AGERANUS (AYRAN, AYRMAN) and COMPANIONS, Martyrs of Bèze, a monk at the Abbey of SS. Peter and Paul of Bèze in Burgundy (France). In 888, invading Normans came to sack the Abbey. Most of the community escaped, with the exception of St. Ageranus and four monks SS. Genesius, Bernard, Sifiard, and Rodron, plus the priest-monk St. Ansuinus, all of whom stayed behind to protect the Altar and other sacred items. The Normans slaughtered all six as they sacked the Abbey.

BAIRFHION (BARRFOIN, BARRINDUS) of KILLBARRON, according to tradition St. Bairfhion was placed in charge of the church founded by St. Columba (9th June) at Drum Cullen, Co. Offaly in Ireland; and later lived in Killbarron Co. Donegal, Ireland. St. Bairfhion is said to have undertaken several missions by sea and to have reached North America, informing his friend St. Brendan the Voyager (16th May) of his discovery. It is believed St. Bairfhion reposed towards the end of the sixth century, and some Irish calendars style him a bishop.

GOLLEN (COLLEN, COLAN) of DENBIGHSHIRE, St. Gollen is the saint for whom Llangollen in Denbighshire, Wales is named. Believed to have lived during the seventh century, there are several legends connecting St. Gollen with Glastonbury Abbey in Somerset, England and Rome. However, nothing certain is known of his life. It is safe to deduce from the existence of a church in Brittany dedicated to him, that he may have lived there for some time.

HOSPITIUS of CAP-SAINT-HOSPICE, a hermit at what is today Pointe-de-Saint-Hospice in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat on the French Rivera. St. Hospitius lived in the remains of an old tower, in chains, on a diet limited to bread and dates. In addition to these great feats of asceticism, St. Hospitus had the gift of clairvoyance, and was known for his wonderworking. Whilst a group of Lombard soldiers were pillaging the area, they came across St. Hospitus, and seeing him chained assumed him to be a criminal. He said, indeed he was a most grievous sinner. As one of the soldiers raised his sword to dispatch St. Hospitus, his arm became paralysed, and would not move until the saint made the sign of the cross over it. The soldier converted on the spot, and they departed leaving St. Hospitus unmolested. Foreseeing the hour of his repose, St. Hospitus spent his last hours in prayer, removed his chains, and breathed his last circa 580.

ISBERGA (ITISBERGA) of AIRE, a sister of Charlemagne, King of the Franks (r. 768–814) and nun at a monastery in Aire in the present-day Artois region of France. St. Isberga reposed circa 800.

SECUNDINUS of CÓRDOBA, martyred in Córdoba during the Diocletianic Persecution, circa 306.

THEOBALD (THIBAUD) of VIENNE, consecrated the forty-second Archbishop of Vienne (south-eastern France) in 970. St. Theobald served the See until his repose in 1001.

TIMOTHY, POLIUS and EUTYCHIUS, Martyrs of Mauretania, (Date Uncertain), three deacons martyred in Mauretania Caesariensis (present-day Algeria) during the Diocletianic Persecution.

VALENS of AUXERRE and COMPANIONS, (Date Uncertain), St. Valens is believed to have been a bishop, though the See is not known. He, along with three youths whose names are unknown, was martyred in Auxerre in Burgundy (France).

CAECILIUS (CAECILIAN) of CARTHAGE, (Third Century), a priest in Carthage, Africa Proconsularis. In his last years St. Caecilius catechised and then baptised St. Cyprian of Carthage (16th September). Always more than a spiritual father to St. Cyprian, following St. Caecilius’ repose St. Cyprian cared for his wife and children. St. Jerome (30th September) says that the saint was the reason St. Cyprian added Caecilius to his name.

CLOTILDE of FRANCE, the daughter of Chilperic I, King of Burgundy (r. 473–480), and wife of Chlothar I, King of the Franks (r. 558–561). Chlothar was a pagan at the time of their marriage, and St. Clotilde taught her husband about Christ, resulting in Chlothar becoming a Christian himself, as well as the first Christian King of the Franks. Following the repose of Chlothar in 511, St. Clotilde retired to the tomb of St. Martin (11th November) in Tours, where she devoted the rest of her life to a life of charity and piety. St. Clotilde reposed in 545.

