இன்றைய புனிதர்கள் மே 18

 Saint Felix of Cantalice

 கேன்டலிஸ் நகர் புனிதர் ஃபெலிக்ஸ் 

(St. Felix of Cantalice)

கப்புச்சின் துறவி:

(Capuchin Friar)

பிறப்பு: மே 18, 1515

கேன்டலிஸ், இத்தாலி

(Cantalice, Italy)

இறப்பு: மே 18, 1587

ரோம், இத்தாலி

(Rome, Italy)

ஏற்கும் சமயம்: 

ரோமன் கத்தோலிக்க திருச்சபை

(Roman Catholic Church)

அருளாளர் பட்டம் : அக்டோபர் 1, 1625

திருத்தந்தை எட்டாம் அர்பன்

(Pope Urban VIII)

புனிதர் பட்டம்: கி.பி. 1712

திருத்தந்தை பதினொன்றாம் கிளமென்ட்

(Pope Clement XI)

நினைவுத் திருவிழா: மே 18

சித்தரிக்கப்படும் வகை: 

கப்புச்சின் திருவுடையில் 

குழந்தை இயேசுவை கரங்களில் தாங்கி

பாதுகாவல்: 

ஸ்பெல்லோ நகர் (Spello)

கேன்டலிஸ் நகர் புனிதர் ஃபெலிக்ஸ், மத்திய இத்தாலி நாட்டின் “லாஸியோ” (Lazio) பிராந்தியத்தின், "கேன்டலிஸ்" (Cantalice) என்ற நகரில் கி.பி. 1515ம் ஆண்டு, ஒரு விவசாய கூலி குடும்பத்தில் பிறந்தவர் ஆவார். "ஸன்ட்டி" மற்றும் "ஸன்ட்டா பொர்ரி" (Santi and Santa Porri) ஆகிய பெற்றோரின் நான்கு ஆண் மகவுகளில் மூன்றாவதாகப் பிறந்தவர்.

வறுமையின் காரணமாக “சிட்டாடுகேல்” (Cittàducale) நகருக்கு அருகிலுள்ள ஒரு பண்ணை வீட்டில் தமது பத்து வயதிலிருந்தே கால்நடைகளை மேய்ப்பவராகவும் பண்ணைப் பணியாளாகவும் வேலை செய்தார். தமது பணி நேரத்தின்போது செபிக்க கற்றுக்கொண்ட ஃபெலிக்ஸ், அங்கு வரும் கப்புச்சின் சபை துறவிகளின் வாழ்வால் பெரிதும் ஈர்க்கப்பட்டார். தமது 28 வயது வரை அதே கால்நடைகளை மேய்க்கும் மற்றும் பண்ணைப்பணிகளைச் செய்துவந்தார்.

கி.பி. 1543ம் ஆண்டு, இலையுதிர் காலம் முடிவடையும் சமயத்தில் புதிதாக தொடங்கப்பட்டிருந்த கப்புச்சின் துறவு இல்லத்தில் "பொதுநிலை சகோதரராக" (Lay Brother) இணைந்தார். எழுத படிக்க தெரியாத ஃபெலிக்ஸ், செபங்களை மனப்பாடம் செய்துகொண்டு செபத்தில் தன்னை இணைத்து இறைமனிதனாக வாழ்ந்தார். 1547ம் ஆண்டு, ரோம் நகருக்கு அனுப்பப்பட்ட ஃபெலிக்ஸ், தமது வாழ்வின் மீதமுள்ள சுமார் நாற்பது வருட காலத்தை அங்கேயே கப்புச்சின் துரவியரின் உணவு மற்றும் இதர தேவைகளுக்காக யாசகம் செய்து கழித்தார். யாசகத்திற்காக செல்லும் இவர் காலணிகள் அணிவதில்லை. மாறாக, தமது தோள்களில் ஒரு பெரிய சாக்குப் பையை சுமது செல்வார்.

இந்த எளிய துறவியின் வாழ்வில் புனிதம் நிறைந்து கிடப்பதைக் கண்ட மக்கள், இவரின் செபங்களுக்காக, ஆசீர்க்காக ஓவ்வொரு நாளும் காத்துக்கிடந்தனர். இவர் தனது இனிய குரலால் பாடி சிறுவர் சிறுமிகளை தன்பால் ஈர்த்து அவர்களுக்கு ஞான அறிவை ஊட்டினார் என்பது குறிப்பிடத்தக்கது. 

