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Aaron June 22
+ c 552. Probably born in Wales, he went to Brittany and lived as a hermit at what is now St Malo. Later he was joined by disciples, among them St Malo, and he became their abbot.

Abban March 16
5th cent. A nephew of St Ibar, he founded Kill-Abban monastery in Leinster in Ireland.

Abban Oct 27
6th cent. A nephew of St Kevin, he founded many monasteries, mostly in the south of Ireland. His name is closely connected with Magh-Armuidhe or Adamstown in Wexford.

Abbo Nov 13
c 945-1004. Born near Orleans in France, he became a monk at Fleury (St Benoît-sur-Loire). Invited by St Oswald of Worcester to take charge of the monastery of Ramsey in England, he stayed there for two years (985-7) and wrote the Life of St Edmund. He then became Abbot of Fleury 988. He was martyred in La Réole in Gascony.

Abbo Dec 3
+ c 860 A monk and Abbot of St Germain in Auxerre in France. He became Bishop of Auxerre in 857.

Abdon and Sennen July 30
3rd or 4th cent. Persian nobles brought to Rome as prisoners, they devoted themselves to looking after imprisoned Christians and burying the relics of the martyrs.

Abel Aug 5
+ c 751 Probably born in Ireland, he became Archbishop of Rheims in France. As his Cathedral was occupied by an intruder, he went to live at the monastery of Lobbes in Belgium.

Abra Dec 12
c 342-360. Daughter of St Hilary of Poitiers in France. Following his advice she consecrated herself to God as a nun but reposed at the age of eighteen.

Abraham June 15
+ c 480. Born on the banks of the Euphrates, he travelled to Egypt, where he fell among thieves who held him prisoner for five years. He escaped and travelled to France. There he settled near Clermont in Auvergne as a hermit. Eventually he became abbot of the monastery of St Cyriacus (St Cyrgnes). He is called on in prayer against fever.

Abundius Apr 2
+ 469. Of Greek origin, he became Bishop of Como in the north of Italy. A theologian, he was sent to the Emperor Theodosius the Younger and encouraged the calling of the Council of Chalcedon in 451.

Abundius Apr 14
+ c 564. A sacrist at St Peter's in Rome.

Abundius July 11
+ 854. A parish priest in Ananelos, a village near Cordoba in Spain. He had no thought of martyrdom, but when he had to, he bravely confessed Christ before the tribunal of the Moorish Caliph of Cordoba. He was beheaded and his body was thrown to the dogs.

Abundius, Abundantius, Marcian and John Sept 16
+ c 303. The first two were martyred in Rome on the Flaminian Way under the Emperor Diocletian who ordered them to be beheaded together with Marcian, a senator, and John, his son, whom Abundius had raised from the dead.

Acca Oct 20
c. 660-742. A disciple of St Bosa of York in England and St Wilfrid and a companion of the latter in his travels. He became Abbot of St Andrew's in Hexham and in 709 he succeeded Wilfrid as bishop there. He was described by Bede as 'great in the sight of God and man'.

Acestes July 2
1st cent. According to tradition, he was one of the three soldiers who led St Paul to execution in Rome. Converted by him, they were beheaded.

Acharius Nov 27
+ 640. A monk at Luxeuil in France under St Eustace. In 621 he was chosen Bishop of Noyon-Tournai in Belgium and encouraged the work of St Amandus of Maastricht.

Acheric and William Nov 3
+ c 860. Hermits at a monastery in the Vosges in France.

Acisclus and Victoria Nov 17
+ 304. Brother and sister, they were born in Cordoba in Spain and were martyred, probably under Diocletian. Their home was turned into a church. They are the main patron-saints of Cordoba and were venerated throughout Spain and the south of France.

Acius (Ache) and Aceolus (Acheul) May 1
+ c 303. The former a deacon, the latter a subdeacon, they were martyred near Amiens in France under Diocletian.

Actinea and Graecina June 16
4th cent. Both martyrs, the former was beheaded in Volterra in Italy under Diocletian.

Ada Dec 4
End of 7th cent. Niece of Engebert, Bishop of Le Mans in France, she became a nun at Soissons and abbess in Le Mans.

Adalar (Adalher) June 5
+ 755. A companion of St Boniface with whom he was martyred in Dokkum in Holland.

Adalard Jan 2
c 751-827. He entered the monastery of Corbie in the north of France, where he became abbot. Exiled, he founded New Corbie (Corvey) in Saxony in Germany.

Adalard July 15
+ c 824. Called the younger, he was a monk at Corbie in France.

Adalbald Feb 2
+ 652. Born in Flanders in Belgium, he was a son or grandson of St Gertrude of Hamage. He married a lady named Rictrude, who is also venerated as a saint together with their four children, Maurontius, Clotsindis, Eusebia and Adalsindis. Adalbald was murdered by relatives of his wife who disapproved of the marriage and he was venerated as a martyr.

Adalbero Apr 28
+ 909. Uncle of St Ulric, he became a monk in 850 and then Abbot of Ellwangen in Germany. He restored the monastery of Lorsch and became Bishop of Augsburg.

Adalbero Dec 15
+ 1005. A monk at the monastery of Gorze in France, he became Bishop of Verdun but was transferred to Metz.

Adalbert (Voitech) Apr 23
956-997. Born in Czechia, he became Bishop of Prague (983). Disheartened, he went to Rome and became a monk. Twice he returned to his former mission and twice he had to abandon it. On each occasion he preached in Poland, Prussia and Hungary. He was martyred by the Prussians near Danzig.

Adalbert June 20
+ 981. A monk at St Maximin in Trier in Germany, he went to preach to the pagans. In 961 all his companions were killed by them and he only escaped with difficulty. He then became Abbot of Weissenburg and in 968 the first Archbishop of Magdeburg with jurisdiction over the western Slavs or Sorbs.

Adalbert June 25
+ c 740. Born in Northumbria in England, he became a monk at Rathmelgisi in Ireland and accompanied St Willibrord as a deacon to Frisia. He worked around Egmont in Holland and became the patron-saint there.

Adalbert Nov 23
+ c 1045. A monk at Cassoria in the Abruzzi in Italy. He lived as a hermit on Mt Caramanico near Chieti, where he founded the monastery of St Nicholas.

Adalgis (Adelgis, Algis) June 2
+ c 686. Born in Ireland, he was a disciple of St Fursey and preached around Arras and Laon in the north of France. He founded a small monastery in the forest of Thiquerarche in Picardy, around which grew up the village of Saint Algis.

Adalgis Oct 7
c 850. Bishop of Novara in Italy c 830-c 850. He is buried in the church of San Gaudenzio.

Adalgott Oct 26
+ 1031. A monk at Einsiedeln and from 1012 Abbot of Dissentis, both of which monasteries are in Switzerland.

Adalsindis May 3
c 680. Sister of St Waldalenus, founder of the monastery of Bèze in France. She became abbess of a convent near Bèze.

Adalsindis Dec 25
c 715. One of the daughters of Sts Adalbald and Rictrudis, she became a nun at Hamay-les-Marchiennes near Arras in France under her own sister St Eusebia.

Adamnan Jan 31
+ c 680. Born in Ireland, he became a monk at Coldingham, now in Scotland.

Adamnan (Adam, Eunan) Sept 23
c 625-704. Born in Ireland, he became Abbot of Iona in Scotland in 679. He wrote the Life of St Columba.

Aldegrin (Adalgrin, Aldegrin) June 4
+ 939. A noble who became a monk near Cluny in France.

Adela Dec 24
+ c 730. Daughter of Dagobert II, King of the Franks. In her widowhood she founded and became the first Abbess of Pfalzel near Trier in Germany.

Adelaide Feb 5
+ c 1015. Abbess of Willich near Bonn in Germany and of Our Lady of the Capitol in Cologne. Both convents were founded by her father.

Adelaide Dec 16
c 930-999. Daughter of the King of Burgundy in France, she was married to Lothair II of Italy. She was rescued from brutality after his death by Otto the Great who married her. Widowed again, she was maltreated by her son and daughter-in-law. In old age she became the regent of the Empire. At the end of her life she became a nun.

Adelindis Aug 28
+ c 930. As a widow she founded and became a nun, and perhaps Abbess, of Buchau on the Federsee in Wurtemburg in Germany.

Adeloga (Hadeloga) Feb 2
+ c 745. A princess who became the first Abbess of Kitzingen in Germany.

Adelphus Aug 29
5th cent. An early Bishop of Metz in France.

Adelphus Sept 11
+ c 670. Grandson of St Romaricus and his successor as Abbot of Remiremont in the east of France.

Aderald Oct 20
+ 1004. Born in Troyes in France, he went on pilgrimage to Palestine, returned with many holy relics and built the monastery of the Holy Sepulchre at Samblières.

Adhentus (Abderitus, Adery) Sept 27
+ 2nd cent. A Greek by birth, he succeeded St Apollinaris as Bishop of Ravenna in Italy. His relics are enshrined in the basilica of Classe near Ravenna.

Ado Dec 16
799-875. Born in Burgundy in France, he became a monk at Prüm near Trier in Germany. From here he travelled to Rome. On his return he became Bishop of Vienne and was an excellent bishop. He is remembered for the martyrology which bears his name.

Adolphus and John Sept 27
+ c 850. Two brothers born in Seville in Spain of a Moorish father and a Christian mother. They were martyred in Cordoba under Abderrahman II.

