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Pabiali Nov 1
5th (or 6th) cent. Patron-saint of Partypallai in Wales.

Pabo Nov 9
+ c 510. After life as a soldier in Scotland, he came to Wales and in Anglesey founded the monastery later called Llanbabon after him.

Pacian March 9
+ c 390. Bishop of Barcelona in Spain from 365. A work he wrote on repentance still exists.

Paduinus (Pavin) Nov 15
+ c 703. A monk at the monastery of St Vincent in Le Mans in France and then first Abbot of St Mary's near Le Mans.

Palatias and Laurentia Oct 8
+ 302. Palatias was a lady of Ancona converted to Christ by her slave Laurentia. Both were martyred in Fermo near Ancona in Italy under Diocletian.

Paldo, Taso and Tato Jan 11
8th cent. Three brothers, born in Benevento in Italy, who became monks at Farfa and eventually founded the monastery of San Vincenzo at the headwaters of the Volturno. Of this they successively became abbots, Paldo reposing in c 720, Taso in c 729, and Tato in c 739.

Palladius Apr 10
+ 661. Abbot of St Germanus in Auxerre in France, he became bishop there and founded several monasteries.

Palladius July 7
5th cent. A deacon from Rome or Auxerre in France who was sent in c 430 to preach the Gospel in Ireland. He landed near Wicklow and after some success left for Scotland, where he reposed.

Palladius Oct 7
+ c 590. Bishop of Saintes in France (570-c 590).

Palmatius and Companions Oct 5
+ c 287. Martyrs in Trier in Germany under Maximian Herculeus.

Pammachius Aug 30
c 340-410. A Roman senator, married to one of the daughters of St Paula. On the death of his wife in 395, Pammachius became a monk and spent the rest of his life and his immense wealth in the service of the sick and the poor.

Pamphilus Apr 28
+ c 700. Bishop of Sulmona and Corfinium in the Abruzzi in Italy.

Pamphilus Sept 7
+ c 400. A Greek by birth, he was consecrated Bishop of Capua in Italy. His relics were enshrined in Benevento.

Pamphilus Sept 21
? A martyr in Rome.

Pancharius July 22
+ c 356. Bishop of Besançon in France. He suffered much under the Arian Emperor Constantius.

Pancras (Pancratius) Apr 3
1st cent. Born in Antioch, he was consecrated by the Apostle Peter and sent to Taormina in Sicily where he was stoned to death.

Pancras May 12
+ c 304. (?) A martyr buried in the cemetery of Calepodius in Rome. In the seventh century relics of the saint were sent to England and St Pancras became popular there.

Pandwyna Aug 26
+ c 904. A holy virgin born in Ireland. The church in Eltisley in Cambridgeshire in England is dedicated to her.

Pannonia (Martyrs of) Apr 9
? Seven virgin-martyrs in Sirmium in Pannonia.

Pantaenus July 7
+ c 190. Born in Sicily, Pantaenus became the head of the Orthodox School in Alexandria.

Pantagathus Apr 17
475-540. A courtier who later became Bishop of Vienne in France.

Pantalus Oct 12
? Bishop of Basle in Switzerland.

Papias and Maurus Jan 29
+ c 303. Soldiers martyred in Rome under Maximian.

Papias (Papius) June 28
+ c 303. A martyr, possibly in Sicily, under Diocletian.

Papinianus and Mansuetus Nov 28
5th cent. Bishops in North Africa martyred under the Arian Vandal King Genseric.

Papulus (Papoul) Nov 3
+ c 300. A priest who worked with St Saturninus in France and like him was martyred under Diocletian. His shrine is in Toulouse.

Pardulf (Pardoux) Oct 6
c 658-38. Born in Sardent near Guéret in France, he became a hermit but then went to the monastery of Guéret where he became abbot. At the time of the Saracen invasion he remained alone in the monastery which he saved through his prayers.

Paris Aug 5
+ 346. Bishop of Teano near Naples in Italy.

Pascharius (Pasquier) July 10
+ c 680. Bishop of Nantes in France. He founded the monastery of Aindre.

Paschasia Jan 9
+ c 178 (?) A virgin martyr venerated from ancient times in Dijon in France.

Paschasius Feb 22
+ c 312. The eleventh bishop of Vienne in France.

Paschasius May 31
+ c 512. A deacon in Rome who wrote theological works.

Pastor March 30
6th cent. (?) Bishop of Orleans in France.

Pastor July 26
+ c 160. A priest in Rome and by tradition the brother of Pope Pius I.

Paterius Feb 21
+ 606. A monk, disciple and friend of St Gregory the Great. He became Bishop of Brescia in Lombardy in Italy and was a prolific writer.