படிப்பறிவு இல்லாத ஃபெலிக்ஸ் தனது இறை ஞானத்தால் பெரும் அறிஞராக திகழ்ந்தார். பலவிதமான மக்களின் பிரச்சனைகளுக்கு சாதுரியமான முடிவை அள்ளித்தந்து ரோம் நகர தெருக்களின் ஞானி எனப் போற்றப்பட்டார். 

ஒளிவு மறைவின்றி பேசும் வழக்கமுள்ள சகோதரர் ஃபெலிக்ஸ், புனிதர் சார்லஸ் போரோமியோ (Charles Borromeo), புனிதர் பிலிப் நேரி (St. Philip Neri) மற்றும் சில கர்தினால்களின் அறிமுகமானதுடன் நண்பராகவும் ஆனார்.

புனிதர் பதுவை அந்தோணியாரைப் போல, இவரும் குழந்தை இயேசுவை கரத்தில் ஏந்துவதைப் போன்று ஓவியங்களில் சித்தரிக்கப்பட்டிருந்தார். ஒருமுறை இவருக்கு காட்சியளித்த இறை அன்னை அதிதூய கன்னி மரியாள் இவரது கைகளில் குழந்தை இயேசுவை தந்தார் என்பர்.

சகோதரர் ஃபெலிக்ஸ் கி.பி. 1587ம் ஆண்டு, தமது 72 வயதான பிறந்த தினத்தன்றே தமது இவ்வுலக வாழ்வை விட்டு அகன்றார். 

ஃபிரான்சிஸ்கன் சபையின் ஒரு கிளையாக கி.பி. 1528ம் ஆண்டு, அங்கீகரிக்கப்பட்ட கப்புச்சின் சபையின் முதல் புனிதராக 1712ம் ஆண்டு, சகோதரர் ஃபெலிக்ஸ் உயர்த்தப்பட்டார்.

Also known as

• Ass of the Capuchins (his own nickname for himself)

• Brother Deo Gratias ("Deo Gratias" was his habitual greeting)

• Felix of Catalicio

• Felix of Cantalica

• Felice Porri

Profile

Born to pious peasants, he was a shepherd in his youth. At age nine he was hired out as a shepherd and farm hand at Cotta Ducale; he worked there over twenty years. A pious youth and man, Felix spent his free time in prayer.

Having little education, Felix had a friend read him the lives of the early Desert Fathers; they left him torn - he wanted to live as a hermit, but feared he would give in to temptation if he had no superior. He sought entrance to the Capuchins; they were hesistant, but finally accepted him as a lay brother in 1543 at Anticoli, Italy near Rome. Sent to Rome in 1547 as questor for the community; he stayed there the rest of his life.

Felix's reputation for holiness spread quickly. He could not even read, yet theologians consulted him on spiritualality and Scripture. Sinners on the street would hide from him when it became obvious he could see their sins, and knew their hearts. Felix preached in the street, rebuked corrupt politicians and officials, and exhorted young men to stop leading dissolute lives. Once during Carnival, a time of open vice in the streets, Felix and Saint Philip Neri organized a procession of Capuchin friars right into the middle of the revellers; Fra Lupo, a well-known Capuchin preacher, spoke to the crowds, and Carnival ended for the year.

Felix worked with the children of Rome; his inherent simplicity and lack of education made him rather childlike, and children trusted him. He composed simple teaching canticles, and had the children gather in groups to sing them as a way to teach them catechism. The canticles became well-known and popular, and while Felix was begging for his house, Roman citizens would invite him in to sing for them; he saw these invitations as opportunities to teach, and always jumped at them.

During the famine of 1580, the city fathers asked the Capuchins for the loan of Felix as a fund raiser; he was tireless in the work. His friend, Saint Philip Neri, considered Felix the greatest saint then living. Saint Charles Borromeo sought Saint Philip's help to draw up the constitutions of the Oblates of Saint Ambrose; Philip referred him to Felix as a the best advisor.

Felix slept little, ate what came to hand, attended Mass every morning. He had a great devotion to Our Lady, frequently prayed the rosary, and was sometimes swept away in ecstacy, unable to finish the prayers. Received a vision of the Virgin Mary during which he was allowed to hold the Christ Child in his arms. Acclaimed a saint by the people of Rome immediately after his death.

