Roman Catholic Bishop. A native of Mohedas de la Jara, province of Toledo, Juan Alvarez de Castro served as parish priest in Piedraescrita, Azután, Navaltoril and Madrid for some 39 years, until being appointed, at the age of 66, the 99th bishop of the diocese of Coria in 1790. A pious man, known for his deep charities, the death of his nephew led him into a deep depression, which made him seek a cooler place in Sierra de Gata, not far off from his episcopal see. During the Spanish War of Independence, despite his advanced age he became one of the intellectual leaders against the French invasion. Early one morning, French troops entered Villa Hoyos, where the elderly bishop was residing, dragged him out of bed, stripped him of his clothes, made fun of his pectoral cross, and shot him twice, first in his genitals and secondly in his mouth. That night, his body was buried inside the parish church of Nuestra Señora del Buen Varón. As the burial was carried out secretly, the exact location remains unknown to this day. He remains a revered prelate and a fervent patriot of the War of Independence.
Roman Catholic Bishop. A native of Mohedas de la Jara, province of Toledo, Juan Alvarez de Castro served as parish priest in Piedraescrita, Azután, Navaltoril and Madrid for some 39 years, until being appointed, at the age of 66, the 99th bishop of the diocese of Coria in 1790. A pious man, known for his deep charities, the death of his nephew led him into a deep depression, which made him seek a cooler place in Sierra de Gata, not far off from his episcopal see. During the Spanish War of Independence, despite his advanced age he became one of the intellectual leaders against the French invasion. Early one morning, French troops entered Villa Hoyos, where the elderly bishop was residing, dragged him out of bed, stripped him of his clothes, made fun of his pectoral cross, and shot him twice, first in his genitals and secondly in his mouth. That night, his body was buried inside the parish church of Nuestra Señora del Buen Varón. As the burial was carried out secretly, the exact location remains unknown to this day. He remains a revered prelate and a fervent patriot of the War of Independence.
Bio by: Eman Bonnici
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