DEODATUS (DIÉ, DIDIER, DIEU-DONNÉ, ADÉODAT) of NEVERS, a Bishop of Nevers in present-day France, and founder of a monastery at Ebersheim Münster near Strasbourg (eastern France). St. Deodatus resigned his See to live as an anchorite in the Vosges Mountains (eastern France). A community formed around him, and he then founded and served as Abbot of the monastery of Val-de-Galilée - Jointures. St. Deodatus reposed circa 680, the town which had grown around his monastery is called St. Dié in his honour.

GAUDENTIUS, CULMATIUS, and COMPANIONS of AREZZO, martyred in 364 at Arezzo in Tuscany (central Italy) during the reign of Emperor Valentinian I (r. 364–375). St. Gaudentius, was a bishop, and St. Culmatius, his deacon, along with them were some fifty-three fellow Christians whose names are no longer known.

GERVASE and PROTASE, Protomartyrs of Milan, (Second Century), twin brothers and the sons of SS. Valeria and Vitalis of Milan (28th April). St. Ambrose of Milan (7th December) was in 386 guided by a vision to their grave, and though there no longer is anything remembered about them, other than they were early martyrs, St. Ambrose called them the 'Protomartyrs of Milan'.

HILDEGRIN of CHÂLONS-SUR-MARNE, a younger brother of St. Ludger of Utrecht (26th March), and fellow-worker with St. Ludger in enlightening the Saxons. St. Hildegrin was consecrated Bishop of Châlons-sur-Marne (present-day Châlons-en-Champagne in eastern France) circa 802–804, serving until 810 when he resigned to succeed his brother as Abbot of Werden Abbey (Kloster Werden) in present-day Essen, Germany. St. Hildegrin reposed circa 827.

INNOCENT of LE MANS, a Bishop of Le Mans (north-western France) for over four decades, St. Innocent was held in high esteem by his flock, and greatly venerated following his repose in 559.

ROMUALD of RAVENNA, an Italian nobleman, St. Romuald once acted as second for his father in a duel in which his father killed his opponent. Seeking to repent for his actions, St. Romuald received monastic tonsure at a monastery in Classe, just outside of Ravenna (northern Italy), and served as its Abbot from 996 until resigning in 999. Following his resignation St. Romuald devoted the next fourteen years to building several hermitages and monasteries around central and northern Italy, the best known one being in Camaldoli near Arezzo, in Tuscany (central Italy). He then retired to live as hermit for the rest of his years, reposing in 1027.

ZOSIMUS of UMBRIA, martyred by beheading in 110 in Umbria (central Italy), during Emperor Trajan’s (r. 98–117) persecution of Christians.

ARISTON, CRESCENTIAN, EUTYCHIAN, URBAN, VITALIS, JUSTUS, FELICISSIMUS, FELIX, MARCIA, and SYMPHOROSA, Martyrs of Campania, ten Christians martyred circa 285 in the Campania (southern Italy) early in the reign of Emperor Diocletian (r. 284–305). Aside from their names, no further information on their lives is extant.

ACESTES, LONGINUS, and MEGISTUS, Martyred Soldiers of Rome, (First Century), according to long-established custom SS. Acestes, Longinus, and Megistus were the three soldiers who led St. Paul (29th June) to execution in Rome. Converted by St. Paul, they were beheaded shortly afterwards. Nothing further is known of these saints.

MONEGUNDIS, a young woman in Chartres (north-central France) who, following the repose of her two daughters in childhood, with her husband’s consent, became a hermitess. In his writings St. Gregory of Tours (17th November) called her a saint. St. Monegundis reposed in 570.

OUDACEUS (EDDOGWY), the son of Breton prince Budic, who during exile in Britain married the sister of St. Teio of Llandaff (9th February). Soon after his exile ended, St. Oudaceus was born, and Budic dedicated to God in thanksgiving for his repatriation. Budic sent him to be educated by his uncle, St. Teio, at his monastery at Llandeilo Fawr. Even as a youth, St. Oudaceus was renowned for his piety and virtue. As his repose neared, St. Teio selected his nephew to succeed him in the See of Llandaff; and upon the repose of St. Teio, St. Oudaceus became the third Bishop of Llandaff. His episcopate was distinguished by love towards those in need, encouragement of the penitent and a firm stance against all wickedness. The date of St. Oudaceus repose is variously dated from circa 564 to circa 615, however the majority of sources list 615.

PROCESSUS and MARTINIAN of ROME, (Date Unknown), two gaolers of SS. Peter (29th June) and Paul (29th June) in Rome. Converted by the Apostles during their imprisonment, SS. Processus and Martinian were later martyred during one of Emperor Nero's (r. 54–68) persecutions of Christians. Their relics are enshrined at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.

Icon of St. Swithun of Winchester

SWITHUN (SWITHIN), Little is known of St. Swithun’s life, aside from the fact that he was consecrated Bishop of Winchester, Hampshire, England in 852. According to pious legend, St. Swithun was born in Wessex, England and spent his youth at the monastery in Winchester. As bishop, he was renowned for his meekness and humility; making pastoral visits barefoot, for example, and for his diligent work bringing sinners to Christ. St. Swithun’s legacy of humility carried on after his repose in 862, when, at his request, he was buried in the cemetery outside the minster. According to the distinguished twelfth century English historian, man of letters, and monk, William of Malmesbury (†c. 1142), St. Swithun chose this site so that it would be subject to the feet of passers-by and to the raindrops pouring from on high. In 971, when his relics were being translated to a shrine which St. Æthelwold (1st August) had had built for them, a torrential rainfall either delayed or hindered the ceremony, giving rise to the popular superstition regarding rain on St. Swithun’s Day.

‘St. Swithin’s day if thou dost rain

For forty days it will remain

St. Swithin’s day if thou be fair

For forty days ’twill rain nae mair.’