Paternian July 12
+ c 470. Bishop of Bologna in Italy c 450-470.

Paternian Nov 23
+ c 343. Towards the end of the persecution of Diocletian he escaped to the mountains and later became Bishop of Fano in Italy.

Paternus (Pern) Apr 15
+ c 500. Bishop of Vannes in Brittany.

Paternus (Padarn) Apr 15
5th-6th cent. Together with others he founded the monastery of Llanbadarn Fawr (i.e. the great monastery of Padarn) near Aberystwyth in Wales. He preached the Gospel there.

Paternus (Pair) Apr 16 and Sept 23
+ c 574 (or 563). Born in Poitiers in France, he became a monk at Ansion and later a hermit near Coutances. Eventually he became Bishop of Avranches.

Paternus Aug 21
+ c 255. Born in Alexandria, he came to Rome, was arrested in Fondi and was martyred for Orthodoxy there.

Paternus Sept 28
2nd cent. Born in Bilbao in Spain, he was one of the earliest Bishops of Auch in France.

Paternus Nov 12
+ c 726. Born in Brittany, he was a monk at Cessier and then at Saint-Pierre-le-Vif near Sens in France. He was murdered by evildoers.

Patiens Jan 8
2nd cent. Venerated as the fourth Bishop and patron-saint of Metz in France.

Patiens Sept 11
+ c 491. Archbishop of Lyons in France, he was highly praised by his contemporary St Sidonius Apollinaris. He devoted all his income to the poor.

Patricia Aug 25
+ c 665. Born in Constantinople and related to the imperial family, in order to escape marriage she went on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem and then to Rome, where she became a nun. She died in Naples in Italy where she is one of the patron-saints.

Patrician Oct 10
5th cent. A bishop in Scotland who was driven out by heathen and spent the remainder of his life on the Isle of Man.

Patrick March 6
c 307. Born in Malaga in Spain, he became Bishop there. He later fled to Auvergne in France.

Patrick March 17
c 390-461? The Apostle of Ireland. A Romano-Briton born in what is now England, at the age of sixteen he was abducted and taken to Ireland. However, he escaped after six years. He then went to monasteries in France and about the year 432 returned to Ireland as a bishop. He travelled throughout the country preaching, teaching, building churches, establishing monasteries and converting chiefs and bards. He was the first organiser of the Irish Church and was based in Armagh.

Patrick May 24
+ c 469. The fourth Bishop of Bayeux in France.

Patrick Aug 24
+ c 450. A bishop in Ireland, surnamed Patrick the Elder. His relics were later enshrined at Glastonbury in England.

Patroclus Jan 21
+ c 275 (or 259). A very wealthy and exceedingly charitable Orthodox in Troyes in France, who was martyred there. His relics were translated to Soest in Germany in 960.

Patto (Pacificus) March 30
+ c 788. Perhaps born in Ireland, he went to Saxony, became abbot of a monastery there and finally became Bishop of Werden in Germany

Paul, Gerontius, Januarius, Saturninus, Successus, Julius, Catus, Pia and Germana Jan 19
2nd cent. (?) Martyrs in Numidia in North Africa.

Paul of Trois-Châteaux Feb 1
+ c 405. Born in Rheims in France, he became a hermit near Arles and was chosen Bishop of Trois-Châteaux in the Dauphiné

Paul, Lucius and Cyriacus Feb 8
? Martyrs in Rome.

Paul of Verdun Feb 8
+ c 649. A courtier who became a hermit on Mt Voge (now Paulberg) near Trier in Germany. Later he became a monk at the monastery of Tholey and then Bishop of Verdun in France.

Paul, Heraclius, Secundilla and Januaria March 2
+ c 305. Martyrs who suffered under Diocletian at Porto Romano at the mouth of the Tiber in Italy.

Paul Aurelian March 12
+ c 575. A Romano-Briton by origin, he was born in Wales and became a monk with Sts Illtyd, David, Samson and Gildas. He lived for a time on Caldey Island, from where he went to Brittany. He established a monastery at Porz-Pol on the Isle of Ouessant and finally went to Ouismor (now Saint-Pol-de-Léon) where he became bishop.

Paul of Narbonne March 22
+ c 250. Consecrated in Rome towards the middle of the third century and sent to France to preach the Gospel, which he did with great success in Narbonne.

Paul of Constantinople June 7
+ 350. An Archbishop of Constantinople whose episcopate was largely spent in exile for Orthodoxy. Elected in 336, he was exiled to Pontus in 337, from where he returned in 338, but was exiled again by an Arian Council, this time to Trier in Germany. He returned in c 340, but in 342 was sent in chains to Mesopotamia by the Emperor Constantius. Recalled in 344, he was banished for the last time to Cukusus in Armenia, where he was left without food for six days and then strangled.