Adrian Jan 9
+ 710. Born in North Africa, he became Abbot of Nerida not far from Naples in Italy. Chosen to be Archbishop of Canterbury, he declined the office and recommended instead St Theodore of Tarsus, with whom he came to England. He became Abbot of Sts Peter and Paul, later called St Augustine's in Canterbury. He was eminent for his holiness and his learning.

Adrian and Companions March 4
+ c 875. A bishop on the Isle of May in the Firth of Forth in Scotland. He was martyred by the Danes, together with other monks.

Adrian March 19
+ c 668. A disciple of St Landoald, he was murdered while begging alms for his monastery near Maastricht in Holland and was venerated as a martyr.

Aedh MacBricc Nov 10
6th cent. A disciple of St Illadan at Rathlihen in Offaly in Ireland, he founded churches at Rathugh and other places in his native Meath, where he was bishop.

Afan Nov 16
6th cent. A bishop who gave his name to the church of Llanafan in Powys in Wales.

Afra May 24
? A martyr in Brescia in Italy.

Afra Aug 5
+ c 304. A martyr who suffered in Augsburg in Germany, probably under Diocletian. She was venerated there from early times and the monastery of that city was dedicated to her.

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Africa, Martyrs of North-West Africa

Jan 6
+ c 210. A number of Christians of both sexes burnt at the stake under Septimius Severus.

Feb 11
+ c 303. Martyrs known as the 'Guardians of the Holy Scriptures'.. They preferred martyrdom to giving up the sacred books to be burnt. They suffered under Diocletian.

Apr 5
+ 459. A large group martyred at the Easter liturgy by Genseric, the Arian King of the Vandals. The reader who was singing the Alleluia had his throat pierced by an arrow.

Apr 9
A group of Christians martyred in Masyla.

Oct 16
Two hundred and twenty Christians martyred on this day.

Oct 30
A group of Christians, numbering between one and two hundred, massacred in one of the early persecutions.

Dec 16
+ 482. A great number of women martyred under Hunneric, Arian King of the Vandals.

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Africus Nov 16
7th cent. Bishop of Comminges in France, celebrated for his zeal for Orthodoxy.

Agabius Aug 4
c 250. An early Bishop of Verona in Italy.

Agape Feb 15
c 273. A virgin-martyr in Terni in Italy. She belonged to a group of virgins formed by St Valentine into a community.

Agapitus March 16
4th cent. Bishop of Ravenna in Italy.

Agapitus Aug 18
+ c 274. A fifteen year old who bravely confessed Christ and was martyred in Palestrina near Rome. He is the patron-saint of Palestrina, where as early as the fifth century a church was dedicated to him.

Agapitus I Sept 20 and April 22 (In the East Apr 17)
+ 536. Born in Rome, he was elected Pope of Rome in May 535 and reposed in Constantinople on April 22 536. As Pope he showed great strength of character in opposing Monophysitism. His relics were brought back to Rome on Sept 20, when he was commemorated a second time.

Agapius and Companions Apr 29
c 259. Born in Spain, Agapius and Secundinus, bishops or priests, were exiled to Cirta in Numidia in North Africa in the persecution under Valerian. There they suffered martyrdom together with Tertulla and Antonia, virgins, and a certain woman with her twin children.

Agapius (Agapitus) Sept 10
+ 447. Bishop of Novara in Piedmont in Italy from 417 to 447 and the successor of St Gaudentius, in whose footsteps he followed.

Agatha Feb 5
? Born in Catania in Sicily, where she was martyred. She was handed over to a prostitute and her breasts were cut off. The Apostle Peter healed her of this mutilation while she was in prison, where she subsequently reposed. The miracles by which she has preserved Catania from successive eruptions of Mt Etna are well accredited.

Agatha Feb 5
+ 1024. Wife of the Count of Carinthia in Austria, she was a model of devotion and patience under the brutal ill-treatment of her jealous husband whom she later converted.

Agatha Dec 12
+ c 790. A nun at Wimborne in Dorset in England and a disciple of St Lioba, she went to Germany to help St Boniface in his missionary work.

Agatho Jan 10 (In the East Feb 20)
+ 681. Pope of Rome from 678 to 681. A Sicilian from Palermo, he called for the holding of the Sixth Oecumenical Council in Constantinople in 680 against Monothelitism.

Agatho and Triphina July 5
+ c 306. Martyrs in Sicily.

Ageranus (Ayran, Ayrman) May 21
+ 888. Ageranus was a monk at Bèze in in France. When the Vikings invaded Burgundy most of the monks escaped, but Ageranus remained with four other monks, Genesius, Bernard, Sifiard and Rodron, the boy Adalaric and the priest Ansuinus. All were martyred by the invaders.

Agericus (Aguy, Airy) Apr 11
+ c 680. A disciple of St Eligius (Eloi) who became Abbot of St Martin's in Tours in France.

Agericus (Aguy, Airy) Dec 1
c 521-591. Successor of St Desiderius in Verdun in France He was greatly admired by his contemporaries, Sts Gregory of Tours and Venantius Fortunatus. He was buried in his own home which was turned into a church. The monastery of Saint-Airy later grew up around it.

Agia (Aia, Austregildis, Aye) Apr 18
+ c 714. Wife of St Hidulf of Hainault in Belgium. Both desired the monastic life and she entered the convent in Mons.

Agia (Aia, Aye) Sept 1
6th cent. Mother of St Lupus of Sens in France.

Agilbert (Aglibert) Oct 11
+ c 685. A monk at Jouarre in France with Abbot Ado. He went to England and preached in Wessex. When he returned to France, he became Bishop of Paris. He was buried at Jouarre, where his tomb is still preserved.

Agilberta (Aguilberta, Gilberta) Aug 10
+ c 680. Second Abbess of Jouarre, elected in about 660. She was a relative of St Ebrigisil, of St Ado, founder of Jouarre, and of St Agilbert, Bishop of Paris.

Agileus Oct 15
+ c 300. He was martyred in Carthage in North Africa, but his relics were later translated to Rome.

Agilo Aug 27
+ 957. Monk of St Aper in Toul in France. He was invited to restore monastic discipline at Sithin (Saint Bertin).

Agilulf July 9
+ c 720. A monk and Abbot of Stavelot-Malmédy in Belgium and Archbishop of Cologne in Germany. His martyrdom was the result of his zeal and was aided by the connivance of Charles Martel.

Agilus (Ail, Aile, Aisle, Ayeul) Aug 30
c 580-650. A young nobleman who became a monk with St Columbanus at Luxeuil. He remained at Luxeuil under the founder's successor, St Eustace, but went with him in 612 to preach in Bavaria. On his return to France he became Abbot of Rebais near Paris.

Agnellus Dec 14
+ c 596. A hermit and then Abbot of San Gaudioso near Naples in Italy. He is one of the patron-saints of the city and was often seen to free the city from its enemies by the power of the cross.

Agnes Jan 21
+ c 305. A virgin-martyr in Rome, aged only twelve or thirteen, she suffered and was buried by the Via Nomentana in Rome, where a basilica in her honour has stood since the fourth century. St Ambrose, St Damasus and Prudentius sang her praises and she is a patroness of chastity.

Agnes of Poitiers May 13
+ 588. Chosen by St Radegund to be Abbess of Holy Cross at Poitiers in France, Agnes adopted the rule of St Caesarius, handed to her by the bishop himself.

Agoard, Agilbert and Companions June 24
5th to 7th cent. Holy martyrs in Creteil, now a suburb of Paris in France.

Agofredus June 21
+ 738. Brother of St Leutfrid (Leffroi) and monk at Holy Cross (La-Croix-Saint-Leuffroi), a monastery near Evreux in the north of France.

Agrecius (Agritius) Jan 13
+ c 333. Bishop of Trier in Germany and predecessor of St Maximinus. He took part in the Council of Arles in 314. According to a late Life, composed in the eleventh century, he was aided by St Helen, who procured for him the garment of our Lord, known as the Holy Coat of Trier.

Agricola Feb 5
+ 420. The eleventh Bishop of Tongres in Belgium.

Agricola Feb 26
+ c 594. Bishop of Nevers in France between 570 and 594.

Agricola (Agrele, Aregle) March 17
+ 580. Bishop and ascetic of Châlon-sur-Saône in France.

Agricola (Agricolus) Sept 2
c 630-700. Son of St Magnus, Bishop of Avignon. At the age of sixteen he became a monk at Lérins where he stayed for sixteen years. His father called him to Avignon and in 660 he became bishop there and is considered to be the patron-saint of the town.

Agricola Dec 3
? A martyr in Pannonia.

Agrippina June 23
+ c 262. A virgin-martyr in Rome, probably under Valerian. She was especially venerated by Sicilians and Greeks, both having relics, the former in Mineo and the latter in Constantinople.

Agrippinus June 17
+ 615. Bishop of Como in the north of Italy.

Agrippinus July 9
+ 538. Bishop of Autun in France, he ordained St Germanus of Paris to the deaconate and the priesthood.

Agrippinus (Arpinus) Nov 9
2nd or 3rd cent. Bishop of Naples in Italy, where he has been greatly venerated from time immemorial. His relics are enshrined under the altar of the Cathedral of Naples with Sts Eutychius and Acutius, companions of St Januarius.

