St. Dasius
Feastday: October 21
Death: 303
Martyr with Gaius, Zoticus, and companions at Nicomedia.There were fifteen soldiers in this group
St. Dasius
Feastday: October 21
Death: 303
Martyr with Gaius, Zoticus, and companions at Nicomedia.There were fifteen soldiers in this group
St. Condedus
Feastday: October 21
Condedus, d.685 Probably a Briton, he became a hermit at Fontaine Saint Valery, France and then a Benedictine monk at Fontenelle. After a time there, he resumed his eremitical life on the island of Belcinae in the Seine near Caudebec, and when King Thierry III granted him the island for a hermitage, he built two chapels on it. He is also known as Conde or Condede. His feast day is October 21st.
St. Cilinia
Feastday: October 21
Death: 458
The mother of St. Principius and St. Remigius, who died at Laon, France.
St. Berthold
Feastday: October 21
Death: 1111
Benedictine lay brother. An Anglo-Saxon by descent, Berthold was born in Parma, Italy, where his parents resided. They had left England because of the Norman conquest. Berthold spent his entire life in the service of the nuns of St. Alexander Convent in Parma.
St. Astericus
Feastday: October 21
Death: 223
Martyr priest who buried the remains of Pope St. Callistus after the pontiff's execution by the Romans.Asterius was arrested for this pious act and drowned in the Tiber River at Ostia, Italy. His remains are enshrined in the cathedral of that city.
St. Agatho
Feastday: October 21
Death: 4th Century
Early Christian hermit and abbot. Agatho lived in the Egyptian desert. He is mentioned frequently in the Lives of the Fathers of the Desert. Such saints evolved the modern monastic ideals in their own eras, using the Egyptian wilderness as their hermitage.
St. Acca
Feastday: October 20
Birth: 660
Death: 742
Bishop and scholar, a companion of early English saints and missionaries. Acca was born in Northumbria, England, and was educated in the company of St. Bosa, a Benedictine apostle of great courage. He also met St. Wilfrid, who appointed him the abbot of St. Andrew's Monastery in Hexham, England. Acca joined St. Wilfrid as early as 678 and accompanied him to Rome in 692. When Wilfred died in 709, Acca succeeded him as the bishop of Hexham. He spent his monastic and episcopal years erecting parish churches in the area. He also introduced Christian arts and promoted learning. Acca brought a famous cantor, a man named Maban, to Hexham, and with him introduced the Roman Chants. St. Bede dedicated several of his works to Acca, who also promoted other Christian writers. For reasons undocumented, Acca was driven out of Hexham in 732. He retired to a hermitage in Withern, in Galloway. Just before his death in 742 he returned to Hexham and was unanimously revered. When he was buried, two Celtic crosses were recreated at his gravesite. One still stands in Hexham. When his body was moved sometime later, his vestments were found intact. The accounts of Acca's miracles were drawn up by St. Aelred and by the historian Simeon of Durham.
Acca of Hexham (c. 660 – 740/742) was a Northumbrian saint and Bishop of Hexham from 709 until 732.
Remnant of cross that stood at Acca's grave, Hexham Abbey
Born in Northumbria, Acca first served in the household of Bosa, the future Bishop of York, but later attached himself to Wilfrid, possibly as early as 678, and accompanied him on his travels. Later he told his friend Bede of their stay at Utrecht with the archbishop Willibrord, Wilfrid's old pupil who was carrying on his work of converting continental heathens. On the return from their second journey to Rome in 692, Wilfrid was reinstated at Hexham and made Acca abbot of St Andrew's monastery there. During Wilfrid's later years, Acca was the older man's loyal companion, eventually succeeding him in 709 as abbot and bishop.[1]
Acca tackled his duties with much energy, in ruling the diocese and in conducting the services of the church. He also carried on the work of church building and decorating started by Wilfrid. Acca was both an accomplished musician and a learned theologian. Bede describes Acca as "...a most experienced cantor, most learned in sacred writings, ...and thoroughly familiar with the rules of ecclesiastical custom."[2]
Acca once brought to the North a famous cantor named Maban, who had learned in Kent the Roman traditions of psalmody handed down from Gregory the Great through Augustine of Canterbury.[3]
Acca was also famous for his theological learning; his theological library was praised by Bede. He was known also for his encouragement of students by every means in his power. It was Acca who persuaded Stephen of Ripon (Eddius) to take on the Life of Saint Wilfrid, and he lent many materials for the Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum to Bede, who dedicated several of his most important works, especially those dealing with Holy Scripture, to him.[3]
For reasons now unknown, Acca either withdrew, or was driven from, his diocese in 732. Hexham tradition says he became bishop of Whithorn in Galloway, Scotland,[4] while others claim he founded a see on the site of St Andrews, bringing with him relics collected on his Roman tour, including those of St Andrews.[5] Yet a third account states that having fallen out with the Northumbrian king, Acca went to live in exile in Ireland on a remote coast before returning to Hexham. St Andrew's Church in Aycliffe is said to have been once dedicated to Acca.[6]
Acca was buried at Hexham near the east wall of the abbey. Two finely carved crosses, fragments of one of which still remain, were erected at the head and foot of his grave.[4] He was revered as a saint immediately after his death. His body was translated at least three times: in the early 11th century, by Alfred of Westow, sacrist of Durham;[4] in 1154, at the restoration of the church, when the relics of all the Hexham saints were put together in a single shrine; and again in 1240. His feast day is 20 October. The translation of his relics is commemorated on 19 February.