Paul the Apostle June 29
c 3-65? Born in Tarsus in Cilicia, a Pharisee, a Roman citizen and a tentmaker by trade, he was originally called Saul and was educated in the Law of the Jews in Jerusalem. After taking part in the stoning of the first Orthodox martyr, St Stephen, he was miraculously converted on the road to Damascus and received his mission to enlighten the Gentiles. He did so in at least four Apostolic journeys, extending perhaps as far as Spain, establishing churches everywhere and surrounded by dangers of all sorts. Nevertheless he was always zealous for Christ. His thirteen letters, addressed mostly to the Churches which he had founded, belong to divine revelation. According to a very old tradition, he was beheaded in Rome, which Church he had founded, near the Ostian Way.

Paul of St Zoilus July 20
+ 851. A deacon in Cordoba in Spain who belonged to the monastery of St Zoilus and who was very zealous in ministering to Christians imprisoned by the Muslims. He was beheaded for the Orthodox Faith and his relics were enshrined in the church of St Zoilus.

Paula Jan 26
347-404. A Roman lady of noble birth, she married a patrician and had five children, among them St Eustochium and St Blaesilla. Left a widow when she was thirty-two, she presided for twenty years over the sisterhood she had founded in Bethlehem. She also established a guest house for pilgrims there.

Paulinus of Brescia Apr 29
+ c 545. Bishop of Brescia in Italy (c 524-545). His relics are enshrined in the church of San Pietro in Oliveto.

Paulinus May 4
? A martyr whose relics are enshrined in Cologne in Germany.

Paulinus of Sinigaglia May 4
+ 826. Bishop and now patron-saint of Sinigaglia in Italy.

Paulinus of Nola June 22
c 354-431. Pontius Meropius Amcius Paulinus was born in Bordeaux in France, the son of a Roman patrician. Appointed prefect of Rome, after the death of his only child in 390 he left the world and went to Spain, where the people of Barcelona forced him to accept the priesthood. Finally he settled as a hermit near Nola in Campania in Italy and there the people chose him as their bishop (400). He proved to be one of the finest bishops of his age. He suffer greatly during the invasion of Campania by the Goths under Alaric. Most of his writings survive.

Paulinus of Antioch and Companions July 12
c 67. Venerated as the first bishop and patron-saint of Lucca in Tuscany in Italy. By tradition he was born in Antioch and sent to Lucca by the Apostle Peter where he was martyred with others.

Paulinus of Trier Aug 31
+ 358. Born in Gascony in France, he accompanied St Maximinus to Trier in Germany and succeeded him as bishop in 349. He was a brave supporter of St Athanasius and was therefore exiled to Phrygia by the Arian Emperor Constantius in 355. He died in exile but his relics were brought back to Trier in 396.

Paulinus of York Oct 10
+ 644. Born in Rome, he was sent to England with Sts Mellitus and Justus (601) to help St Augustine. He spent twenty-four years in Kent and in 625 was consecrated Bishop of York and sent to enlighten Northumbria, where he baptised King Edwin in York. After the King's martyrdom, he returned to Kent, where he became Bishop of Rochester.

Paulinus of Capua Oct 10
+ 843. A pilgrim, perhaps from England, who stayed in Capua in Italy and was forced by the inhabitants to become their bishop. After an episcopate of eight years he reposed in Sicopolis where he had fled during the invasion of the Saracens.

Paulinus (Polin, Pewlin, Paulhen) Nov 23
+ c 505 (?) An abbot in Wales and disciple of St Illtyd, he founded the monastery of Whitland where St David and St Teilo were among his disciples.

Pega Jan 8
+ c 719. The sister of St Guthlac of Crowland in England. She too lived as an anchoress. The village of Peakirk (Pega's church) in Northamptonshire is called after her.

Pelagius (Pelayo) June 26
c 912-925. A young boy from Asturias in Spain left as a hostage with the Moors in Cordoba. He was offered freedom and other rewards if he would accept Islam. These inducements were repeatedly put before him during the three years that he was kept in prison. On his stubborn refusal, he was tortured, which he endured for six hours before finally reposing. His relics were transferred to Leon in 967 and to Oviedo in 985.

Pelagius Aug 28
+ c 283. A boy martyred in Istria under Numerian. His relics were transferred to Città Nuova in Istria and part of them (c 915) to Constance in Germany. He is venerated as the patron-saint of Constance.