Born

18 May 1515 at Cantalice, Abruzzi, Italy

Died

• 18 May 1587 at Rome, Italy of natural causes

• so many came to his funeral that some were injured in the press to get into the church, and an extra door had to be knocked through one wall so they could exit

• buried under an altar in the church of the Immaculate Conception in Rome

• miracles reported at his tomb

Canonized

22 May 1712 by Pope Clement XI

Patronage

• Cantalice, Italy

• Spello, Italy

Blessed Burchard of Beinwil

Additional Memorial

• Monday after Ascension Day (Beinwil, Switzerland)

• 20 August (pilgrimage date)

Profile

Educated at the Benedictine monastery near his home village. Had some connection to the Kappel monastery as he is mentioned in their records. Parish priest in Beinwil, Switzerland. Known as a miracle worker, but primarily for his decades of concern for the physical and spiritual well-being of his parishioners.

Legend says that Burchard raised a wild bird from a chick (an owl, crow or jackdaw; records vary), and taught it not only to speak, but to hold conversations with him. When his household fell into evil and dissolute ways while Burchard was gone, the bird told the priest what it had witnessed. The servants killed the bird and threw the carcass into a mine shaft near the vicarage. The dead bird returned to him and managed to explain what had happened and who had done it.

Burchard once travelled to the nearby village to Unterhorben to minister to a dying woman. He was met on the road by a messenger who told him that the woman had died and he need not continue. Father Burchard went on to the house, prayed over the woman, and she came back to life long enough to receive the final sacraments and blessings.

Born

early 12th century in Langemat, Muri, Switzerland

Died

• c.1192 in Beinwil, Switzerland of natural causes

• buried in his parish church graveyard

• tomb opened and relics moved during the construction of a chapel on his grave site in 1619

• tomb opened and relics moved during renovation in 1754

• relics returned to the tomb in 1784

• a spring-fed holy well is found near his tomb

Beatified

• beginning immediately after his death locals visited his grave to ask for intercession

• by 1228 there was a lamp burning perpetually at his grave

• by 1407 there are records of pilgrimages to his tomb

• by 1587 there are statements by witnesses to miracles obtained through the intercession of Father Burchard

• a confraternity dedicated to Blessed Burchard, Saint Peter and Saint Paul was founded in 1588

• titular patron of his parish church in 1813

• Sacred Congregation of Rites granted the celebration of a Mass and Office in his honour in 1817

• feast added to the Proper of the diocese of Basel, Switzerland in 1866

Blessed Blandina Merten

Also known as

• Maria Magdalena Merten

• Blandine of the Sacred Heart

• Blandina del Sacro Cuore

Profile

After graduating from the Marienau Institute of Teaching, Maria taught in several Catholic elementary schools in the Trier, Germany region. She was known for her special care to the children of the poor, helping them however she could, and ensuring their active lives in the parish. Feeling a call to religious life, Maria joined the Ursulines of Calvarienberg-Ahrweiler, taking the name Blandine of the Sacred Heart and making her perpetual vows on 4 November 1913. As the Ursulines are a teaching order, Sister Blandine returned to teaching and added religious education, and served as a catechist. Assigned to Saarbrücken, Germany in 1916, she soon developed incurable tuberculosis. She was transferred to Trier for treatment and a better climate, continued to teach when she was strong enough, and effectively lived her last two years in the house infirmary where she spent her time in prayer.

Born

10 July 1883 in Düppennweiler, Saar, Germany

Died

• 18 May 1918 in Trier, Germany of tuberculosis

• buried at the Basilica of Saint Paulinus in Trier

Beatified

• 1 November 1987 by Pope John Paul II

• beatification celebrated in Saint Peter's Square, Rome, Italy

• the beatification miracle involved the cure of Sister Irimberta Puntigam, SSpS, of a malignant sarcoma in 1969

Blessed William of Toulouse

Profile

Born to the French nobility. Joined the Augustinians in Toulouse, France at age 19. Studied there and in Paris, France. Prior of the Augustinian house of Pamiers, France. Spiritual director, exorcist and, most importantly, a noted, popular preacher in Toulouse whose sermons brought many to religious life. Promoted devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title Sorrowful Mother, and for praying for souls in Purgatory. Known for his simple life, deeply spiritual preaching and writer, and his deep prayer life; none of his sermons have survived, and his only writing we have is Vision of the Punishments in Purgatory and Hell.

