Emilian of Cogolla


Saint Aemilian is an Iberic saint, widely revered throughout Spain, who lived during the age of Visigothic rule.

Life

According to his Vita, written by Braulius, bishop of Caesaraugusta roughly a hundred years after the saint's death, Emilianus was born in Vergaja, which is identified with Berceo in La Rioja, where he was a shepherd.
Emilian had a religious experience, perhaps around the age of twenty, which led him to decide to dedicate himself to God's service. He sought out an experienced hermit in Bilibio, Felix, where Emilianus lived for a number of years.
After leaving his teacher, Emilianus lived as a hermit in the mountains or on the historic Roman road which became the Camino de Santiago. Didymus the Bishop of Tarazona ordained Emilianus and appointed him parish priest of Vergaja. However, Emilianus aroused the opposition of his fellow priests because of his heavy distribution of alms or reputation for holiness or miracleworking. Emilianus returned to the wilderness, and a small community of disciples gathered around his cell. He died at a venerable age, and his body, was initially interred at his hermitage, but later transferred to a monastery built in memory of him.

Veneration

also recorded miracles that occurred after Aemilian's death, but the fame of the San Millán de la Cogolla monastery dedicated in his memory eclipsed that of its founder. San Millán de Suso monastery is known for its Mozarabic architecture, and its growing popularity during the heyday of the pilgrimage rout led to its expansion in the eleventh century with San Millán de Yuso.
The longstanding monastic community is credited with one of the oldest books written in the Spanish language, the Vida de San Millán de la Cogolla. St. Dominic of Silos also received his education and began his religious career at San Millan monastery.
He is a patron saint of La Rioja; the longer name of San Millán de la Cogolla refers to the monastic cowl. Because of the monastery's role on the traditional pilgrimage route, representations of Emilianus can be mixed with that of Saint James the Moor-slayer, such as a Benedictine on horseback with a banner and sword.