Aichardus (Aicard, Achard) Sept 15
+ c 687. Born in Poitiers in France, the son of an officer at the court of Clotaire II, early in life he became a monk at Ansion in Poitou. Here he spent thirty-nine years, later becoming Abbot of St Benedict's at Quinçay near Poitiers. Finally he succeeded St Philibert as Abbot of Jumièges, where there were nearly one thousand monks.

Aidan (Maedoc) Jan 31
+ 626. The first Bishop of Ferns in Co. Wexford in Ireland where he also founded and became abbot of a monastery. In his youth he had become a monk under St David in Wales and later in life he returned to live there.

Aidan (Aedan) Aug 31
+ 651. An Irish monk at Iona who, at the request of St Oswald, King of Northumbria, went to enlighten the north of England. He fixed his see at Lindisfarne (Holy Island) where he ruled as abbot and bishop, his diocese reaching from the Forth to the Humber. His life was illustrated by numberless miracles and was most fruitful, as is witnessed to by the writings of St Bede. He reposed at Bamburgh.

Aidan Oct 20
+ 768. A bishop in Mayo in Ireland.

Aigulphus (Ayoul, Aieul, Aout, Hou) May 22
+ c 835. After an excellent education he chose to live as a hermit. However, about the year 812 he was made Bishop of Bourges in France against his will.

Aigulphus (Ayou, Ayoul) Sept 3
c 630-676. Born in Blois in France, at the age of twenty he became a monk at Fleury. He was sent to Montecassino to attempt to obtain the relics of St Benedict and later became Abbot of Lérins. With four of his monks he was taken by evildoers to an island near Corsica where they were all martyred.

Ailbe (Albeus, Ailbhe) Sept 12
6th cent. By tradition first Bishop of Emly in Ireland.

Aimo (Aimonius) Feb 13
+ c 790. Founder of the convent of St Victor in Meda in the north of Italy.

Alanus and Alorus Oct 26
5th cent. Two Bishops of Quimper in Brittany.

Alanus Nov 25
7th cent. Abbot and founder of Lavaur in Gascony in France.

Alaricus (Adalricus, Adalrai) Sept 29
+ 975. Son of Duke Burkhard II of Swabia. A monk at Einsiedeln in Switzerland, eventually he became a hermit on the island of Uffnau in the lake of Zurich.

Alban June 20
c 303. Venerated as the Protomartyr of Britain. He was a citizen of Verulam, now in England, converted by a persecuted priest whom he had sheltered in his house. He was executed on Holmhurst Hill and on this site was built the monastery of St Alban's, by which name Verulam has since been known.

Alban June 21
+ c 400. A Greek priest from Naxos, he was sent into exile by the Arians and preached the Gospel in Germany around Mainz. Here he was again attacked by the Arians and martyred.

Albaud (Aladius) Oct 1
+ c 520. Bishop of Toul in France. He built the church of St Aper (Epvre) who was his predecessor.

Alberic Aug 29
+ c 1050. A monk who lived at Bagno de Romagua in Italy.

Alberic Oct 28
+ 779. Abbot of Stavelot-Malmédy in Belgium. His feast is kept together with that of four other Abbots of the same monastery.

Alberic Nov 14
+ 784. Nephew of St Gregory of Utrecht, he became a priest and, on his uncle's repose in 775, Bishop of St Martin's in Utrecht in Holland. Highly educated, his work among the pagan Teutons was very fruitful.

Alberic (Albert) Dec 24
10th cent. A monk at Gladbach in Germany.

Albert of Cashel Jan 8
7th cent. Patron-saint of Cashel in Ireland. According to some, he had been born in England, laboured in Ireland and later preached in Bavaria. He then went to Jerusalem and on his return reposed and was buried in Regensburg.

Albert of Gambron Dec 29
7th cent. A courtier who became a hermit and later founded the small monastery of Gambron-sur-l'Authion in France.

Alberta March 11
+ c 286. One of the first victims of the persecution under Diocletian. She suffered in Agen in France with St Faith and others.

Albinus (Aubin) March 1
+ c 554. Born in Vannes in Brittany. A monk and Abbot of Tincillac, he then became Bishop of Angers in France (c 529-554). He played an important role at the third Council of Orleans (538). The monastery of Saint-Aubin in Angers was dedicated to him. Saint-Aubin de Moeslain (Haute Maine) is also a place of pilgrimage.

Albinus (Aubin, Alpin) Sept 15
+ c 390. The successor of St Justus in Lyons in France between 381 and 390. He is said to have built the church of St Stephen and chosen it for his Cathedral.

Albinus (Witta) Oct 26
+ c 760. Born in England, he set out with St Boniface to enlighten Germany. In 741 he was consecrated Bishop of Buraburg in Hesse.

Alburgh (Alburga) Dec 25
+ c 810. Sister of St Egbert of Wessex in England and wife of Wulstan of Wiltshire, she founded a convent in Wilton near Salisbury, where she became a nun in her widowhood.

Alcmund March 19
+ c 800. A prince of Northumbria in England, after many years of exile among the Picts of Scotland, he was martyred in Shropshire. He was venerated first in Lilleshall and then in Derby.

Alcmund Sept 7
+ 781. The seventh Bishop of Hexham in England.

Aldate Feb 4
6th cent? Famed for his resistance to the heathen invaders of Britain, in some accounts he is called Bishop of Gloucester, now in England.

Aldegund Jan 30
630-684. Sister of St Waldetrudis, Abbess of Mons in Belgium. She founded the convent of Maubeuge in the north of France.

Aldericus (Aldric, Audry) Jan 7
+ 856. Bishop of Le Mans in France (832), he excelled as a saintly prelate and as an able administrator. Some of his works survive.

Aldericus (Aldric, Audri) Oct 10
790-841. Born in the Gatinais in France, he became a monk at Ferrières. The Archbishop of Sens took him into his clergy and he became Archbishop himself in 828.

Aldetrudis (Adeltrudis) Feb 25
+ c 696. Daughter of Sts Vincent Madelgarus and Waldetrudis and a niece of St Aldegund of Maubeuge in France, she was confided to her aunt's care at this convent, where she became the second abbess.

Aldhelm May 25
639-709. Born in Wessex in England, he became a monk at Malmesbury and taught there. In 675 he became abbot and in 705 first Bishop of Sherborne. Aldhelm was the first Englishman to attain distinction as a scholar.

Aldo March 31
+ late 8th cent. Count of Ostrevant, he became a monk at the monastery of Hasnon in Belgium, which had been founded by his brother John. Aldo was chosen as second abbot.

Aldwyn May 3
8th cent. Abbot of Partney in Lincolnshire in England.

Alena June 18
+ c 640. Born of pagan parents near Brussels in Belgium, Alena was baptised without their knowledge. She was put to death while secretly going to the liturgy.

Alexander Jan 11
? Born in Fermo near Ancona in Italy, he became bishop of his native city and was martyred under Decius. His relics are enshrined in the Cathedral.

Alexander Feb 9
A martyr of Rome who was accompanied in his confession and death by thirty-eight others.

Alexander of Adrumetum Feb 21
+ c 434. Martyred with others in North Africa.

Alexander and Theodore March 17
2nd century? Early martyrs in Rome.

Alexander and Companions Apr 24
+ 178. A Greek by birth and the friend and companion of St Epipodius of Lyons in France. He was arrested and martyred with thirty-four others.

Alexander, Eventius and Theodulus May 3
+ c 113. Three martyrs buried on the Via Nomentana in Rome.

Alexander I May 3 (In the East March 16)
c 115. The fifth Pope of Rome from c 107 to c 115.

Alexander June 4
8th cent. Bishop of Verona in Italy.

Alexander June 6
+ 590. Bishop of Fiesole in Italy, he was a brave defender of the Church against the Kings of Lombardy. His opponents waylaid him and drowned him in the River Reno near Bologna.

Alexander July 10
+ c 150. An early martyr in Rome.

Alexander Aug 26
? Patron of Bergamo in the north of Italy, where a church has been dedicated to him from the fourth century. A later manuscript suggests that he was a centurion of the Theban Legion who escaped from prison but was recaptured.

Alexander Sept 21
2nd cent. A bishop in the neighbourhood of Rome. His miracles attracted the attention of the people and he was arrested and martyred on the Claudian Way, some twenty miles from Rome. His relics were enshrined in Rome.

Alexander Oct 5
3rd cent. One of the 'innumerable multitude' martyred in Trier in Germany under Diocletian.

Alexis July 17 (In the East March 17)
+ early 5th cent. A saint originally distinguished by the title of 'the man of God'. The son of a Roman senator, in order to serve God in humility, he fled from his parental home disguised as a beggar. He set sail for Edessa where after seventeen years an Icon of the Mother of God proclaimed him 'the man of God'. He fled again and eventually returned to Rome and for years lived unrecognised as a beggar in his own home. After his repose a mysterious voice again proclaimed him 'the man of God'.

Alferius, (Alpherius, Adalfericus) Apr 12
930-1050. A Norman by origin, he was born in Salerno. Sent as an ambassador to France, there he fell ill and became a monk. The Duke of Salerno asked for his return and Alferius settled at Mt Fenestra near Salerno. There he founded the monastery of La Cava which became very influential in the south of Italy.

Alfred the Great Oct 26
849-899. King of Wessex and all Orthodox England who defeated the Danish invaders and ensured the growth of the Church in England. A patron of sacred learning, Alfred the Great himself translated into English such works as the Dialogues of St Gregory the Great. His memory is held by many in great veneration as a patriot and model of Orthodox kingship.