Pelagius, Arsenius and Sylvanus Aug 30
+ c 950. Hermits near Burgos in Old Castile in Spain who were martyred by the Saracens.

Pelinus Dec 5
+ 361. A martyr in Confinium, a town in the south of Italy which is now destroyed, who suffered under Julian the Apostate.

Pepin of Landen Feb 21
+ c 646. Pepin, Duke of Brabant, he was the husband of St Ida and the father of St Gertrude of Nivelles and St Begga. He was described as 'a lover of peace and the constant defender of truth and justice'.

Peregrinus May 16
+ c 138 (?) Bishop of Terni in Umbria in Italy and founder of its Cathedral.

Peregrinus May 16
+ c 304. By tradition he came from Rome to become first Bishop of Auxerre in France and was martyred under Diocletian in a village called Bouhy.

Peregrinus (Cetheus) June 13
+ c 600. Bishop of L'Aquila in the Abruzzi in Italy. He was drowned in the River Aterno by the Arian Lombards for asking for mercy for a condemned prisoner.

Peregrinus July 28
2nd cent. (?) A priest near Lyons in France at the time of St Irenaeus and during the persecution under Severus. He lived as a hermit on an island in the River Saône.

Peregrinus Aug 1
+ 643. A pilgrim from Ireland who returning from a pilgrimage to the Holy Land settled as a hermit near Modena in Italy.

Peregrinus, Maceratus and Viventius Aug 4
6th cent. By tradition they were two Christian brothers who came from Spain and died in France, seeking to rescue their enslaved sister.

Perfectus Apr 18
+ 851 A priest in Cordoba in Spain, martyred by Muslims on Easter Sunday.

Pergentinus and Laurentinus June 3
+ 251. Two brothers martyred in Arezzo in Italy under Decius.

Peris Dec 11
? The patron saint of Llanberis in Wales.

Perpetua, Felicity, Saturus (Satyrus), Saturninus, Revocatus and Secundulus March 7 (in the East Feb 1)
+ 203. Vivia Perpetua was a young married woman of good social position. Felicity, also married, was a slave. The others were catechumens and Saturus perhaps their instructor. All were imprisoned together in Carthage in North Africa as a law of Septimus Severus forbade conversions to the faith. Secundulus died in prison: the others were thrown to the wild beasts in the amphitheatre on March 7. Their Acts were written by Saturus, one of the martyrs, and completed by an eyewitness.

Perpetua Aug 4
+ c 80. A matron from Rome baptised by the Apostle Peter who converted her husband and her son, St Nazarius. Her relics are enshrined in Milan and Cremona in Italy.

Perpetuus Apr 8
+ c 490. Bishop of Tours in France (c 460-490).

Perseveranda (Pecinna, Pezaine) June 26
+ c 726. A holy virgin from Spain who with her sisters Macrina and Columba travelled to Poitiers in France where they founded a convent. While fleeing from a robber, Perseveranda died at a place called after her, Sainte-Pezaine.

Peter of Canterbury Jan 6
+ c 607. A monk from St Andrew's in Rome, he was one of the first missionaries sent to England. He became first Abbot of Sts Peter and Paul (later St Augustine's), founded in Canterbury. While travelling to France he was drowned off Ambleteuse near Boulogne, where his relics are still honoured.

Peter Urseolus Jan 10
928-987. Born in Venice in Italy, at the age of twenty Peter became Admiral of the Venetian fleet. In 976 he became Doge of Venice. After two years, he disappeared from Venice to become a monk at the monastery of Cuxa in Spain, where he later lived as a hermit.

Peter the Spaniard March 11
? A pilgrim from Spain to Rome who settled as a hermit in Babuco near Veroli.

Peter the Deacon March 12
+ c 605. The disciple, secretary and companion of St Gregory the Great. He is venerated as the patron-saint of Salussola in Italy.

Peter and Aphrodisius March 14
5th cent. Martyrs under the Arian Vandals in North Africa.

Peter, Marcian, Jovinus, Thecla, Cassian and Companions March 26
? Martyrs in Rome.

Peter of Braga Apr 26
? First Bishop and martyr of Braga in Portugal.

Peter of Pavia May 7
+ c 735. Bishop of Pavia in Italy during the reign of Luitprand, King of the Lombards.

Peter, Wallabonsus, Sabinian, Wistremundus, Habentius and Jeremiah June 7
+ 851. Peter was a priest; Wallabonsus, a deacon; Sabinian and Wistremundus, monks of St Zoilus in Cordoba in Spain; Habentius, a monk of St Christopher's; Jeremiah, a very old man, had founded the monastery of Tábanos, near Cordoba. For publicly denouncing Mohammed they were martyred under Abderrahman in Cordoba. Jeremiah was scourged to death; the others were beheaded.

