Columba of Spain

Who was Columba of Spain?

Saint Columba of Spain, or Columba of Cordova, was a nun who was born in Cordoba, Spain and died around 853.

She was a nun at Tabanos, near Cordoba, but was driven from there by the Moorish persecution in 852. She took refuge in Cordoba, where, being called on to deny Christ by the Muslims, she openly rejected Mohammed and was beheaded. Her body is said to have been thrown into the Guadalquivir, but was rescued by the Christians. Her relics were kept and venerated in Old Castile at two churches, the priory of St. Columba and the royal Abbey of Our Lady at Nájera.