Saint Agatha (died 251) is a Christian saint. Her memorial day is February 5. Agatha was born at Catania and she was martyred in approximately 250. She is the patron saint of Catania. According to variations of her legend, having rejected the amorous advances of a Roman prefect, she was persecuted by him for her Christian faith. Among the tortures she underwent was the cutting off of her breasts. She is therefore often depicted iconographically carrying her excised breasts on a platter.Not in this case at Lechlade.
The shape of her amputated breasts gave rise to her attribute as patron saint of bell-founders. More recently she is venerated as patron saint of breast cancer patients.
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