Dr. John (Ellsworth) Hutchison-Hall

Eastern Orthodox Christian theologian, historian, philosopher, and cultural commentator.

            

Home » Orthodox Saints of the Pre-Schism See of Rome 28th April (NS) — 15th April (OS) 2023


Orthodox Saints of the Pre-Schism
See of Rome
28th April (NS) — 15th April (OS) 2023

by | 28th April 2023 | Orthodox Western Saints

15th April (OS)

ANASTASIA and BASILISSA (VASILISSA) of ROME, members of the Imperial Roman nobility, who were converted by the Apostles Peter and Paul (29th June). Following the Apostles martyrdom, SS. Anastasia and Basilissa secretly buried their bodies. When this came to the attention of the authorities, SS. Anastasia and Basilissa were arrested, brutally tortured, and finally beheaded, circa 68.

EUTYCHIUS of FERENTINO, (Date Unknown), a martyr in Ferentino in Roman Campagna.

HUNNA of ALSACE, the daughter of a duke and wife of a nobleman in Alsace (France), who devoted herself to serving the poor women of Strasbourg (Alsace, France). St. Hunna reposed in 679.

LAURENTINUS SOSSIUS, a five-year-old boy who was martyred on Good Friday in Valrovina near Vicenza (Italy) in 485.

MARO, EUTYCHES, and VICTORINUS of ROME, companions of St. Flavia Domitilla (12th May), whom they accompanied in exile to the Island of Pandataria (from the Ancient Greek Πανδατερία) in the Tyrrhenian Sea. They were later taken to Rome where they were martyred circa 99.

MUNDUS (MUNDE, MUND, MOND) , an Abbot of a great monastery in Argyle, Scotland. St. Mundus was known for leading a prayerful and austere life, and also admired for his zealous missionary work. He founded several monasteries in Argyle as well. St. Mundus reposed circa 962.

NIDGER (NIDGAR, NITGAR) of AUGSBURG, an Abbot of Ottobeuren in Bavaria (Germany), who then served as the sixteenth Bishop of Augsburg (Bavaria, Germany), from 822 until his repose circa 829.

Orthodox Christian Icon of French Saint, Paternus (Padarn) of Avranches

Icon of St. Paternus (Padarn) of Avranches

PATERNUS (PADARN) of AVRANCHES, There are several saints named Paternus, and it is difficult to separate the various Lives and legends. It seems this St. Paternus was born in Brittany (France), studied in Ireland, and then went to Wales where he co-founded the monastery of Llanbadarn Fawr near Aberystwyth. It is probable that in later life he went to Normandy (France) where he was consecrated Bishop of Avranches. St. Paternus was known for his care of the poor as much as for the austerity of his life, and reposed circa 550.

PATERNUS (PERN) of VANNES, a late fifth century–early sixth century Bishop of Vannes in Brittany (France). As stated in the previous entry, it is almost impossible to untangle the lives of the several SS. Paternus.

RUADAN (RUADHAN, RODAN) of LORRHA, Another saint who is counted amongst the 'Twelve Apostles of Ireland', St. Ruandan was a leading disciple of St. Finian of Clonard (12th December). He founded the monastery of Lothra in North Tipperary, which grew to over one hundred and fifty monks under his leadership. English Roman Catholic priest and renowned hagiographer Fr. Alban Butler (†1773) states St. Ruandan was consecrated a bishop, though he mentions no See and there is no other record of consecration. St. Ruadan reposed in 584.

SILVESTER of RÉOME, an (possibly second) Abbot of the Abbey of Moutier-Saint-Jean of Réôme (abbaye de Moutiers-Saint-Jean) near Dijon in Burgundy (France) in the early seventh century St. Silvester reposed circa 625.

