Architectural features

It has a length of 10 meters and a width of 3 meters. It is a crypt (underground architectural space that usually houses tombs) with a rectangular shape crowned by a barrel vault (vault formed by an alignment of semicircular arches) with a height of 2.30 meters. The vault sits on a stone plinth that is attached to three of the four sides of the crypt. Furthermore, the crypt consists of two different parts: the central nave and the presbytery.

Access to the crypt is through two doors located on each side of the central nave, one door is on the north side and the other door is on the south side. The central nave is located at the beginning of the crypt, while the presbytery is located at the back. In the presbytery is placed the main altar made up of a large block of stone that rests on Dulcidio's tomb. It should also be noted that the floor still retains the original pavement. The crypt houses a total of five tombs, made up of a sarcophagus and four laduas (tombstones).

The sarcophagus has a height of 219 cm, a width of 75 cm and a depth of 52 cm. It is made of limestone and is located on the side of the back of the crypt. It is dated between the second half of the 11th century AD. and early 12th century AD. (period between 1051 AD and 1150 AD), also comes from San Zaornín de Puelles, located in the council of Villaviciosa, in the autonomous community of the Principality of Asturias (Spain). Two of the three laudas, located in the central nave, are covered by carved tombstones, while the third lauda does not have any type of slab.

The lauda located in the center has a height of 207 cm, a width of 54 cm and a thickness of 10 cm. It is made of limestone and is dated between 880 AD. and 884 AD. It can be seen how it is ornamented by two symmetrically placed stripes decorated with serpentine stems from which multipetal flowers sprout. The left lauda has a height of 182 cm, a width of 63 cm and a thickness of 12 cm. It is made of limestone and is dated between 882 AD. and 884 AD, it is also observed how it is decorated with plant motifs. At the back of the crypt is the funeral lauda of Bishop Froilán, it is made of sandstone and dates back to the second half of the 9th century AD. (period between 851 AD and 900 AD). It should be noted that it is known that it comes from the north porch of the Holy Chamber of Oviedo. It has an engraved inscription written in Latin. The inscription and its approximate translation is as follows:

"LO: REQVIEVIT: FMLS DEI FROILANI:

EP Q REGIT ANC HEADQUARTERS P ANS XXXVII OBIIT DIE IIF XIIII KLDS MRCII ERA CXIII POST M. "

"In this mound rests the servant of God Froilán, bishop who ruled this see for thirty-seven years. He died on the day of the second fair of the 14th of the kalends of March of the era 114 after the thousandth. "

Regarding lighting, the light reaches the interior, through two windows located on the sides. Also on the back wall, behind the altar, there is a small window with a lattice ornamented with a Greek cross.

Data of interest

Underline that the crypt is mentioned for the first time in some records dated in the year 908 AD, thanks to these records it is known that the construction of the crypt began after the transfer of the remains of two holy martyrs from Cordoba: a Muslim woman from a noble family who converted to Christianity Saint Leocricia and the Mozarabic clergyman Eulogio de Córdoba (also known as Saint Eulogius).

It is also recorded that in December of the year 883 AD. King Alfonso III of Asturias (also known as Alfonso III the Great) obtained the relics of both martyrs from the emir Mohamed I of Córdoba (independent emir of al-Andalus).

It is also known that the person in charge of the request and the transfer was the Toledo priest Dulcidio, in January 884 AD. when both remains were placed in the Crypt of Santa Leocadia, to later be transferred in the year 1303 AD. to the Holy Chamber of Oviedo.

https://www.ecured.cu/Cripta_de_Santa_Leocadia