Both Clement of Rome and the early Muratorian
fragment state that St. Paul carried out his design of
visiting Spain, but the places visited and the length of
his stay are quite uncertain. Tradition suggests that
he landed at Gades, and passed Hispalis and Astigi
(now Ecija, where the Church still claims him as
patron) on his way to the east coast. After his de-
parture, the legend continues, seven bishops were
consecrated by the apostles at Rome to fill the sees to
be founded in the south of Spain. These set out on a
missionary journey under the leadership of Torquatus,
and various miracles attended their progress, such as
the sudden fall of the great bridge over the river at Acci
on their arrival during a heathen festival. This city, to
which Torquatus was appointed — the sancta et apostolica
ecclesia A ccitana — claimed to be the first episcopal see

in all Spain.
1 1982.
Spanish Church in the Third Century 175

There is no doubt that Christianity was firmly planted
in Bsetica by early in the second century, even though
stories relating to a persecution under Domitian are
apocryphal. The churches of Iberia are mentioned by
Irenseus, and Tertullian says ' all the boundaries of
Spain know the name of Christ.'^ The next group of
documents refers to the middle of the third century.