The only surviving writing of Acca's is a letter addressed to Bede and printed in his works (see also Raine below).
St. Adelina
Feastday: October 20
Death: 1125
An abbess, the sister of St. Vitalis, and a noblewoman of Normandy. She was a granddaughter of William the Conqueror and a dame of that Norman family. Adelina became the abbess of the Benedictine Convent of La Blanche in Normandy, a religious community founded by her brother.
Bl. Adeline
Feastday: October 20
Death: 1125
Adeline was the sister of Blessed Vitale, Abbot of Savigny and was introduced to the religious life by him or her. She rose to become the first Abbess of the monastery founded at Mortain in 1105 or 1115 by Count William of Mortain. The Rule followed by this religious house was that of St. Benedict together with a few observances drawn from the Cistercian tradition.
Because of the color of their habit the religious came to be called the "White Ladies." After a life dedicated to prayer, mortification, and charitable works, Blessed Adeline was called to her reward in 1125. Such was her reputation for sanctity that shortly afterward she began to be honored as one of the Blessed and her remains were solemnly transferred (together with those of her brother and other religious) to Savigny.
St. Aderald
Feastday: October 20
Death: 1004
Archdeacon and confessor. Aderald was archdeacon at Troyes when he led a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. He brought back a considerable number of holy relics. In order to house them, Aderald built the Benedictine Abbey of St. Sepulchre at Sambličres.
St. Artemius
Feastday: October 20
Patron: 363
Cardinal Baronius inserted the name of St. Artemius in the Roman Martyrology, following the example of the Eastern church which had venerated him in spite of the fact that he was a supporter of the Arians. We are told that he was a veteran of the army of Constantine the Great who was made imperial prefect of Egypt. In discharging this office he had to be a persecutor as well as a heretic. George the Cappadocian had been intruded upon the episcopal throne of Alexandria by the Arian emperor Constantius, St. Athanasius had fled, and it was the duty of Artemius to find him, which he endeavored to do with great zeal among the monasteries and hermitages of the Egyptian desert; he also persecuted the orthodox in general. But Artemius was no less zealous against paganism, destroying temples and images, so that when Julian the Apostate became emperor the persecutor was in turn, persecuted. Many accusations against Artemius were made to the emperor, among others, that of breaking up idols; he was accordingly deprived of his property, and beheaded. Whether the Artemius whose healing shrine was a great center of devotion at Constantinople, was identical with this Artemius, the prefect of Alexandria put to death by Julian the Apostate, does not seem to be entirely clear. But the Greek life printed in the Acta Sanctorum, which is based ultimately upon the Arian chronicler Philostorgius, quite definitely assumes this. It also states that the emperor Constantius II commissioned Artemius to convey the refuted relics of St. Andrew the Apostle and St. Luke the Evangelist, from Achaia to Constantinople. His feast day is October 20th.
Artemius (Flavius Artemius, St. Artemios) (d. in Antioch, 362[1]), known as Challita in the Maronite tradition, was a general of the Roman Empire, dux Aegypti (imperial prefect of Roman Egypt). He is considered a saint by the Catholic and the Orthodox Churches, with the name of Artemius of Antioch.