Born

c.1297 in Toulouse, France

Died

• 18 May 1369 in Toulouse, France of natural causes

• buried in the cemetery of the Saint Etienne monastery in Toulouse

• so many miracles reported at his grave that he was re-interred in the monastery church

Beatified

• 1893 by Pope Leo XIII (cultus confirmation)

• the only French Augustinian friar declared Blessed by the Church so far

Blessed Stanislaw Kubski

Additional Memorial

12 June as one of the 108 Martyrs of World War II

Profile

Priest in the archdiocese of Gniezno, Poland, serving in the parish of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Inowroclaw, Poland. Known for his pastoral work, especially with the poor and the unemployed. He was arrested by the invading Nazi forces on 2 September 1939, the 2nd day of the war against Poland. He was sent to forced labour in Buchenwald concentration camp, then to the Dachau concentration camp. When he was no longer able to work, he was thrown into the gas chambers. Martyr.

Born

13 August 1876 in Ksiaz, Wielkopolskie, Poland

Died

18 May 1942 in the gas chambers of Dachau, Oberbayern, Germany

Beatified

13 June 1999 by Pope John Paul II

Pope Saint John I

 புனிதர் முதலாம் யோவான் 

(St. John I)

53ம் திருத்தந்தை, மறைசாட்சி:

(53rd Pope, Martyr)

பிறப்பு: கி.பி. 470

துஸ்கானி, இத்தாலி

(Tuscany, Italy)

இறப்பு: மே 18, 526

ரவென்னா 

(Ravenna)

ஏற்கும் சபை: 

கத்தோலிக்க திருச்சபை

(Roman Catholic Church)

கிழக்கு மரபுவழி திருச்சபை

(Eastern Orthodox Church)

நினைவுத் திருவிழா: மே 18

திருத்தந்தை புனிதர் முதலாம் யோவான், கத்தோலிக்க திருச்சபையின் 53ம் திருத்தந்தையாக கி.பி. 523ம் ஆண்டு முதல் கி.பி. 526ம் ஆண்டு வரை ஆட்சி செய்தவர் ஆவார். சியன்னா நகரில் (Siena) பிறந்த இவர், திருத்தந்தையான போது மிகவும் நலிவுற்று இருந்தார்.

இவர் ஹார்மிஸ்தாஸ் (Hormisdas) என்ற திருத்தந்தைக்கு அடுத்தப்படியாக கி.பி. 523ம் ஆண்டு, ஆகஸ்ட் மாதம், 13ம் நாள், திருத்தந்தையாக தேர்ந்தெடுக்கப்பட்டார். கான்ஸ்டண்டினோபிள் (Constantinople) நகரில், தூதுவராக காலடி எடுத்து வைத்த முதல் திருத்தந்தை இவரேயாவார்.

இவர் திருத்தந்தையாக இருந்தபோது, ஆரிய மதத்தை சேர்ந்த சேர்ந்த அரசன் முதல் தியோடரிக் (Theoderich) ரோம் நகரை ஆட்சி செய்து வந்தான். அப்போது கான்ஸ்டாண்டினோபிளில் இருந்த மன்னர் ஜஸ்டினோஸ் (Justinos) அந்நகரிலிருந்த ஆரிய மதத்தை சார்ந்த முதலாம் ஜஸ்டினோஸ் என்பவரை கொடுமைப்படுத்துகிறான் என்பதைப்பற்றி கேள்விப்பட்டான். இதனால் மன்னர் ஜஸ்டினோஸிடம் இப்பிரச்சனைகளைப்பற்றி பேசவும், மீண்டும் சமாதானத்தை ஏற்படுத்தவும் வேண்டி, அரசர் தியோடரிக், திருத்தந்தையை தூதுவராக கான்ஸ்டாண்டினோபிளுக்கு அனுப்பி வைத்தான். திருத்தந்தையை அன்புடன் நடத்துமாறு அந்நாட்டு மன்னருக்கு தூதுவிட்டான்.

அப்போது திருத்தந்தை, மன்னர் ஜஸ்டினோஸிடம் மிகவும் அன்பாகவும், ஞானத்தோடும், பேசி எல்லாப் பிரச்சனைகளையும் தீர்த்துவைத்து, நல்லதோர் உறவை ஏற்படுத்தி, சமாதான உடன்படிக்கை செய்து வைத்துவிட்டு, மீண்டும் திருத்தந்தை இத்தாலி நாட்டிற்கு திரும்பினார். நடந்தவைகள் அனைத்தையும் அரசர் தியோடரிடம் எடுத்து கூறினார் திருத்தந்தை. 