Alfric (Aelfric) Nov 16
+ 1005. A monk and Abbot of Abingdon and later Bishop of Wilton and twenty-ninth Archbishop of Canterbury in 995. He governed the Church ably in the critical times of the Danish invasion of Kent.

Alfwold March 25
+ 1058. A monk at Winchester who was chosen as Bishop of Sherborne in 1045. He was known for his great devotion to Sts Cuthbert and Swithun.

Alipius (Alypius) Aug 15
+ c 430. A disciple and lifelong friend of Blessed Augustine, he was also baptised in Milan on Easter Eve 387. On his return to Africa he lived as a hermit. St Alipius then visited Palestine and in about 393 he became Bishop of Tagaste in North Africa.

Aliprandus (Leuprandus) July 24
8th cent. Abbot of St Augustine's in Pavia in Italy.

Alkeld (Athilda) March 27
10th cent. Two churches in Yorkshire in England are dedicated to this holy woman who was martyred by the Danes.

Almachius (Telemachus) Jan 1
+ 391. A hermit who came to Rome from the East and publicly protested against the gladiatorial combats in the Roman amphitheatre. He was seized and cut to pieces by order of the prefect Alipius. As a consequence, the Emperor Honorius is said to have abolished such spectacles.

Almedha (Eled, Elevetha) Aug 1
6th cent. Tradition says that she suffered martyrdom on a hill near Brecon in Wales.

Almirus (Almer, Almire) Sept 11
+ c 560. Born in Auvergne in France, he finally went to live as a hermit at Gréez-sur-Roc, where he reposed.

Alnoth Feb 27
+ c 700. A cowherd attached to St Werburgh's monastery at Weedon in Northamptonshire in England. Later he lived as a hermit at Stowe near Bugbrooke and was martyred by robbers.

Alphege the Elder March 12
+ 951. Also called 'the Bald'.. He became Bishop of Winchester in England in 935. He encouraged many to become monks, notably his relative St Dunstan, whom he ordained priest.

Alphege the Martyr Apr 19
954-1012. A monk at Deerhurst in Gloucestershire in England, then Abbot of Bath, he became Bishop of Winchester in 984 and thirtieth Archbishop of Canterbury in 1005. He was greatly loved by his flock and during the Danish invasion of 1011 he was urged to pay a ransom. He refused, was taken prisoner and martyred in Greenwich, the only Orthodox Archbishop of Canterbury to be martyred. His relics were enshrined in St Paul's in London and later in Canterbury.

Alphius, Philadelphus and Cyrinus May 10
+ 251. Brothers from Sicily martyred under Decius. They were held in great veneration in Sicily, mainly in Lentini, where they are patron-saints.

Alphonsus of Astorga Jan 26
9th cent. Bishop of Astorga in Spain, he went to live as a simple monk at the monastery of St Stephen de Ribas de Sil in Spanish Galicia.

Altfrid Aug 15
+ 874. A monk at Corvey in Germany, in 851 he became Bishop of Hildesheim. He was known as a fosterer of peace and goodwill and was devoted to the Mother of God.

Altigianus and Hilarinus Aug 23
+ 731. Two monks killed by the Saracens at Saint-Seine in France.

Altinus (Attinus) Oct 19
4th cent? Founder of the churches of Orleans and Chartres in France and perhaps a martyr.

Alto Feb 9
+ c 760. Born in Ireland, he went to Germany and settled as a hermit in a forest near Augsburg. There he founded a monastery, now called Altomünster after him.

Amabilis July 11
+ c 634. Daughter of an English noble, she became a nun at Saint-Amand in Rouen in France.

Amabilis Nov 1
+ 475. A priest in Tiom in Auvergne in France. He protects against fire and snakes.

Amaethlu (Maethlu) Dec 26
6th cent. Llanfaethlu, a church founded by him in Anglesey in Wales, is named after him.

Amandus of Elnon Feb 6
c 675. Born near Nantes in France, he lived as a hermit in Bourges for fifteen years. At the age of thirty-three he became a bishop and preached in Flanders in Belgium, Carinthia in Austria and among the Basques in Spain. He founded many monasteries in all these places, of which the best known is Elnon near Tournai, where he went in his old age and reposed aged over ninety.

Amandus June 18
+ c 431. Successor of St Delphinus as Bishop of Bordeaux in France (c 404). He is mainly known from the works of St Paulinus of Nola whom he converted.

Amandus and Anselm Nov 18
Amandus + 708. Anselm later in the 8th cent. St Amandus succeeded St Aigulphus as Abbot of Lérins in France in 676. St Anselm, another Abbot of Lérins, lived later in the eighth century.

Amantius Apr 8
+ 440. Successor of St Provinus in Como in Italy.

Amantius, Alexander and Companions June 6
? Four brothers and priests. Amantius was a Bishop of Noyon in France, who converted Cannes near Carcassonne and where he was martyred with the three others.

Amantius Sept 26
+ c 600. A priest in Città di Castello near Perugia in Italy, who was personally known to St Gregory the Great who revered him. He is the patron-saint of Città di Castello.

Amarand Nov 7
+ c 700. Abbot of Moissac in France, he became Bishop of Albi.

Amaranthus Nov 7
3rd cent. A martyr venerated in Albi in the south of France.

Amarinus Jan 25
+ 676. Abbot of a monastery in the Vosges in France and companion in martyrdom of St Praejectus (St Priest), Bishop of Clermont. The valley of Saint-Amarian in Alsace is named after him.

Amasius Jan 23
+ 356. A Greek, driven from the East by the Arians, he became second Bishop of Teano in central Italy in 346.

Amaswinthus Dec 22
+ 982. Monk and abbot for forty-two years at a monastery in Silva de Málaga in Spain.

Amator (Amador) March 27
? A hermit to whom several churches are dedicated in Portugal

Amator, Peter and Louis Apr 30
+ 855. Amator was born in Martos near Cordoba in Spain, where he was ordained priest. Together with a monk, Peter by name, and a layman called Louis, he was martyred by the Saracens for publicly confessing Christ.

Amator (Amatre, Amadour) May 1
+ 418. Bishop of Auxerre in France. He had been married to a holy woman, venerated locally as St Martha. St Amator ordained as priest his successor St Germanus who left us the Life of his predecessor.

Amator (Amadour) Aug 20
? The incorrupt body of a hermit was found buried beneath the church of Our Lady at Rocamadour in France and given this name.

Amator Nov 26
3rd cent. Bishop of Autun in France.

Amatus (Amat, Amé, Aimé, Amado) Sept 13
c 567-630. Born in Grenoble in France, he became a monk at the monastery of St Maurice of Agaunum in Switzerland, where he lived as a hermit for over thirty years. St Eustace encouraged him to move to Luxeuil and here he converted St Romaricus. When this noble founded the monastery of Remiremont in 620, Amatus became the first abbot.

Amatus Sept 13
+ 690. Abbot of Agaunum, he became the tenth Bishop of Sion in Valais in Switzerland. As a result of a false accusation, he was exiled to the monastery of Péronne and then to Breuil near Arras in the north of France, where he lived as one of the monks.

Ambrose Autpertus July 19
+ c 778. Born in France, he went to Italy as an envoy and visited the monastery of St Vincent near Benevento, where he became a monk. Eventually he became abbot.

Ambrose Aug 16
+ c 303. A centurion put to death under Diocletian in Ferentino in central Italy.

Ambrose Aug 28
+ c 450. Bishop of Saintes in France for some fourteen years. He is mentioned in the Life of his successor, St Vivian, and is honoured together with him.

Ambrose Sept 3
+ c 455. Bishop of Sens in France.

Ambrose Oct 16
+ c 752. The thirteenth Bishop of Cahors in France who later lived as a hermit. After a pilgrimage to Rome, he reposed at what is now called Saint-Ambroise-sur-Arnon in Berry.

Ambrose Nov 2
523 and 582. There were two abbots of this name at the monastery of Agaunum in Switzerland.

Ambrose Dec 7
c 339-397. Born in France, his father was prefect there. Before he was thirty-five, he was appointed governor of Liguria and Aemilia with his headquarters in Milan. The whole province was rent by the Arian controversy. When the Bishop of Milan died in 374, Ambrose, as governor, went to the Cathedral to ensure peace and order the new election. He himself, though still a catechumen, was elected by acclamation, after a child had been suddenly heard to cry out 'Ambrose for bishop'. Ambrose's objections were overruled and he was consecrated on Dec 7 374. He proved to be a Church Father. He excelled as an administrator, writer, protector of the poor and the 'hammer of Arianism'.. He was outspoken in withstanding the tyranny of Emperors. His courage in reproving Theodosius the Great was a fine example of Orthodoxy. He reposed on Great Friday, April 4 397.

Amelberga July 10
+ c 772. A nun at Münsterbilsen in Belgium. Her relics were later transferred to the monastery of St Peter in Ghent.

Amelberga July 10
+ 690. Born in Brabant in Belgium, she was married to Count Witger and was the mother of Sts Gudula, Emebert and Reineldis. When Witger became a monk at Lobbes, she joined the convent at Maubeuge.

