Saint Melchior Garcia Sampedro - Xuyên was born on April 26, 1821, in Arrojo, in the province of Oviedo, Spain. Although he was born into a noble family, his lineage had declined into poverty.

At the age of 21, he began studying theology at the Oviedo Seminary. Three years later, the young man decided to enter the Dominican Order, driven by a desire to go on missions. After completing his novitiate, he professed his vows and was ordained a priest on May 29, 1847. After arriving in Manila, Father Sampedro requested and was sent to Vietnam in February 1849. From that point on, he received a new name: Xuyên.

In March 1850, Bishop Sanjurjo - An appointed Father Xuyên as the Director of the Cao Xá Seminary. Just a few months later, he was chosen as the vicar provincial. During this time, Father Xuyên not only had many small catechism booklets printed for the faithful but also showed special concern for evangelizing non-Christians.

In 1852, Bishop An chose Father Sampedro as his coadjutor bishop. The consecration ceremony was solemnly celebrated at Bùi Chu on September 16, 1855. In his new ministry, Bishop Xuyên demonstrated a commendable zeal. In the year 1855 alone, the Central Diocese recorded 35,349 children being baptized.

As the persecution intensified, Bishop Sanjurjo-An was martyred on July 20, 1857. Although the authorities placed a high bounty on his capture, Bishop Xuyên remained undeterred, secretly visiting the parish communities at night. Thinking ahead for his flock, he chose Father Valentino - Vinh as his coadjutor bishop. This "bishop with the bamboo staff and paper mitre" was consecrated quietly during the night in the home of a layperson in Ninh Cường.

On July 8, 1858, at Kiên Lao, Bishop Xuyên was arrested along with his two altar servers, Nguyễn Tiệp and Mai Hiến. Twenty days in prison meant twenty days awaiting the death sentence. On July 28, 1858, he received the sentence of death by dismemberment (lăng trì). On the way to the execution ground at Bảy Mẫu, holding a prayer book in one hand and raising the other high to bless the people, some bowed their heads to receive the blessing, while others threw mud at him.

After the two young men, Tiệp and Hiến, received his blessing and knelt to be beheaded, the executioners forced the bishop to lie face down on a mat covered with cloth. They tied his limbs to four stakes at the four corners, adding two more stakes under his armpits to prevent the victim from struggling.

The bishop accepted his sentence peacefully. His body was buried in a deep pit, and his head was displayed publicly for three days. Later, the faithful managed to bring his remains back for burial at Phú Nhai. In 1888, his bones were taken back to his homeland in Oviedo, Spain. However, his right arm was kept in Bùi Chu, and his left arm was taken to Manila as a sacred relic.

Bishop Garcia Sampedro - Xuyên was beatified on April 29, 1951, and was canonized on June 19, 1988.