திருத்தந்தை ரோம் திரும்பிய சில மாதங்களிலேயே கான்ஸ்டாண்டினோபிள் மன்னன், அவரை சந்தித்து பேச ரோம் வந்தான். இவர்கள் இருவருக்கும் நல்லதோர் உறவு ஏற்பட்டது. திருச்சபையையும், நாட்டையும் நல்வழியில் வழிநடத்த ஒருவர் மற்றவர்க்கு உதவி செய்தனர். இவர்களின் நல்லுறவை கண்ட அரசர் தியோடரிக், பொறாமை கொண்டு பயமுற்றான். அவர்கள் இவனுக்கெதிராக சதித்திட்டம் தீட்டுவதாக எண்ணினான். இதனால் தியோடரிக் ஆத்திரம்கொண்டு மன்னன் ஜஸ்டினின் ஆட்களில் ஒருவரான பொயித்தியஸ் (Poithias) என்பவரைக் கொன்றான். அதன்பின் திருச்சபைக்கெதிராக பல அநியாயங்களை செய்தான். பிறகு ரவென்னா நகரில் திருத்தந்தையைச் சிறையிலிட்டான். அங்கு அவர் சொல்லொண்ணாத் துயரங்களை அடைந்தார். கொடிய வேதனைக்குப்பின் உயிர்நீத்தார். அவர் இறந்த சில நாட்களுக்குப்பின் தியோடரிக்கும் இறந்தார். ஆனால் அவன் இறப்பதற்கு முன் தனக்குப்பிடித்த ஒருவரை திருத்தந்தையாக தேர்ந்தெடுத்துவிட்டு இறந்தார்.

இவரது மீபொருட்கள் பின்னர் ரோமில் உள்ள புனித பேதுரு பேராலயத்தில் அடக்கம் செய்யப்பட்டது.

Profile

Priest in Rome. Elected 53rd pope in 523. Italy's ruler, Theodoric the Goth, was an Arian, and for a while he let Catholics alone, but in later life he became suspicious of everyone, imagining conspiracies and attempts to seize his throne. He tried to involve Pope John in his political machinations. John led a delegation to Constantinople to negotiate with Emperor Justin I; he was the first pope to travel to Constantinople, and while there crowned Justin. The mission was successful, but Theodoric thought John and Justin I had plotted against him. While returning to Rome, John was kidnapped and imprisoned by Theodoric's soldiers; he died in custody.

Born

in Populonia, Tuscany, Italy

Papal Ascension

13 August 523

Died

18 May 526 of thirst and starvation in prison in Ravenna, Italy

Saint Venantius of Camerino

Also known as

Venanzio, Wigand

Profile

Teenager tortured extensively and martyred with ten other Christians during the persecutions of Decius.

Born

c.235

Died

• beheaded c.250 at Camerino, Italy

• relics at Camerino

Patronage

Camerino, Italy

Blessed Jan Oprzadek

Also known as

• Marcin Oprzadek

• Martin Oprzadek

Additional Memorial

12 June as one of the 108 Martyrs of World War II

Profile

Joined the Franciscan Friars Minor in the province of Saint Mary of the Angels in 1912. Drafted into military service in World War I, he returned to the monastery after the war and made his solemn profession on 4 October 1924, taking the name Marcin. Priest. Arrested on 26 August 1940 with several other friars during the Nazi persecutions. Deported to the Sachsenhausen concentration camp, then to Hartheim where he was executed. Martyr.

Born

4 March 1884 in Koscielec, diocese of Krakow, Poland

Died

18 May 1942 in the gas chambers of Hartheim, Austria

Beatified

13 June 1999 by Pope John Paul II

Saint Eric of Sweden

Also known as

• Henry of Sweden

• Eric The Lawgiver

• Eric IX

• Erico IX, King of Sweden

Profile

King of Sweden. Defended his country from Finnish invasions. Codified Swedish law under Gospel principles. Used his throne to spread the Gospel through his kingdom. Built the first large church in Sweden at Old Uppsala. Murdered by conspiratorial, anti-Christian Swedish nobles; martyr. Never formally canonized, his cultus developed almost immediately upon his death. Due to his zeal in the defense of his country and his faith, his banner has been carried by Swedes, including non-Catholics, for centuries.

Died

beheaded on 18 May 1161 as he left Mass

Patronage

• farmers

• Sweden

Saint Potamon of Heraclea

Also known as

• Potamon of Alexandria

• Potamone....

