century and taken to Huesca. In 1568, they were brought back to Alcalá de Henares and interred beneath the high altar of the city's Cathedral-Magistral of Saints Justus and Pastor (known familiarly as the Catedral de los Santos Niños). Constructed between 1497 and 1514, the ancient cathedral is still in daily use, and the saints' tomb is accessible to the public. Their feast day is celebrated on August 6.