According to an early legend, the Roman martyr Pancras was a native of Syria or Phrygia (now Turkey) brought to Rome by an uncle after he was orphaned. They converted to Christianity there and were martyred during the persecution of Emperor Diocletian. Pancras reportedly was only 14, the likely reason for his being a patron saint of children. A strong cult of Pancras developed in Rome and in England from the time of St. Augustine of Canterbury, who dedicated a church to him around 600. Pancras is also mentioned in St. Bede’s martyrology and in most medieval English calendars, and the famous north London train station takes its name from an ancient church there dedicated to St. Pancras.