Peter the Apostle June 29
+ c 64. Simon, son of Jonah, was a married fisherman who lived in Bethsaida. He was a disciple of St John the Baptist before he was called, after his elder brother Andrew, to be a disciple of Christ. He was called 'Rock' (Cephas, Petros, Petra, Peter) because of his confession of Christ as the Son of God. Peter was a witness of many important events such as the Transfiguration and the Agony in the Garden. After Christ's Ascension he founded the Church in Antioch and visited the Church in Rome founded by the Apostle Paul. Here he was martyred, head downwards in the circus of Nero, and was buried on the Vatican Hill. He is commemorated together with the Apostle Paul on 29 June and his relics are enshrined beneath the altar of St Peter's in Rome to this day.

Peter of Perugia July 10
+ 1007. Peter Vincioli was born near Perugia in Italy and founded the monastery of St Peter there.

Peter Chrysologus July 30
c 406-c 450. Born in Imola in Italy, he became deacon there, and then archdeacon and Archbishop of Ravenna (c 433). He is famed for his eloquence in preaching, thus the name Chrysologus, 'Golden Speech'. Many of his sermons still exist.

Peter, Julian (Juliana) and Companions Aug 7
+ c 260. A group of twenty or more martyrs in Rome under Valerian and Gallienus.

Peter of Trevi Aug 30
+ 1050. Born in Carsoli in Italy, he preached to the peasants of Tivoli, Anagni and Subiaco. He reposed when still young in Trevi near Subiaco.

Peter Martinez Sept 10
+ c 1000. Also called St Peter of Mozonzo. He was born in Spain and in about 950 became a monk at the monastery of St Mary of Mozonzo. Later he became Abbot of St Martin in Compostella and finally (c 986) Archbishop there.

Peter of Seville Oct 8
? A martyr venerated in Seville in Spain.

Peter, Successus, Bassian, Primitivus and Companions Dec 9
? Martyrs in North Africa.

Peter of Subiaco Dec 31
+ 1003. The twenty-second Abbot of Subiaco in Italy. For defending his monastery, he was blinded and died in prison.

Petroc (Petrock, Pedrog, Perreux) June 4
+ c 594. Born in Wales, he studied in Ireland and settled in Cornwall, where he was very active. He founded a monastery at a place called after him, Petrocstow (Padstow), and another at Bodmin where he reposed.

Petronax May 6
+ c 747. Born in Brescia in Italy, he restored monastic life at Montecassino with only a few hermits who chose him as abbot. He is called 'the second founder of Montecassino'

Petronilla May 31
1st cent. (?). A virgin in Rome venerated from the earliest times.

Petronius Jan 10
+ c 463. Born in Avignon, he became a monk at Lérins and Bishop of Die in France from c 456 to 463.

Petronius Sept 6
+ c 450. Bishop of Verona in Italy.

Petronius Oct 4
? Probably the son of a prefect in France, he visited the monks in Palestine and prayed at the holy places. He became Bishop of Bologna in Italy and built the monastery of St Stephen there, reproducing the general lines of the buildings of the holy places in Jerusalem.

Phaebadius (Fiari) Apr 25
+ c 392. A bishop of Agen in the south of France who succeeded in stamping out Arianism in Gaul, together with his friend St Hilary of Poitiers. He was one of the best known bishops of his time and presided over several Councils.

Pharäildis (Vareide, Verylde, Veerle) Jan 4
+ c 740. Probably born in Ghent in Belgium, she was married against her will. Maltreated by her husband, she became one of the patron-saints of Ghent.

Phelim Aug 9
6th cent. A disciple of St Columba. The town of Kilmore in Ireland grew up around his cell and he is the main patron-saint there.

Philastrius July 18
+ c 387. Born in Spain, he became Bishop of Brescia in Italy at the time of the Arian troubles. He wrote a book against the Arians which still exists. His successor, St Gaudentius, praised him for his 'modesty, quietness and gentleness towards all men' and for his love for the poor.

Philemon and Domninus March 21
? Born in Rome, they preached the Gospel in various parts of Italy and were martyred.

Philetus, Lydia, Macedo, Theoprepius (Theoprepides), Amphilochius and Cronidas March 27
+ c 121. Martyrs in Illyria under Hadrian. Philetus was a senator, Lydia his wife, Macedo and Theoprepius their sons, Amphilochius a captain, and Cronidas a notary.