Amelberga Nov 21
+ c 900. Abbess of Susteren in what is now Holland

Amicus Nov 2
+ c 1045. Born near Camerino in Italy, he became a priest, then a hermit and finally a monk at St Peter's in Fonteavellana.

Ammon, Emilian, Lassa and Companions Feb 9
? A group of forty-four Christians martyred in Membressa in Africa.

Amnichad (Amnuchad) Jan 30
+ 1043. Born either in Ireland or in Scotland, he travelled to Germany and became a monk and then a hermit at Fulda.

Amo (Amon) Oct 23
4th cent. Second Bishop of Toul in France, the successor of St Mansuetus.

Amor (Amour) Aug 9
? Venerated in Franche-Comté in France together with St Viator. Their relics are enshrined at Saint-Amour in Burgundy.

Amor (Amator, Amour) Aug 17
8th cent. Companion of St Pirmin in preaching Christ in Germany. Founder of the monastery of Amorbach in Franconia.

Amor (Amour) of Aquitaine Oct 8
9th cent. Born in Aquitaine, he lived as a hermit in Maastricht. He later founded the convent of Münsterbilsen near Liège in Belgium.

Ampelius July 7
+ c 672. Bishop of Milan in Italy under the Lombards. he exerted a great influence for good among the invading Lombards.

Ampelus and Gaius Nov 20
+ c 302. Martyred in Messina in Sicily under Diocletian.

Amulwinus Feb 7
+ c 750. Bishop of Lobbes in Belgium and the successor of St Erminus (+ 737).

Anacharius (Aunacharius, Aunachaire, Aunaire) Sept 25
+ 604. Born near Orleans in France and educated at the court of King Guntram of Burgundy, he became Bishop of Auxerre in 561.

Anastasia and Basilissa (Vasilissa) Apr 15
+ c 68. Noble Roman ladies, disciples of the Apostles Peter and Paul, whose bodies they buried. They were martyred under Nero.

Anastasia and Cyril Oct 28 (In the East Oct 29)
+ c 253. Early martyrs in Rome. The former was bound with chains in Valerian's persecution under the Prefect Probus, tortured, her breasts cut off, her nails torn out, her teeth broken, her hands and feet cut off, and being beheaded, she passed to her Bridegroom; Cyril, who offered her water when she begged for it, received martydom as his reward.

Anastasia Dec 25
+ c 304. According to her Life, she suffered in Sirmium in Dalmatia, her relics were taken to Constantinople and veneration spread to Rome, where a basilica is dedicated to her.

Anastasius Jan 6
4th cent. A martyr in Syrmium in Pannonia, now Hungary.

Anastasius, Jucundus, Florus, Florianus, Peter, Ratites, Tatia and Tilis Jan 6
4th cent. Martyred in Syrmium in Pannonia, now Hungary.

Anastasius Jan 7
+ 977. Archbishop of Sens from 968 to 977, he began building the Cathedral and greatly helped the monks of Saint-Pierre-le-Vif, in whose church he was buried.

Anastasius Jan 11
+ c 570. A notary of the Roman church, he became monk and Abbot of Castel Sant' Elia in Italy. St Gregory the Great narrates that St Anastasius and his monks reposed, at the call of an angel, in quick succession.

Anastasius and Companions May 11
+ 251. A tribune in the army of the Emperor Decius, Anastasius was converted on witnessing the courage of the martyrs whom he was torturing to death. A few days after his conversion he too was arrested and beheaded with all his family and servants. Their relics are venerated in Camerino in central Italy.

Anastasius May 11
? The patron-saint of the town of Lérida in Catalonia in Spain. The people of Lérida assert that Anastasius was born there.

Anastasius May 20
+ 610. Bishop of Brescia in Lombardy in Italy. He greatly contributed to the conversion of the Lombards from Arianism..

Anastasius May 30
+ 680. A convert from Arianism, he became Bishop of Pavia in the north of Italy in 668. He is often called Anastasius II to distinguish him from one of his predecessors.

Anastasius, Felix and Digna June 14
+ 853. Anastasius was a deacon of the church of St Acisclus in Cordoba in Spain, who became a monk at Tábanos near the same town. Felix was born in Alcalá of a Berber family, became a monk in Asturias but joined the monastery at Tábanos, hoping for martyrdom. Digna belonged to the convent there. The three were among the first to confess Christ in Cordoba and were beheaded by order of the Caliph.

Anastasius Aug 14
Early 11th cent. Abbot (996-1006) of Pannonhalma in Hungary and then second Archbishop of Eszterzom and primate of Hungary.

Anastasius Aug 17
+ c 553. Bishop of Terni in Italy.

Anastasius Aug 21
+ 274. A military tribune converted to Orthodoxy on seeing the courage of the young St Agapitus. This happened in Salone in Italy.

Anastasius the Fuller Sept 7
+ 304. A fuller in Aquileia, not far from Venice in Italy. He went to Dalmatia and continued his trade in Salona where he openly confessed Orthodoxy, painting a conspicuous cross on his door. He was seized and drowned.

Anastasius II Sept 8 and Nov 19
+ 498. Pope of Rome between 496-498.

Anastasius I Dec 19
+ 401. Pope of Rome and a man of poverty and the apostolic mind, he stopped the spread of Origenism at a Council held in 400.

Anathalon Sept 24
1st cent. The first Bishop of Milan in Italy, he was sent there by the Apostle Barnabas whose disciple he was. As first Bishop of Milan he preached Christ to the surrounding area, including Brescia, where he reposed.

Anatolia and Audax July 9
+ c 250. Martyrs in Rome under Decius. Confined to a prison near Rieti the small village now called Sant' Anatolia. Anatolia's miracles converted Audax, one of the guards.

Anatolius Feb 3
9th cent. A bishop in Scotland, he went to Rome on pilgrimage and settled as a hermit in Salins in the Jura in France, where at a later date a church was dedicated to him.

Anatolius Feb 7
? Bishop of Cahors in France.

Andeolus May 1
+ 208. A subdeacon from Smyrna sent to France by St Polycarp. He is said to have been martyred near Viviers on the Rhône.

Andochius, Thyrsus and Felix Sept 24
2nd cent. Andochius, a priest, and Thyrsus, a deacon in Smyrna, were sent to what is now France by St Polycarp. They settled in Autun where they converted their host, a rich merchant, by name Felix. All three were martyred and were venerated throughout Gaul.

Andrew Jan 13
+ c 235. The twelfth Bishop of Trier in Germany, whom some chroniclers also call a martyr.

Andrew of Elnon Feb 6
+ c 690. A monk and disciple of St Amandus at Elnon in France, whom he succeeded as Abbot. His relics were enshrined together with those of St Amandus in 694.

Andrew of Florence Feb 26
+ c 407. Bishop of Florence in Italy.

Andrew Zorard July 17
+ c 1010. Born in Poland, he lived as a hermit on Mount Zobar in Hungary.

Andrew of Tuscany Aug 22
+ c 880. Born in Ireland, he went to Rome as a pilgrim and settled in Fiesole in Italy and restored the monastery of San Martino in Mensula.

Andrew, John, Peter, and Antony Sept 23
+ c 900. These saints were deported from Syracuse to North Africa by the Saracens, at that time masters of Sicily. There they were subjected to savage tortures and put to death.

Aneurin (or Gildas) and Gwinoc Oct 26
6th cent. Father and son, both monks in Wales.

Angadresima (Angadrisma, Angadreme) Oct 14
+ c 695. A cousin of St Lambert of Lyons and a nun at Fontenelle in France. Eventually she became Abbess of Oröer-des-Vierges near Beauvais.

Angelelmus July 7
+ 828. Abbot of Sts Gervase and Protase in Auxerre in France and then bishop there.

Angilbert Feb 18
c 740-814. His early life was worldly, but later he became a model Abbot of St Riquier in the north of France where there were some 300 monks.

Anglinus Oct 28
+ c 768. The tenth Abbot of Stavelot-Malmédy near Liège in Belgium.

Angus March 11
+ c 830. Known as 'the Culdee'. A monk at Clonenagh in Ireland and then at Tallacht, he is remembered for his celebrated hymn to the saints, called Felire. From Tallacht he returned to Clonenagh where he became a bishop.

Anianus (Aignan) Nov 17
+ 453. Fifth Bishop of Orleans in France. He is famous for organising the defence of his city during the invasion of the Huns under Attila. He interceded with the latter on his approach to Orleans, thus saving it.

Anianus (Agnan) Dec 7
5th cent. Fifth Bishop of Chartres in France.

Anicetus Apr 17
+ 166. A Syrian by descent, he was Bishop of Rome from about 152 till 166. During this period St Polycarp of Smyrna visited Rome to settle with him the question of the date of Easter. Anicetus took a firm stand against the Gnostics and may have been martyred.

Annemond (Chamond) Sept 28
+ 657. Archbishop of Lyons in France, he was murdered in Châlon-sur-Saône.

Anno (Hanno, Annon) May 13
+ 780. Born in Verona in Italy, he became bishop there and translated the relics of Sts Firmus and Rusticus.

Annobert (Alnobert) May 16
+ c 689. A monk at Almenèches, he was consecrated Bishop of Séez in France in about 685.

Ansanus Dec 1
c 304. Born in Rome he became Orthodox when he was twelve years old, but his own father denounced him to the authorities. The boy contrived to escape and converted so many pagans, first in Bagnorea and then in Siena, that he was called 'the Baptiser'. Finally he was arrested and beheaded.