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28th April (NS)

ADALBERO of DILLINGEN or AUGSBURG (ADELBERO von DILLINGEN or AUGSBURG), scion of the Counts of Dillingen (Duchy of Swabia, present-day Bavaria, Germany), and uncle of St. Ulric (4th July). St. Adalbero received monastic tonsure in 850 at Dillingen Abbey. He served as tutor to the future King Louis IV (Louis the Child) (r. 900–911), and as Abbot of the Imperial Abbey of Ellwangen (Reichskloster (Fürstpropstei) Ellwangen). St. Adalbero was consecrated Bishop of Augsburg in present-day Bavaria, Germany circa 887 serving until his repose in 909.

APHRODISIUS, CARALIPPUS, AGAPIUS, and EUSEBIUS, (Date Uncertain), early martyrs in Languedoc (present-day region of Occitanie in the south of France). Various traditions place them in the first, second, or third centuries Their lives were memorialised by St. Gregory of Tours (17th November).

ARTEMIUS of SENS, a native of Sens who became Bishop of that See. He attended both the Second (581 or 582) and Third (585) Synods of Mâcon. St. Artemius was also the spiritual father of St. Bond (15th September). St. Artemius reposed in 609.

CRONAN of ROSCREA, the founder of several monasteries in Ireland, the major one being at Roscrea, Co. Tipperary. St. Cronan was known for his wonderworking, and had many disciples. St. Cronan reposed circa 640; his relics were enshrined in the church at Roscrea.

GERARD, (Probably Seventh Century), traditionally believed to have been one of four pilgrims from England — the other three were Ardwine, Bernard, and Hugh — who all reposed in Galinaro in the south of present-day Italy whilst on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. There is some doubt amongst scholars as to the historical authenticity of their existence, and if they did indeed exist, the century in which they flourished.

MARK of GALILEE, according to tradition, St. Mark was a native of Galilee who went to Italy where he was converted by St. Peter (29th June). The Apostle then dispatched him to the Abruzzi (southern Italy) to enlighten the local population and serve as first Bishop of that See. St. Mark’s mission was quite fruitful, though he was martyred 92.

PAMPHILUS of SULMONA, a seventh century Bishop of Sulmona and Corfinium in the Abruzzi (southern Italy). St. Pamphilus was renowned as a wonderworker, and his seemingly endless charity and love for the poor.

POLLIO of CYBALAE, a reader of the church of Cybalae in Pannonia (present-day Vinkovci, Croatia). St. Pollio, along with a group of fellow Christians, was martyred, circa 304, during the Diocletianic Persecution.

PRUDENTIUS of TARAZONA, St. Prudentius became a hermit at the age of fifteen, and seven years later began evangelising the area around Calahorra Aragon (Spain). A wonderworker of some renown, he was soon ordained to the priesthood. After serving as Canon in the church at Calahorra, St. Prudentius was consecrated Bishop of Tarazona, Aragon. St. Prudentius reposed in the late seventh century.

URSICINUS of RAVENNA, a physician sentenced to death for being a Christian. As the time of his martyrdom came closer, St. Ursicinus’ began to weaken and thoughts of apostasy entered his mind. However, with the support and encouragement of St. Vitalis of Milan (vide infra), St. Ursicinus remained resolute and was beheaded for his faith, circa 67.

VALERIA of MILAN, (First or Second Century), wife of St. Vitalis of Milan (vide infra), and mother of SS. Gervase and Protase (19th June). St. Valeria was martyred along with her husband St. Vitalis (vide infra).

VITALIS of MILAN, (First or Second Century), husband of St. Valeria (vide supra), and father of SS. Gervase and Protase (19th June). St. Vitalis is believed to have given moral and emotional support to St. Ursicinus of Ravenna (vide supra) whilst facing martyrdom.

Prior to the Schism the Patriarchate of Rome was Orthodox, and fully in communion with the Orthodox Church. As Saint John of Shanghai and San Francisco +1966 said “The West was Orthodox for a thousand years, and her venerable Liturgy is far older than any of her heresies”.

Details of British Saints excerpted from Orthodox Saints of the British Isles.
Details of continental saints from these sources.

In many cases there are several spelling versions of the names of saints from the British Isles. I use the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography version as the primary version with the more prevalent version in parenthesis e.g. Ceadda (Chad) of Lichfield.