Ordoño de Astorga

Who they were

Ordono was bishop of Astorga in the 11th century. Probably born in the city itself, he trained at the court of King Ferdinand I of Leon, where he served as a notary and took part in some raids against the Muslims. He governed the diocese from 4 February 1062 until his death in 1066.

The king sent him to Seville with Count Nunio Fernandez and Saint Alvitus to bring the relics of the martyr saints Justa and Rufina to Leon; after a miraculous vision of Saint Isidore they decided to bring his relics to Leon as well. When Alvitus died in Seville, it was Ordono who carried the relics back to Leon, where he was received in triumph by the king. He died fairly young and was buried in the church of the monastery of Santa Marta, within the city walls.

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

Bishop of Astorga who brought the relics of Saint Isidore to Leon; died 23 February 1066.