Contents
1 Biography
2 Hagiography
3 References
4 External links
Biography
Few details are known of the life and death of Artemius, and many of those details are contradictory, or at least inconsistent, between Christian and pagan early sources. His place or year of birth are not indicated in any historical sources, although at least one tradition quoted in a contemporary source indicates that Artemius was an Egyptian by birth.[2] According to the 8th century compilation, Artemii Passio,[3] he was a Senator and “a notable participant in the highest affairs of [Constantine]”.[4] However, the author of the Passio attributes this information to Eusebius, who does not in fact mention Artemius in any of his writings, and this information cannot be confirmed by any other known historical records. Furthermore, stories that place Artemius with Constantine at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge[5] would make Artemius at least eighty years old when martyred by Julian, which would seem doubtful given his activity at the time.[6][7] The assertion that Artemius was a friend and companion of Constantius II seems reliable.[8][9] Given the fact that Artemius held the position of dux Aegypti in the final years of Constantinus’ reign, as is asserted by a number of early sources, both pagan and Christian, it is clear that it is Constantius who must have awarded Artemius this position.[10][11][12][13] In 360 CE, he was listed in a minute of the Oxyrhyncian Senate, under the name of Flavius Artemius, as holding the rank of dux Aegypti.[14] The Artemii Passio attributes Artemius’ ascension to this high position to his successful completion of Constantius’ orders to recover the relics of the Apostles Andrew, Luke and Timothy.[15] According to this narrative, Constantius sent Artemius to Achaea to claim the body of Andrew from Patras and the body of Luke from Boeotia.[16] Artemius is also credited there with translating the relics of Timothy from Ionian Ephesus to Constantinople.[17] Apparently in return for these tasks, Constantius awarded Artemius with the administration of Roman Egypt.[18] However, this attribution is not certain, given that other Christian sources that refer to the translation of St. Andrew’s remains, including the Chronicon Paschale, written a century earlier, do not refer to Artemius in this regard.[19]
While serving as the military governor of Egypt, Artemius supported the Arian bishop of Alexandria, George the Cappadocian, and took part in the latter’s campaign against both the pagan and Orthodox Christian populations. Documented examples of this support include the sacking of the Temple of Serapis in Alexandria,[20][21] as well as the pursuit of the former, Orthodox, bishop of Alexandria, Athanasius.[22][23]
In 361 CE, Constantius was succeeded by his cousin Julian, who, on becoming Emperor, broke with his Christian upbringing and took up traditional Roman pagan pantheism. Shortly thereafter, Artemius met his death, in circumstances that are not entirely clear. The Artemii Passio places his death at the hands of Julian, in Antioch, because upon being summoned by Julian from Alexandria, he supported Eugenius and Macarius, two Christian priests from Antioch, against the tortures to which they were subjected by Julian. Artemius is further accused by Julian of murdering Julian's half-brother, Gallus.[24] Despite Artemius' denials, Julian proceeds to have Artemius tortured in various fashions while exhorting Artemius to renounce his Christianity. Artemius repeatedly confirms his faith, and ultimately has his head cut off.[25] According to the Chronicon Paschale, Artemius dies in Alexandria.[26] Ammianus describes Artemius’ death as occurring after Artemius is no longer dux Aegypti, when he is executed for the crimes he was accused of committing against the people of Alexandria.[27] Julian himself provides a similar reason.[28] While Ammianus does not provide the location of Artemius’ death, his language indicates that it was not at Alexandria,[29] thus perhaps strengthening the contention that it was indeed at Antioch.[30]
Hagiography
Artemius is considered a martyr and Saint in both the Catholic and Orthodox churches, despite his apparent adherence to Arianism during his life. His acceptance as a martyr is based on the tradition found in Christian sources that he was tortured and executed by Julian for speaking on behalf of Christianity in the face of the apostate Emperor Julian, and his unwillingness to renounce his Christianity despite Julian’s promises to allow him to live and restore him to his offices.[31]
His cannonization as St. Artemios is based on the anonymous late 7th century compilation of 45 miracles with which he is attributed.[32] As described in the 45 miracles attributed to him, St. Artemios specializes in miracles dealing with medicine and healing, and in particular with hernias, and testicular and genital maladies in men. One miracle dealing with the healing of a woman is attributed to St. Artemios through his sending St. Febronia, who occupies a parallel construct for women.[33]
His feast day was set as 20 October.[34] His cult site was the Church of Saint John the Forerunning (St John the Baptist) in Constantinople.[35] St. Artemius is invoked by those suffering from hernias.[36]