Secundus of Abula

Who is Secundus of Abula?

Saint Secundus or Secundius is venerated as a Christian missionary and martyr of the 1st century, during the Apostolic Age. He evangelized the town of Abula, which has been identified as either Ávila or Abla, and became its first bishop. Ávila may have been the ancient town known as Abula, mentioned by Ptolemy in his Geographia as being located in the Iberian region of Bastetania. Abula is mentioned as one of the first cities in Hispania that was Christianized, specifically by Secundus. However, Ávila may have been the ancient Obila instead, while Abula may have been the town of Abla.

He is one of the group of Seven Apostolic Men, seven Christian clerics ordained in Rome by Saints Peter and Paul and sent to evangelize Spain. Besides Secundius, this group includes Sts. Hesychius, Caecilius, Torquatus, Euphrasius, Indaletius, and Ctesiphon.