Philibert Aug 20
c 608-684. Born in Gascony in France, at the age of twenty he became a monk and then Abbot of Rébais. Later he founded and was Abbot of Jumièges. He opposed the tyrant Ebroin and was imprisoned and exiled. Before his repose he also founded the monastery of Noirmoutier, restored Quinçay and helped several others.

Philip of Vienne Feb 3
+ c 578. Bishop of Vienne in France (c 560-578).

Philip of Zell May 3
+ c 770. A pilgrim from England, he settled as a hermit near Worms in Germany. With several disciples, he founded the monastery of Zell - so called from his own original cell - which later grew into the town of Zell.

Philip of Agirone May 12
? A saint venerated in Agirone in Sicily as its first missionary.

Philip Sept 13
3rd cent. The father of St Eugenia of Rome, in whose home Sts Protus and Hyacinth were employed.

Philip Oct 22
+ c 270. Bishop and martyr of Fermo in Italy, his relics are enshrined in the Cathedral.

Philologus and Patrobas Nov 4
1st cent. An Orthodox in Rome greeted by the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans (16:14-18).

Philomena July 5
+ c 500. A saint venerated in San Severino near Ancona in Italy.

Photinus (or Pothinus), Sanctius (Sanctus), Vetius, Epagathus, Maturus, Ponticus, Biblis (Biblides), Attalus, Alexander, Blandina and Companions June 2
+ 177. Martyrs in Lyons in France under Marcus Aurelius. The details of their martyrdom are given in a letter written by the Churches of Vienne and Lyons to those in Asia. The writer may have been St Irenaeus. The martyrs were attacked by a pagan mob and later tried and condemned for their faith. Photinus, their leader, bishop of the city, an old man aged ninety, reposed in his dungeon. The others were thrown to the wild beasts in the amphitheatre at the public games.

Piaton (Piato, Piat) Oct 1
+ c 286. Born in Benevento in Italy, he enlightened the areas around Tournai in Belgium and Chartres in France. He was probably martyred in Tournai under Maximian.

Pigmenius March 24
+ 362. A priest in Rome thrown into the Tiber under Julian the Apostate.

Piran (Pyran) March 5
+ c 480. A hermit near Padstow in Cornwall. He is venerated as the patron-saint of miners: Perranporth is named after him.

Pirmin Nov 3
+ 753. Born in Spain of Visigothic descent. When the Saracens invaded Spain, he fled and went to the Rhineland in Germany, where he established several monasteries - Reichenau in 724, Murbach, Amorbach - and restored others, notably Dissentis. He also became a bishop.

Pius I July 11
+ c 155. Pope from c 142 to c 155. He may have been a brother of Hermas, the writer of the work called The Shepherd. If so, Pius, like his brother, was born a slave. He opposed the Gnostics, notably the Gnostic Marcion. He may have been martyred.

Placid (Placidus, Plait) May 7
+ c 675. Abbot of St Symphorian in Autun in France.

Placidia Oct 11
+ c 460. A holy virgin venerated in Verona in Italy.

Plautilla May 20
+ c 67. The mother of Flavia Domitilla. By tradition she was baptised by the Apostle Peter and was present at the martyrdom of the Apostle Paul.

Plegmund Aug 2
+ 914. The tutor of King Alfred and twentieth Archbishop of Canterbury. Born in Cheshire (his hermitage at Plemstall, Plegmundstow, was named after him). He restored the Church in England after the Danish attacks and was a notable scholar.

Podius May 28
+ 1002. From Tuscany, he became a priest and then Bishop of Florence in Italy from 990.

Pollio Apr 28
+ c 304. A reader of the church of Cybalae in Pannonia, burnt alive under Diocletian.

Polycarp Feb 23
+ c 300. A priest in Rome noted for ministering to those in prison for their faith.

Pompeius Dec 14
+ c 290. Bishop of Pavia in Italy.

Pomponius Apr 30
+ 536. Bishop of Naples in Italy (508-536). He was a strong opponent of Arianism.

Pomposa Sept 19
+ 853. A nun at Peñamelaria near Cordoba in Spain. She was beheaded by the Moors in Cordoba.

Pontian Jan 19
+ 169. A martyr in Spoleto in Italy under Marcus Aurelius.

Pontian Aug 13
+ 235. He succeeded St Urban I as Pope of Rome in 230. He was exiled by the Emperor Maximinus Thrax to Sardinia in c 235, where he died from ill-treatment.

Pontian and Companions Dec 2
+ c 259. A group of five martyrs who suffered in Rome under Valerian.

Pontius March 8
+ c 260. A deacon of the Church of Carthage in North Africa. He was with St Cyprian in his exile, at his trial and execution, and wrote his Life.

