Orthodox Saints of the Pre-Schism
See of Rome
9th November (NS) — 27th October (OS) 2024
ABBÁN of MAGH-ARMUIDHE, (Sixth Century), the nephew of St. Kevin of Glendalough (3rd June) and the founder of many monasteries. He is often confused with St. Abbán of Kill-Abban (16th March) who was the nephew of St. Ibar of Meath (23rd April) and founder of Kill-Abban monastery in Leinster, Ireland. Unfortunately, there is no reliable Life of either of these saints extant.
Troparion of St. Abbán of Magh-Armuidhe — Tone VIII
In Ireland's fertile soil thou didst plant the seeds of
monasticism, O Father Abbán,/ and didst nurture
a great flowering of God-pleasing virtue./ Continue
steadfastly in thy enduring love, to lead mankind to
God/ and by thy prayers may we be granted great mercy.
COLMÁN of SENBOTH-FOLA, little is known of St. Colmán. He was Abbot of Senboth-Fola near Ferns in Ireland and is believed to have been a disciple of St. Áedán of Ferns (31st January). St. Colmán reposed circa 632.
Troparion of St. Colmán of Senboth-Fola — Tone VIII
Through trials and temptations thou didst shepherd/
steadfastly in thy enduring love, to lead mankind to
the monastics of Senboth-Fola, O Father Colmán,/
steadfastly in thy enduring love, to lead mankind to
and didst guide many souls on their pilgrimage to Christ./
Wherefore, we pray thee, intercede with Him,
that our souls may be saved.
DESIDERIUS (DIDIER) of AUXERRE, consecrated the twentieth Bishop of Auxerre in Burgundy (east-central France) in 614, St. Desiderius served the See until his repose in 625.
FLORENTIUS of TROIS-CHÂTEAUX, a third century martyr in Trois-Châteaux in Burgundy (east-central France). No further information on his life is extant.
GAUDIOSUS the AFRICAN (GAUDIOSUS of NAPLES), amongst the many orthodox Christians forced into exile by the Arian Gaiseric, King of the Vandals (r. 428–477), was St. Gaudiosus, Bishop of Abitina in Africa Proconsularis. Exiled in 440, St. Gaudiosus settled in Naples where he founded a monastery and lived until his repose circa 455.
NAMATIUS (NAMACE) of CLERMONT, the ninth Bishop of Clermont (central France), serving from circa 446 until his repose circa 462. His episcopacy is principally remembered for the building of the Cathedral of SS. Vitalis and Agricola. In History of the Franks (II.xvi), St. Gregory of Tours (17th November) wrote a detailed summary of the completed cathedral of which he says "the fear of God is in it".
ODHRAN (ODRAN, ÓRAN, OTTERAN) of WATERFORD, St. Odhran has always been held in great veneration in Ireland. He was an abbot in Co. Meath, Ireland, accompanied St. Columba of Iona (9th June) to Scotland, and is said to have been the first person to repose at Iona (circa 563). The graveyard at Iona is called Reilig Odhráin (St. Odhran’s Graveyard) in his memory. According to Irish tradition, St. Columba saw devils and angels fight over St. Odhran’s soul before it ascended into heaven. St. Odhran is also the main patron saint of the Diocese of Waterford, Ireland.
Troparion of St. Odhran of Waterford — Tone VIII
O Father Odhran, thou wast the first among the
saintly Columba's disciples to repose/ and be laid to
rest in the blessed soil of Iona./ As in thy life thou
didst live only for Christ,/ we pray thee to intercede
for us that we may follow thee into the way of salvation.
VINCENT, SABINA, and CHRISTETA, Martyrs of Avila, three Spanish Christians, and siblings, who were martyred during the Diocletianic Persecution (303–313).
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AGRIPPINUS (ARPINUS) of NAPLES, according to tradition, St. Agrippinus was the sixth Bishop of Naples (south-western Italy). Though his cultus dates back over 1,500 years, little to nothing is known of him. His relics are enshrined under the high altar of the Cathedral of the Assumption of Mary (Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta) in Naples along with those of SS. Eutychius and Acutius (19th September), companions of St. Januarius of Naples (19th September).
BENÉN (BEANÓN, BENIGNUS) of ARMAGH , the son of Irish Chieftain Sesenen whose territory was in present-day Co. Meath. Baptised by St. Patrick of Ireland (17th March) he soon became a favoured disciple. In time, St. Patrick consecrated St. Benén to the episcopate and appointed him his coadjutor. Travelling with St. Patrick, St. Benén worked to spread the Gospel, assisting St. Patrick with all aspects of his missionary labours. St. Benén especially concerned himself with the music and formation of choirs, earning the sobriquet “St. Patrick’s Psalm Singer”. The Martyrology of Donegal discusses St. Benén’s virtues, particularly his piety and gentleness, and refers to his many, albeit unspecified, miracles.
Though he primarily evangelised in Counties Clare and Kerry, St. Benén established a monastery on Drom Benen (Hill of Benan), present-day Drumbannon, Co. Cavan, as well as one at Cill Benen (Church of Benan), present-day Kilbonane, West Cork. He assumed the Bishopric of Armagh upon St. Patrick's resignation. Records indicate that St. Benén resigned his See shortly before his repose, which has been variously dated as 466, 467, 468, and 469.
Troparion of St. Benén — Tone I
O best loved disciple and successor of Ireland's Enlightener,/
thy God-blessed witness for our saving faith is sorely needed,/
most reverend Hierarch Benén. Entreat Christ our God that He will raise up new disciples/
to bring thy native land out of this present ''Dark Age''/
and restore it to the True Light of Orthodoxy/
for the salvation of men's souls.
PABO, surnamed 'Post Prydain' ('the Pillar of Britain'), St. Pabo was the son of a Scottish chieftain. After a military career in Scotland, he went to Anglesey, Wales, where he founded a monastery at present-day Llanbabon (Welsh: Church of Pabo). St. Pabo reposed circa 510 and is most likely buried on the grounds of his monastery. There St. Pabo’s Church has a stone marked “Hic iacet Pabo Post Prud Corpors -te -Prima” (Here lies Pabo Post Prydain King of Britain).
Troparion of St. Pabo — Tone VIII
Revered "Pillar of Northern Britain" and Light of Monastics, O Father Pabo,/
leaving thy family and homeland, thou didst inspire us, O holy one,/
to respect the monastic virtues which attain to the salvation of souls.
URSINUS of BOURGES, (Third Century), the first Bishop of Bourges (central France). Originally it was believed St. Ursinus had been a disciple of the Apostles, who sent him to Gaul, however, it has subsequently been determined that St. Ursinus flourished in the third century. Nothing further is known of his life.
VITONUS (VANNE, VAUNE), Bishop of Verdun (north-eastern France) from circa 500 until his repose in 525. St. Vitonus has been credited with bringing all those living within his diocese to Christ thereby eliminating paganism from the See of Verdun. Some sources have called him a wonderworker. No further information on St. Vitonus is extant.
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.