No likeness on file
Bernard of Alzira
12th-century Catholic convert and martyr
SaintFull write-upSpainCisterciansPre-congregation
Feast: 1 July (not on the universal Roman calendar; kept in the Roman Martyrology or local calendars)
Born
1135
Died
1180
Beatified
—
not needed: before formal processes
Canonised
By tradition
recognised before formal processes began
Who they were
At Alzira in the territory of Valencia in Spain, commemoration of the holy martyrs Bernard, formerly called Ahmed, monk of the Cistercian Order, and his sisters Mary (Zaida) and Grace (Zoraida), whom he had led from the Muslim religion to faith in Christ.
The miracles
There was never a formal cause: he has been honoured as a saint since before the Church's formal processes began.
Why that counted as sanctity
The Roman Martyrology remembers him on 21 August as a Cistercian monk martyred with his sisters, whom he had led to faith in Christ.
Connected on this site
- Grace of Alzira Saint“The Roman Martyrology remembers her on 21 August as a sister of Saint Bernard of Alzira who was brought by him from the Muslim religion to faith in Christ and died a martyr.” — this site's research
- Maria of Alzira Saint“The Roman Martyrology remembers her on 21 August as a sister of Saint Bernard of Alzira who was brought by him from the Muslim religion to faith in Christ and died a martyr.” — this site's research
Sources
- Roman Martyrology, 21 August (Italian Bishops' Conference, Santo del giorno)
- Wikidata Q19204108 — dates, feast day and identifiers (CC0)
- English Wikipedia — Bernard of Alzira (CC BY-SA)
Checked against the sources listed on 22 September 2026. Corrections welcome.