Pontius of Cimiez May 14
+ 258 (?) A martyr in Cimella (Cimiez) near Nice in the south of France. His relics gave his name to the town of Saint-Pons.

Poppo Jan 25
978-1048. Born in Flanders, after a military career he made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem and Rome. On his return he became a monk at St Thierry in Rheims in 1006. Two years later he moved to Saint-Vannes and then to Vaast in Arras. In 1021 he became Abbot of Stavelot-Malmédy in Belgium and the monastic revival soon spread to other monasteries, among others to Hautmont, Marchiennes, St Maximinus of Trier in Germany and St Vaast in Arras in France.

Porcarius and 500 Companions Aug 12
+ c 732. Porcarius was Abbot of Lérins, off the coast of Provence in France. The whole monastery of five hundred monks - except the youngest members whom the abbot had sent away to safety - were massacred by the Saracens.

Porphyrius May 4
+ 250. A priest who preached in Umbria in Italy and was beheaded under Decius.

Porphyrius Aug 20
? An early martyr in Palestrina near Rome.

Porphyrius Sept 15
+ 362. An actor who, performing in front of Julian the Apostate and mocking Orthodox baptism, suddenly declared himself a believer and was at once martyred.

Portianus Nov 24
+ 533. A slave who became a monk and then Abbot of Miranda in Auvergne in France. He confronted the Merovingian King and obtained the freedom of Auvergnat prisoners.

Possessor May 11
+ c 485. A magistrate in Verdun in France who became bishop there in 470. He and his flock were greatly troubled by the barbarian Franks, Vandals and Goths.

Possidius May 16
c 370-c 440. Bishop of Calama in Numidia in North Africa, when he was driven out by Arian Vandals, reposing in Apulia in Italy. He opposed both Donatism and Pelagianism.

Potitus Jan 13
? A boy venerated as a martyr near Naples in Italy.

Praejectus (Priest, Prest, Preils, Prix) Jan 25
+ 676. He became Bishop of Clermont in Auvergne in France. He encouraged monasticism but was murdered by evildoers at Volvic in the Vosges.

Praetextatus (Prix) Feb 24
+ 586. Bishop of Rouen in France (550-586). For his courage in denouncing the wicked, he was cruelly persecuted and exiled. Recalled seven years later, he was martyred on Easter Sunday in his own church.

Pragmatius Nov 22
+ c 520. Bishop of Autun in France.

Praxedes July 21
2nd cent. The daughter of the Roman senator Pudens and sister of St Pudentiana. One of the ancient churches in Rome is dedicated to her.

Primael May 16
+ c 450. From Britain, he went to Brittany and became a hermit near Quimper.

Primitiva (Primitivus) Feb 24
? An early martyr, probably in Rome.

Primus and Donatus Feb 9
+ 362. Two deacons in Lavallum in North Africa martyred by Donatists.

Primus and Felician June 9
+ c 297. Two elderly brothers beheaded under Diocletian on the Via Nomentana in Rome.

Principia May 11
+ c 420. A holy virgin in Rome and disciple of St Marcella.

Principius Sept 25
+ c 505. The elder brother of St Remigius of Rheims. He became Bishop of Soissons in France.

Prisca Jan 18
3rd cent. (?) A virgin-martyr venerated from ancient times in Rome, where a church is dedicated to her on the Aventine.

Priscilla Jan 16
1st cent. The wife of Manius Acilius Glabrio and mother of the senator Pudens. The tradition is that she was the hostess in Rome of the Apostle Peter. His headquarters were at her villa near the Roman catacombs which to this day bear her name.

Priscus, Priscillian and Benedicta Jan 4
? Martyrs in Rome buried by their father, Flavian.

Priscus and Companions May 26
+ c 272. Priscus, a Roman officer, several soldiers under his command and a number of citizens of Besançon in France were martyred near Auxerre.

Priscus Sept 1
+ c 66. The first Bishop of Capua in Italy, where he was sent by the Apostle Peter. By tradition he was martyred under Nero.

Priscus, Castrensis, Tammarus, Rosius, Heraclius, Secundinus, Adjutor, Mark, Augustus, Elpidius, Canion and Vindonius Sept 1 and Feb 11
5th cent? Priscus, a bishop in North Africa, and his priests were cast adrift in a boat by the Arian Vandals. They reached the south of Italy, where eventually Priscus became Bishop of Capua.

Privatus Aug 21
+ 260. Bishop of Mende in France. He was captured by invading barbarians, but was offered his life if he agreed to reveal where his flock was hiding. This he refused to do and he was beaten to death.

Privatus Sept 28
+ 223. A citizen of Rome scourged to death under Alexander Severus.