Profile

Bishop of Heraclea, Egypt. Tortured, mutilated and crippled for his faith during the persecutions of Maximinus Daia in the early 4th century. Attended the Council of Nice in 325 and zealously opposed Arianism. Friend of Saint Athanasius whom he defended in the Council of Tyre in 335. When the Arian Gregory grabbed power in Egypt in 341, he had Potamon beaten with clubs and left for dead; Potamon received medical help, survived his inujuries for a while, but eventually died from the damage. Martyr. Athanasius wrote about his life and referred to Potamon as a "double martyr" because of the abuse he suffered in two separate persecutions.

Died

in 341 in Alexandria, Egypt from injuries sustained from a beating with clubs

Saint Elgiva of Shaftesbury

Also known as

Aelfgifu, Aelgifu, Aelgytha, Algyva, Elfgiva

Profile

Queen; wife of King Edmund I. Mother of King Edwy of Saxony, and Saint Edgar the Peaceful. Widowed young. Known all her life for her personal piety and support of the Church, endowing several churches and monasteries Later in life she retired to become a Benedictine nun and then abbess at Shaftesbury, England.

Died

• 971 of natural causes

• buried in Shaftesbury Abbey

Blessed Roland of Hasnon

Also known as

Rolando, Rotland

Profile

Benedictine monk at the abbey of St-Armand in northern France. Founded the monastery at Hasnon, France in 1069 and served as its first abbot.

Died

• 9 November 1084

• body found incorrupt a century later

Saint Dioscorus of Kynopolis

Also known as

Dioscorus of Alexandria

Profile

Lector in a church in Kynopolis, Egypt. Martyr.

Died

burned to death between sheets of red hot metal c.305 in Kynopolis, Egypt

Saint Merililaun

Also known as

Merolilaun, Merolitain, Merolilan

Profile

Eighth century pilgrim, martyred while en route to Rome, Italy.

Born

England

Died

near Rheims, France

Saint Felix of Salona

Also known as

• Felix of Split

• Felice...

Profile

Martyred in the persecutions of Diocletian.

Died

299 in Salona, Dalmatia

Saint Feredarius of Iona

Profile

Monk. Abbot of Iona in Scotland in 863.

Born

Ireland

Died

c.863

Saint Felix of Spoleto

Profile

Bishop of Spoleto, Italy. Martyred in the persecutions of Diocletian.

Died

c.304

Saint Serapione of Alexandria

Profile

Martyr.

Died

341 in Alexandria, Egypt

Saint Ortasio of Alexandria

Profile

Martyr.

Died

341 in Alexandria, Egypt

Martyrs of Ancyra

Profile

Seven Christians martyred in the persecutions of Diocletian, and the innkeeper who was executed for giving them a Christian burial - Alexandria, Claudia, Euphrasia, Julitta, Matrona, Phaina, Thecusa and Theodatus.

Died

c.304 in Ancyra, Galatia (in modern Turkey)

Hagiography

On 18 May, the Roman Martyrology says: "At Ancyra, in Galatia, the martyr Saint Theodotus and the saintly virgins Thecusa, his aunt, Alexandra, Claudia, Faina, Euphrasia, Matrona and Julitta," etc. They are mentioned in all the menologies, and Theodotus has a special feast on 7 June.[2]

According to the Acts (Acta Sanctorum, May, IV, 147), Theodotus was a married man who kept an inn at Ancyra, the capital of the Roman province of Galatia. He is described as a man very zealous in the performance of his Christian duties, endowed with many virtues, especially charity towards his neighbour, bringing sinners to repentance and strengthening many in their faith during the persecution which the Roman governor Theoctenus was carrying on in the province, about 303, in accordance with the imperial edict of Diocletian.

The name of a certain Victor is mentioned as one who grew weak in his profession of Christianity and received much encouragement from Theodotus. Theoctenus ordered that all provisions exposed for sale should first be offered to the idols. Theodotus laid in stores of goods, and his house became a refuge for the Christians, a hospital for the sick, and a place for Christian worship.

At Malos, about five miles from Ancyra, he sought out the body of the martyr, Valens, and gave it a Christian burial. Returning to Ancyra, he found the Christians in great trouble. The seven virgins mentioned above had been called before the judges and made a valiant profession of their faith; they were then sent to a house of debauchery, but preserved their purity. Then they were obliged to suffer cruel torments, and were cast into the sea with stones attached to their bodies.

According to legend, Theodotus succeeded in retrieving the bodies and honourably burying them. In consequence, he was arrested, and, after many sufferings, was killed by the sword; his body was miraculously brought to Malos and there entombed by the priest, Fronto.[3] A chapel was built over the grave, and the saint was held in great veneration.