Language: Italian

It is said that Santa Marta was of noble origin. His father was called Syro, he was duke of Syria, while his mother Encharia. After the death of his parents, together with his sister, he inherited the castle of Magdalen, that of Bethany and part of Jerusalem. According to tradition, Martha never had a companion and dedicated her whole life to serving Jesus.

The legend of Santa Marta appears only in the XII century. It narrates that after the ascension of Christ, the three brothers Lazarus, Martha, Mary Magdalene and others would have been embarked by the infidels on a boat without sails or oars, nor rudder, nor provisions. That was how they landed in Marseille. Santa Marta “very eloquent and lovable to all” made several conversions. The legend also says that in the times when Santa Marta was evangelizing Provence a terrible dragon, the Tarasca, devastated the fertile plains of the Rhone valley and prevented men from living peacefully in those places.

The Saint, who learned of the fact, went into the depths of the woods, bringing with her some blessed water. After venturing into the dense forest, he saw the beast in the act of devouring a man. Then he dipped a sprig of hyssop into the blessed water and sprinkled it by tracing the sign of the cross. The beast miraculously interrupted his meal and crawled to the feet of the Saint completely tamed and meek.

Martha tied it to her belt and took it to the city of Tarascona, which seems to have derived its name from the dragon.

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