Ansbald July 12
+ 886. Born in Luxembourg, he became a monk at Prüm in Germany, then Abbot of Saint-Hubert in the Ardennes, and finally of Prüm in 860. His monastery was burnt down by the Vikings in 882 but he succeeded in restoring it.

Anshert Feb 9
+ c 700. From being Chancellor at the Court of Clotaire III he became a monk at Fontenelle in the north of France. He was chosen third abbot and in 683 became Bishop of Rouen.

Ansegisus July 20
c 770-833. A monk at Fontenelle in France at the age of eighteen, he later restored several monasteries.

Anselm March 3
+ 803. Of noble origin, Anselm became a monk and founded one monastery in Fanano near Modena in Italy and a second one in Nonantola. He attached hospitals and hostels to both.

Anselm Nov 18
c 750 Abbot of Lérins in France.

Ansfridus May 3
+ 1010. Count of Brabant in Belgium, in 992 he built the convent of Thorn for his daughter and wife, himself wishing to become a monk. Instead he was made Archbishop of Utrecht in Holland. As such, he founded the monastery of Hohorst (Heiligenberg) and, when stricken with blindness, went there, fulfilling his ambition of living as a monk and reposing there.

Ansgar (Anschar) Feb 3
801-865. Born near Amiens in France, as a child he became a monk at Old Corbie in Picardy. He then went to New Corbie in Saxony, from where he was taken by King Harold of Denmark to enlighten the heathen Danes. He toiled there as Archbishop of Hamburg for thirteen years and his mission extended to Sweden, Norway and the north of Germany.

Ansilio Oct 11
+ late 7th cent. A monk whose relics were enshrined at the monastery of Lagny in the north of France.

Ansovinus March 13
+ 840. Born in Camerino in Italy, after living as a hermit at Castel Raimondo near Torcello, he became bishop of his native town. He accepted the office on condition that his see should be exempt from the service of recruiting soldiers, then imposed on most bishops.

Anstrudis (Austrude, Austru) Oct 17
+ 688. Daughter of Sts Blandinus and Salaberga, the founders of the convent of St John the Baptist in Laon. Mother and daughter were successively the first two abbesses. She had much to suffer at the hands of Ebroin, the oppressor of all the saints of that age.

Ansurius (Aduri, Asurius, Isauri) Jan 26
+ 925. Bishop of Orense in Galicia, he helped found the monastery of Ribas de Sil in Spain. He became bishop in 915, but in 922 became a simple monk at the monastery. After his repose he was venerated there, together with seven other bishops who had followed his example.

Antherus Jan 3 (In the East Aug 5)
+ 236. A Greek who was Pope of Rome for only a few weeks. He may have been martyred and was buried in the catacomb of St Callistus, the first Pope to be so.

Anthimus May 11
+ 303. A priest in Rome, who converted the pagan husband, a prefect, of the Christian matron Lucina, famed for her charity to imprisoned fellow-Orthodox. The martyr, thrown into the Tiber and miraculously rescued by an angel, was afterwards recaptured and beheaded.

Antholian (Anatolianus) Feb 6
c 265. Mentioned by St Gregory of Tours as one of the martyrs of Auvergne in France under Valerian and Gallienus. Fellow-sufferers were Sts Cassius, Maximus, Liminius and Victorinus.

Antidius (Antel, Antible, Tude) June 17
+ c 265. Disciple and successor of St Froninus as Bishop of Besançon in France. He was put to death by the Vandals at the hamlet called Ruffey.

Antimus Jan 28
8th cent. One of the first Abbots of Brantôme in France.

Antiochus (Andeol) Oct 15
5th cent. When St Justus, Bishop of Lyons in France, joined the hermits in Egypt, the priest Antiochus was sent to seek him out and persuade him to return to his diocese. The priest's efforts were in vain and on his return to Lyons he was himself chosen bishop.

Antiochus Dec 13
+ c 110. A martyr on Sulci, a small island near Sardinia, under the Emperor Hadrian. The island is now also known as Isola di Sant'Antioco.

Antoninus of Sorrento Feb 14
+ 830. A monk in one of the daughter monasteries of Montecassino in Italy. Forced to leave his monastery by the wars raging in the country, he became a hermit, until he was invited by the people of Sorrento to live among them. He did so as Abbot of St Agrippinus. He is now venerated as the patron-saint of that town.

Antoninus Aug 22
+ 186. A converted executioner in Rome.

Antoninus Sept 2
? At Pamiers in France there are traditions connected with an early martyr named Antoninus.

Antoninus Sept 30
3rd cent. A soldier of the Theban Legion, martyred on the banks of the Trebbia near Piacenza in Italy. His blood, kept in a phial, has the same miraculous properties as that of St Januarius.

Antoninus Oct 31
+ 660. Called Fontana, he was Archbishop of Milan in Italy.

Antony, Merulus and John Jan 17
6th cent. Three monks at St Andrew's on the Coelian Hill in Rome. St Gregory the Great, who was their Abbot, has left an account of their virtues and miraculous power.

Antony March 9
10th cent. A monk at Luxeuil in France, he became a hermit in Froidemont in Franche-Comté.

Antony May 4
6th cent. By tradition a disciple of St Benedict and companion of St Maurus in his mission to France. He was the founder of the monastery of Saint Julian in Tours. He is called 'du Rocher' because he ended his days as a hermit at a place called le Rocher.

Antony of Lérins Dec 28
+ c 520. Born in Lower Pannonia, he served God as a hermit in several places north of the Alps until he found rest for the last two years of his life as a monk at Lérins in France.

Aphrodisius, Caralippus, Agapius and Eusebius Apr 28
? Early martyrs in Languedoc in France. Their story is told by Gregory of Tours.

Apollinaris July 23
1st cent. The first Bishop of Ravenna in Italy, he was tortured for the Orthodox Faith and died. The exact date is not known. His shrine is at the monastery of Classe in Ravenna.

Apollinaris (Aiplonay) Oct 5
+ c 520. Elder brother of St Avitus of Vienne in France, he became Bishop of Valence.

Apollinaris Nov 27
+ 828. The fourteenth Abbot of Montecassino in Italy, abbot for eleven years.

Apollonius and Leontius (Leontinus) March 19
? By tradition early Bishops of Braga in Portugal.

Apollonius the Apologist Apr 18
+ c 190. A Roman senator, denounced as a Christian by one of his own slaves and condemned to be beheaded. His eloquent defence of Orthodoxy, delivered before the Senate at his trial is a priceless document of the Faith.

Apollonius July 7
? An early Bishop of Brescia in Italy.

Apollonius July 8
+ c 326. Bishop of Benevento in Italy. He went into hiding during the last persecution under Diocletian.

Apollonius and Eugene July 23
? Early Roman martyrs, the former was pierced with arrows at the stake, the latter was beheaded.

Appian March 4
+ c 800. Born in Liguria in Italy, he became a monk at the monastery of St Peter of Ciel d'Oro in Pavia in Italy. Eventually he became a hermit in Commacchio on the shores of the Adriatic and brought Christ to that region.

Apronia (Evronie) July 15
5th and 6th cent. Born near Trier in Germany, she was the sister of St Aprus (Evre), Bishop of Toul, who made her a nun. She reposed in Troyes in France.

Apronian Feb 2
+ c 304. A Roman executioner who was converted to Orthodoxy when taking the martyr St Sisinnius before the tribunal and was then himself martyred.

Aprus (Aper, Apre, Epvre, Evre) Sept 15
+ 507. Born near Trier in Germany, he became a very able and just lawyer. He gave up this profession to become a priest and in time became Bishop of Toul in France.

Aquila and Priscilla July 8
1st cent. Husband and wife, belonging to the Jewish diaspora, who worked as tentmakers at Rome and were exiled from there with all the other Jews under Claudius. They settled in Corinth, where they received the Apostle Paul into their house (Acts 18,3). Under Nero they returned to Rome and Paul sent greetings to them. A tradition in Rome says that they were martyred there.

Aquilinus, Geminus, Eugene, Marcian, Quintus, Theodotus and Tryphon Jan 4
c 484. A group of martyrs in North Africa under the Arian Hunneric, King of the Vandals.

Aquilinus Jan 29
+ 650. Born in Bavaria, he fled from the prospect of the episcopate in Cologne, went to Paris and then Milan, preaching against Arianism. He was martyred for this by the Arians. His relics were venerated in Milan in Italy.

Aquilinus, Geminus, Gelasius, Magnus and Donatus Feb 4
3rd cent. Martyrs in 'Forum Sempronii', which has been interpreted as Fossombrone in central Italy.

Aquilinus Oct 19
c 620-695. Born in Bayeux in France, he and his wife agreed to live by good works. They went to Evreux and Aquilinus was soon made bishop there. However, he managed to live more as a hermit than a pastor.

Arator Sept 6
+ c 460. Fourth Bishop of Verdun in France.

Arbogast July 21
+ c 678. Born in Aquitaine in France, he was a hermit in Alsace when King Dagobert II forced him to become Bishop of Strasbourg, where he showed great humility and wisdom. At his own request he was buried in the place set apart for the burial of criminals. A church was soon built over his tomb.

Arcadius Jan 12
+ c 302 A prominent citizen of Caesarea near Algiers in North Africa, who under Maximianus Herculeus was slowly and barbarously mutilated until he died under torture.