Probus Jan 12
+ c 59. Bishop of Verona in Italy

Probus March 15
+ c 571. Bishop of Rieti in central Italy.

Probus and Grace July 5
? Saints of Cornwall, by tradition husband and wife. The church of Tressilian or Probus, is dedicated to them.

Probus Nov 10
+ c 175. Born in Rome, he became the sixth Bishop of Ravenna in Italy. His relics are venerated in the Cathedral in Ravenna.

Processus and Martinian July 2
? Martyrs who were greatly venerated in Rome: their tomb and basilica were on the Aurelian Way. Their relics are in St Peter's in Rome.

Procopius July 4 (In the East Apr 1)
c 980-1053. Born in Czechia, he was ordained in Prague. Later he became a hermit and finally founded the monastery of Sazava.

Proculus, Ephebus and Apollonius Feb 14
+ 273. Martyrs in Terni in Italy.

Proculus June 1
+ c 304 (?) By tradition a Roman officer martyred in Bologna in Italy under Diocletian.

Proculus July 12
+ 542 Bishop of Bologna in Italy (540-542), martyred by the Goths.

Proculus Nov 4
+ c 717. Bishop of Autun in France martyred by invading Huns.

Proculus Dec 1
+ c 542. Bishop of Narni or Terni in Italy, martyred by Totila, King of the Goths.

Proculus Dec 9
+ c 320. Bishop of Verona in Italy. He was a confessor during the persecution of Diocletian, but reposed in peace.

Prosdocimus Nov 7
+ c 100. First Bishop of Padua in Italy.

Prosper of Reggio June 25
+ c 466. Bishop of Reggio in Emilia in Italy, venerated as the main patron-saint of the city.

Prosper of Aquitaine July 7
c 390-436. Born in Aquitaine in France, he was a married layman who devoted himself to theology.

Prosper of Orleans July 29
+ c 453. Bishop of Orleans in France.

Protasius Aug 4
? A martyr honoured in Cologne in Germany.

Protasius Nov 24
+ 352. Bishop of Milan in Italy 331-352. He defended St Athanasius against Arianism, notably at the Council of Sardica in 343.

Prothadius (Protagius) Feb 10
+ 624. The successor of St Nicetius as Bishop of Besançon in France.

Protus and Hyacinth Sept 11
+ c 257. By tradition brothers, they were both servants and were martyred in Rome. The relics of St Hyacinth were uncovered in 1845.

Protus and Januarius Oct 25
+ 303. Protus, a priest, and Januarius, a deacon, worked in Sardinia. They were beheaded in Porto Torres, not far from Sassari, in the persecution of Diocletian.

Provinus March 8
+ c 420. Born in France, he became a disciple of St Ambrose in Milan and became Bishop of Como in Italy in 391.

Prudentius Galindo Apr 6
+ 861. Born in Spain, in his youth he fled from the Saracens to France, where he changed his baptismal name Galindo to Prudentius. He became Bishop of Troyes.

Prudentius Apr 28
+ c 700. Born in Armentia in Spain, he became a hermit, was ordained priest and became Bishop of Tarazona in Aragon.

Psalmodius (Psalmet, Saumon, Saumay) June 14
7th cent. Probably born in Ireland, he was a disciple of St Brendan. He moved to France and lived as a hermit near Limoges.

Ptolemy Aug 24
1st cent. By tradition a disciple of the Apostle Peter, he became Bishop of Nepi in Tuscany in Italy, where he was martyred.

Ptolemy and Lucius Oct 19
+ c 165. Martyrs in Rome under Antoninus Pius. Ptolemy was put to death for instructing a woman in the Orthodox Faith. One Lucius and an unnamed man protested against the injustice of the sentence and were also martyred. Their story was written down by St Justin Martyr, their contemporary.

Publius Jan 21
+ c 112. Tradition identifies this saint with Publius, 'chief man of the island of Malta', who befriended St Paul after his shipwreck (Acts 28,7). He became the first Bishop of Malta and later Bishop of Athens, being martyred under Trajan.

Publius, Julian, Marcellus and Companions Feb 19
? Martyrs in North Africa.

Publius, Victor, Hermes and Papias Nov 2
? Martyrs in North Africa.

Pudens May 19
1st cent ? A Roman senator baptised by the Apostles. He is identified by many with the Pudens mentioned by the Apostle Paul (2 Tim 4,21).

Pudentiana (or Potentiana) May 19
2nd cent. A holy virgin in Rome, daughter of the senator St Pudens. By tradition she died at the age of sixteen.

Pusinna Apr 23
5th-6th cent. A holy virgin in Champagne in France who had six sisters, all widely honoured as saints.