CRONAN, St. Cronan was a disciple of St. Kevin (vide infra) at Glendalough in Co. Wicklow, Ireland and reposed in 617. Nothing further is known of his life.

DAVINUS of LUCCA, a native of Armenia, who sold all his possessions, giving the proceeds to the poor. St. Davinus then set out on a pilgrimage to Rome and then on to Compostela (north-west Spain). Stopping along the way at Lucca in Tuscany (Italy), St. Davinus was stricken by an ailment which proved to be fatal. St. Davinus reposed in 1051, and was buried in one of the town’s churches.

GAUSMARUS of SAVIGNY, Abbot of the Abbey of St. Martin of Savigny (abbaye Saint-Martin de Savigny) in Savigny (eastern France) from 954 until his repose in 984.

GENESIUS of CLERMONT, upon completion of his education St. Genesius renounced the world for an ecclesiastical life. He served as Archdeacon of Clermont, in Auvergne (central France), then in 656, St. Genesius was consecrated Bishop of Clermont. While Bishop, St. Genesius fought the heresies of Novatian and Jovinian, founded a hospital at Clermont, the Monastery of Our Lady of Manglieu (monastère de Manglieu) for men, the Abbey of Chantoin (abbaye de Chantoin) for women, as well as the church of St. Symphorian, now called St. Genesius. St. Genesius reposed in 662 and was buried in the church of St. Symphorian.

GLUNSHALLAICH, St. Glunshallaich is famous in Ireland for having repented of his evil ways; he was converted by St. Kevin (vide infra), with whom he was buried at Glendalough in Co. Wicklow, Ireland. St. Glunshallaich reposed in 617.

HILARY of CARCASSONNE, a fourth century Bishop of Carcassonne in the Occitanie (France). While Bishop, St. Hilary worked to prevent the spread the Arianism in his diocese.

ISAAC of CÓRDOBA, a native of Córdoba (Spain), and a Christian. St. Isaac’s proficiency in Arabic enabled him to have a high-ranking position in the Moorish government. Nevertheless, he resigned to enter monastic life, entering a monastery in Tabanos not far from Córdoba. A few years after he was tonsured, St. Isaac got caught up in a public debate on religion, during the course of which he denounced Mohammed, for which he was martyred in 852. St. Isaac is numbered amongst the 48 Martyrs of Córdoba of the reign of Emir Muhammad I of Córdoba (r. 852–886).

Icon of St. Kevin of Glendalough

KEVIN (COEMGEN, CAOIMHGHIN) of GLENDALOUGH, our venerable father Kevin of Glendalough, Wonderworker of Ireland, was the founding Abbot of Glendalough and is one of the patron saints of Dublin. Though sources for his Life are late and unreliable, it is generally believed he was born in Leinster to a noble family, and was educated by St. Petroc (4th June) during the latter’s stay in Ireland. After ordination to the priesthood, St. Kevin spent seven years as an anchorite in a cave now known as St. Kevin’s Bed near Glendalough. He went on to found what grew into the famous monastery of Glendalough, parent of several other monasteries and destined to become, with its seven churches, one of the chief centres of pilgrimage in Ireland. It is said he reposed 618 at the age of one hundred and twenty.

LIPHARDUS (LIFARD) of ORLÉANS, after a successful career in the Orléans (north-central France) government, in which he held several high-level positions, St. Liphardus left the world to enter the Church. After ordination to the Deaconate, he withdrew to live as a hermit just outside of the city. Later after being ordained to the Priesthood, disciples began to gather round St. Liphardus for whom he founded a monastery at Meung-sur-Loire, and served as its first Abbot. St. Liphardus reposed circa 550.

OLIVA of ANAGNI, (Date Uncertain), a nun at Anagni near Rome, of whom nothing further is known.

PERGENTINUS and LAURENTINUS of AREZZO, two brothers who were martyred in Arezzo (Tuscany central Italy) in 251, during the Decian Persecution.