Arcadius Aug 1
+ c 549. Bishop of Bourges in France, he took part in the Council of Orleans in 538.

Arcadius, Paschasius, Probus, Eutychian and Paulillus Nov 13
+ 437. All of these were born in Spain and exiled to Africa by the Vandal Arian King Genseric, where they became the Protomartyrs of the Vandal persecution. Paulillus was only a boy, the little brother of Sts Paschasius and Eutychian.

Archelais, Thecla and Susanna Jan 18
+ 293. Three holy virgins of the Romagna in Italy who went to Nola in the Campagna in order to escape death, but there too they were accused of being Orthodox, were tortured, taken to Salerno and beheaded.

Arcontius Jan 19
8th or 9th cent. Bishop of Viviers in France, killed by a mob for having upheld the rights of the Church.

Ardo March 7
+ 843. Born in Languedoc in France, he changed his name from Smaragdus on becoming a monk at Aniane with its first Abbot, St Benedict, whom he later succeeded as abbot.

Arduinus (Ardwyne) July 28
7th cent. He is the patron-saint of Trepino in the south of Italy. According to some he was one of four English pilgrims who reposed in this region in the seventh century.

Arduinus Aug 15
+ 1009. A priest in Rimini in Italy who lived as a hermit and ended his days in the monastery of San Gudenzio.

Aredius (Arige, Aregius) Aug 10
+ c. 614. An outstanding Archbishop of Lyons in France.

Aredius (Yrieix, Yriez) Aug 25
+ 591. Born in Limoges in France, he founded Atane in the Limousin, which was later called after him, as also was the village of Saint Yrieux which grew up around the monastery.

Aresius, Rogatius and Companions June 10
? A group of seventeen martyrs in North Africa.

Aretas and Companions Oct 1
? St Aretas suffered in Rome with five hundred and four others.

Aretius (Arecius, Aregius) and Dacian June 4
? Roman martyrs who were buried in the catacombs on the Appian Way.

Argymirus June 28
+ 856. Born in Cabra near Cordoba in Spain, he held a high position among the Muslims of the city. He was deprived of his office on account of his faith and became a monk. Shortly afterwards he openly renounced Islam, confessed Christ and was beheaded.

Arigius May 1
535-604. Bishop of Gap in France for twenty years, he was a fine pastor.

Arilda Oct 30
? A holy virgin in Gloucestershire in England who met her death in defence of her chastity. The church at Oldbury-on-the-Hill is dedicated to her.

Aristobulus March 15
1st cent. Traditionally one of the Seventy, he is the Aristobulus mentioned by St Paul (Romans 16,11). Britain was given to him as the place of his preaching and martyrdom.

Ariston, Crescentian, Eutychian, Urban, Vitalis, Justus, Felicissimus, Felix, Marcia and Symphorosa July 2
+ c 285. A group of martyrs in the Campagna in the south of Italy under Diocletian.

Armagillus (Armel) Aug 16
+ c 550. Born in the south of Wales, he was a cousin of St Samson. A church in Cornwall was dedicated to him - St Erme. He went to Brittany and founded Saint-Armel-des-Boscheaux and Plou-Ermel (Ploermel).

Armentarius Jan 30
+ c 451. First Bishop of Antibes in Provence in France. An old church is dedicated to him in Draguignan.

Armentarius Jan 30
+ c 711. Bishop of Pavia in Italy.

Armogastes and Companions March 29
+ c 460. Armogastes and Saturus, high officers at the palace, suffered in North Africa during the Arian persecution under the Vandal King Genseric. First they were tortured, then sent to hard labour in the mines, finally condemned to slavery as cowherds near Carthage. They were not put to death 'in case the Romans should venerate them as martyrs'.

Arnold July 8
+ c. 800. Apparently of Greek descent, he was famed for his charity to the poor. He has left his name to the village, Arnold-Villiers (Arnoldsweiler) near Jülich, now in Germany.

Arnulf July 18
+ c 640. A courtier of high standing in the palace of the Austrasian kings, he decided to become a monk at Lérins. His wife became a nun and Arnulf was on the point of going to Lérins when he was made Bishop of Metz (c 616). A few years before his death he finally managed to go and live as a hermit.

Arnulf Aug 22
9th cent. The relics of this saintly hermit were venerated in Arnulphsbury or Eynesbury in Cambridgeshire in England.

Arnulf Oct 31
+ c 840. A monk at Novalese in Piedmont in Italy, martyred by the Saracens.

Arnulf Nov 15
+ 871. Bishop of Toul in France from 847 to 871.

Arsenius the Great July 19
+ c 449. Surnamed also 'the Roman' and 'the deacon', being actually a Roman deacon. He was called by Theodosius the Great to Constantinople to become the tutor of Arcadius and Honorius, the Emperor's sons (c 383). After ten years in that office (c 393) he abandoned the court and retired to the desert of Skete as a hermit. He remained a hermit for the rest of his life, living in various places in Egypt, always weeping over the feebleness of Arcadius and the foolishness of Honorius. He reposed at the rock of Tröe near Memphis.

Artaxus, Acutus, Eugenda, Maximianus, Timothy, Tobias and Vitus Jan 2
3-4th cent. Martyrs in Syrmium in Pannonia.

Artemas Jan 25
? A child martyr in Pozzuoli (Puteoli) in Italy.

Artemius (Arthemius) Jan 24
+ 396. An imperial legate who, on his way to Spain, fell sick in Gaul and settled in Clermont in Auvergne in France where eventually he became bishop.

Artemius Apr 28
+ 609. Born in Sens in France, he became bishop there. He called to public penance a Spaniard named Baldus (in French Bond) who became a spiritual son and who was also venerated as a saint.

Artemius, Candida and Paulina June 6
+ 302. Artemius, a jailer in one of the Roman prisons, with his wife Candida and daughter Paulina, was converted to Christ by St Peter the exorcist and baptised by St Marcellinus. Artemius was beheaded and his wife and daughter buried alive under a pile of stones.

Arthelais March 3
6th cent. One of the patron-saints of Benevento in Italy, where she fled from Constantinople.

Arwald Apr 22
+ 686. Two brothers, sons of Arwald, a prince in the Isle of Wight, whose proper names are lost. They were put to death by soldiers of King Ceadwalla, then a pagan, on the day after their baptism.

Asaph May 1
+ c 600. One of St Kentigern's monks in the north of Wales. He is believed to have succeeded St Kentigern as abbot and bishop, leaving his own name to the see now in Clwyd. Many of his relatives are also venerated as saints.

Asella Dec 6
+ c 406. 'A flower of the Lord', this virgin became a nun in Rome at the age of ten and then lived for many years until she became abbess, 'the mother of many virgins'.

Asicus (Ascicus,Tassach) Apr 27
+ c 490. One of the earliest disciples of St Patrick, who put him at the head of the monastery and diocese of Elphin in Ireland, where he is venerated as patron-saint. He excelled as a coppersmith and some examples of his work still exist.

Aspasius Jan 2
+ c 560. Bishop of Auch in France, he took part in the Councils of Orleans in 533, 541 and 549, besides holding a Council in Auch in 551.

Aspren (Aspronas) Aug 3
1st cent. The tradition concerning this saint, dating from time immemorial, was recorded as follows: 'In Naples in Campania, the repose of St Aspren the bishop, who was healed of infirmity by St Peter the Apostle and was then baptised and consecrated bishop there'.

Asteria (Hesteria) Aug 10
+ c 307. A martyr venerated in Bergamo in Lombardy in Italy. She was a sister of St Grata and both were associated in the burial of the holy martyr Alexander.

Astericus (Astricus, Ascrick) Nov 12
+ c 1035. Born in Czechia, he became a monk and accompanied St Adalbert in the Czech mission. He became the first Abbot of Brevnov but had to flee to Hungary where he became the first Abbot of Pannonhalma, recently founded by King Stephen, and Archbishop of Kalocsa. Anastasius was the King's ambassador and brought the holy crown of Hungary to St Stephen.

Asterius Oct 21
+ c 223. A Roman priest with Pope Callistus, whose body he secretly buried. For this reason he was cast into the Tiber at Ostia by order of the Emperor Alexander. Orthodox Christians recovered his body and buried it in Ostia where it is now enshrined in the Cathedral.

Athanasius Jan 26
? He is honoured as a bishop in Sorrento in the south of Italy.

Athanasius Jan 31
+ c 885. Born in Catania in Sicily, during the invasion of the Saracens he fled to Patras in Greece, where he became a monk and eventually a bishop.

Athanasius July 15
+ 872. Bishop of Naples in Italy, after he had ruled it for twenty years he began to suffer from the exactions of relatives, in whose hands rested the civil authority of Naples. Imprisoned, and then exiled, he reposed in Veroli and was buried at Montecassino, from where his body was transferred to Naples.

Athelhelm (Athelm) Jan 8
+ 923. Paternal uncle of St Dunstan. A monk and then Abbot of Glastonbury in England, he became first Bishop of Wells in Somerset and in 923 twenty-first Archbishop of Canterbury.

Attala (Attalus) Apr 3
+ c 800. A monk and abbot of a monastery in Taormina in Sicily.

Attalas March 10
+ 627. Born in Burgundy in France, he became a monk at Lérins. From there he went to Luxeuil with St Columbanus, whom he followed to Bobbio in the north of Italy, helping him to found the monastery there and succeeding him as abbot (615).

Attalia (Attala) Dec 3
c 697-741. A niece of St Ottilia, she became a nun and Abbess of St Stephen's in Strasbourg in France.

Attilanus Oct 5
c 939-1009. Born in Tarazona near Saragossa in Spain, he became a monk at Moreruela with St Froilan. The two dioceses of Le6n and Zamora vacant, Froilan was appointed to the former and Attilanus to the latter and they were consecrated together at Pentecost 990.

Atto (St) June 1
c 1044. A monk at Oña in Spain with St Enneco. Later he became Bishop of Oca-Valpuesta.

Atto Nov 19
+ c 1010. First Abbot of Tordino near Teramo in Italy.

Attracta (Athracht) Aug 11
5th cent. A contemporary of St Patrick in Ireland. She lived as an anchoress, first in Killaraght on Lough Gara and then in Drum near Boyle. Both eventually grew into convents. She was venerated throughout Ireland.

Audrey (Etheldred, Etheldreda) June 23
+ 679. Born in Suffolk in England, she was a daughter of King Anna of East Anglia and a sister of Sts Saxburgh, Ethelburgh and Withburgh. Twice married, she remained a virgin. She became a nun at Coldingham and then went to Ely where she became abbess. She lived a life of great holiness and simplicity. Her body remained incorrupt after death and her hand-relic survives in Ely to this day.

Augulus (Augurius, Aule) Feb 7
+ c 303. An early martyr and bishop, probably in France, though some have suggested London in England.

Augusta March 27
5th cent. Daughter of the Teuton Duke of Friuli. Her conversion to Christianity so enraged her father that he killed her with his own hands. She has been venerated from time immemorial in Serravalle near Treviso in the north of Italy.

Augustalis (Autal) Sept 7
c 450. Probably Bishop of Arles in France.

Augustine of Canterbury May 27
+ c 604. He shares the title of Apostle of the English with St Gregory the Great. A monk at St Andrew's on the Coelian Hill, he was sent by St Gregory the Great with a group of forty monks to enlighten England. The missionaries landed at Ebbsfleet near Kent in 597. Soon Augustine had converted the King of Kent with thousands of his subjects. Consecrated bishop in ArIes, he set up his see in Canterbury. Trained in the Roman way, he was not successful in his relations with the Celts. He reposed shortly after St Gregory the Great.

Augustine of Hippo Aug 28
354-430. Born in Tagaste in North Africa, he spent his youth in vice, but under the influence of St Ambrose was baptised. He became priest and then Bishop of Hippo. He devoted himself to defending Orthodoxy, although he had to retract some of his earlier ideas which were incorrect. For this reason the Orthodox Church accords him the title of Blessed. His relics are enshrined in the basilica of St Pietro in Ciel d'Oro in Pavia.

Augustine, Sanctian and Beata Sept 6
+ 273. Born in Spain, they fled to Gaul in time of persecution and were martyred near Sens in France, where they were venerated.

Augustine and Paulinus Nov 5
6th cent. According to tradition, they were monks sent by St Benedict to found the monastery of Terracina in Italy.

Augustus Oct 7
6th cent. Abbot of Bourges in France and a friend of St Germanus of Paris. He is notable for discovering the relics of St Ursinus, Apostle of that region.

Aurea (Aura) July 19
+ 856. Born in Cordoba in Spain and a daughter of Muslim parents, in her widowhood she became a Christian and a nun at Cuteclara, where she remained for more than twenty years. She was then denounced as a Christian by her own family and beheaded.

Aurea Aug 24
+ c 270. An early martyr in Ostia in Italy.

Aurea Oct 4
+ 666. A Syrian, she moved to France and became Abbess of St Martial in Paris, where she remained for thirty-three years.

Aurea Oct 6
8th cent. A young girl from Amiens in France, she became a nun in Boves and eventually became the abbess of a large convent.

Aurelia and Neomisia Sept 25
? Born in Asia, they visited Palestine and Rome. They were maltreated by pagans in Capua in Italy, but escaped under cover of a thunderstorm. They took shelter in Macerata near Anagni, where they reposed.

Aurelia Oct 15
+ 1027. A princess who lived for fifty-five years as an anchoress in Strasbourg in France.

Aurelian May 10
3rd cent. Disciple of St Martial of Limoges in France and eventually bishop of that city.

Aurelian June 16
+ c 550. He became Bishop of Arles in France in 546. He founded two monastic houses, one for monks and one for nuns, and drew up for each a rule, based on that of St Caesarius.

Aurelian July 4
+ 895. A monk and Abbot of Ainay in France, he later became Archbishop of Lyons.

Aurelius July 20
+ 429. Bishop of Carthage in North Africa.

Aureus, Justina and Companions June 16
During an invasion of the Huns, Aureus, Bishop of Mainz in Germany, was driven from his diocese and was followed by his sister, Justina, and others. After they returned, he and the others were martyred in church while celebrating the liturgy.

Ausonius May 22
3rd cent. By tradition a disciple of St Martial of Limoges and first Bishop of Angoulême in France.

Auspicius July 8
+ c 130. By tradition the fourth Bishop of Trier in Germany and successor of St Maternus (c 130).

Auspicius July 8
+ c 475. Bishop of Toul in France.

Auspicius Aug 2
? At some time before the 4th century he became the first Bishop of Apt in France.

Austell June 28
6th cent. A disciple of St Mewan or Mevan of Cornwall. He probably lived in the area where the place-name preserves his memory.

Austreberta Feb 10
630-704. Born near Thérouanne in Artois in the north of France, she was the daughter of St Framechildis and Count Badefrid. She became a nun with St Omer in Abbeville where she became Abbess. She was also blessed as Abbess of Pavilly.

Austregisilus (Aoustrille, Outrille) May 20
551-624. Born in Bourges in France, he preferred the life of a monk at Saint-Nizier in Lyons, where he became abbot. In 612 he was elected Bishop of Bourges.

Austremonius (Stremoine) Nov 1
3rd cent. Preaching in Auvergne in France, he became the first Bishop of Clermont-Ferrand.

Autbert Sept 10
+ c 709. Bishop of Avranches in France, he founded the Monastery of Mont-St-Michel on what is now the Normandy coast.

Autbert Dec 13
+ c 669. Bishop of Cambrai-Arras in France, he encouraged monastic life and founded monasteries including that of St Vedast (Saint Vaast) in Arras. Under him Hainault and Flanders became a vast monastic colony.

Autbodus Nov 20
+ 690. Born in Ireland, he preached in Artois, Hainault and Picardy in the north of France and Belgium. He reposed as a hermit near Laon.

Authaire (Oye) Apr 24
7th cent. A courtier at the palace of King Dagobert I of France and father of St Ouen of Rouen. He is the patron-saint of the village of La-Ferté-sous-Jouarre where he lived.

Autor (Adinctor, Auteur) Aug 9
5th cent. The thirteenth Bishop of Metz in France. In 830 his relics were translated to the monastery of Marmoutier.

Auxanus Sept 3
+ 568. Known in Milan in Italy as Sant'Ansano, he was bishop of that city, where he has always been venerated.

Auxilius March 19
+ c 460. A companion of St Patrick, he became Bishop of Killossey in Ireland.

Auxilius, Isserninus and Secundinus Dec 6
5th cent. Workers with St Patrick in the enlightenment of Ireland.

Ava (Avia) Apr 29
+ c 845. A niece of King Pepin, in her childhood and youth she was blind, but she was miraculously healed by St Rainfredis. She became a nun at Denain in Hainault, now in Belgium, where she became abbess.

Aventinus of Chartres Feb 4
+ c 520. Bishop of Chartres in France, he succeeded his brother, St Solemnis.

Aventinus of Troyes Feb 4
+ c 538. Born in central France, he acted as almoner to St Lupus, Bishop of Troyes, until he left to live as a hermit. The place where he lived is now called Saint-Aventin.

Aventinus June 7
+ 732. Born in Bagnères in the Pyrenees in France, he became a hermit in the valley of Larboush, where the Saracens martyred him.

Avitus Jan 27
? St Avitus is venerated in the Canary Islands as their Apostle and first Bishop.

Avitus of Vienne Feb 5
+ c 520. Born in Auvergne in France, he was the brother of St Apollinaris, Bishop of Valence. Their father St Isychius, a Roman senator, had also been Bishop of Vienne. Avitus succeeded him. As a bishop he commanded the respect of his flock, both of the pagan Franks and the Arian Burgundians. He converted the Burgundian King, Sigismund. St Avitus was also a fine writer.

Avitus II of Clermont Feb 21
+ 689. Bishop of Clermont in Auvergne in France from 676 to 689. He was one of the great bishops of the age.

Avitus (Avy) June 17
+ c 530. First of all a monk at Menat in Auvergne in France, then Abbot of Micy near Orleans, and finally a hermit in the Perche, where he was forced by his numerous disciples to build and become abbot of a new monastery.

Avitus I of Clermont Aug 21
+ c 600. Eighteenth Bishop of Clermont in France and contemporary of St Gregory of Tours, whom he ordained deacon.

Avitus (or Adjutus) Dec 19
? Abbot of Micy near Orleans in France.

Aymard Oct 5
+ 965 He succeeded St Odo as Abbot of Cluny in France in 942. However, after about ten years he became blind and resigned his office to St Majolus, setting for all an example of resignation for the rest of his life.