St. Zenobius & Zenobia
Feastday: October 30
Death: 3rd century
Zenobius and Zenobia (d. late third century) + Martyrs slain during the persecutions of co-Emperor Diocletian (r. 284-305). Zenobius was a physician in the town of Aegae, in Asia Minor (modern Turkey) and Zenobia was his sister. There is a strong possibility that Zenobius may have been a bishop or may be Zenobius of Antioch. Feast day: October 30.
St. Theonestus
Feastday: October 30
Death: 425
Bishop and martyr. He was supposedly the bishop of Philippi, Macedonia, and was forced to leave his see because of the threats and savagery of the Arians. Sent by the pope to help evangelize a part of Germany, he was again compelled to flee because of the peril of the invading Vandals. He may have been martyred on his return journey, in Veneto, northern Italy. It is possible that another saint, Theonestus of Veneto, may have been a local martyr merely confused with the bishop.
For the martyr of Vercelli, see Theonestus of Vercelli.
Saint Theonistus (Theonist, Teonesto, Thaumastus, Thaumastos, Theonestus, Thonistus, Onistus, Teonisto, Tonisto) is a saint venerated by the Catholic Church. Theonistus is venerated with two companions, Tabra and Tabratha (also Tabraham and Tubraham). Medieval documents give accounts of his life, which are contradictory and confused.[1]
His legend is very confused and complex. He may have been a martyr of the end of the 4th or end of the 5th century.[1] His legend is presented in a shorter, older version of the 10th century, which calls him a bishop of an island called Namsia or Namsis, and a longer version of the 11th century, which calls him a bishop of Philippi.[1]
According to the 11th-century account, Theonistus, along with Alban of Mainz, Tabra, Tabratha, and Ursus, attended a council in Carthage (the Council of Carthage of 670, but the chronology is confused[2]), and then went on a pilgrimage to Rome.[1] They then met Saint Ambrose at Milan, and were sent to serve as missionaries to Gallia.[1] Ursus was killed either at Aosta (according to the older account) or Augsburg (according to the 11th-century account).[1] Albinus was beheaded by the Arians at Mainz and was a cephalophore.[1] A miracle allowed Theonistus, Tabra, and Tabratha to escape from Mainz, and they managed to reach either Gothia (10th century version) or Gallia (11th century version), and then reached Otranto (10th century version) or Sicily (11th century version).[1] Finally, they were martyred at Roncade or Altino by beheading, and were also said to have been cephalophores.[1]
The chronological information in the sources is contradictory. Bede dates their martyrdom to the time of Diocletian (ca. 303), while Rabanus and Notker the Stammerer date their martyrdom to the time of Theodosius II.[1] However, their martyrdom may also date to the time of Hunneric (477-484).[1]
As evidenced by their African names, Tabra and Tabratha may have been African martyrs whose relics arrived at Altino or Treviso during the persecutions of the Arian Vandals.[1] Theonistus' cultus in Italy is attested by the foundation of a monastery dedicated to him in 710 (San Teonesto); the monastery's privileges were confirmed by Conrad II.[1]
At Treviso, Theonistus and his companions are first mentioned in a local calendar of 1184; Theonistus is venerated and depicted in local towns such as Possagno and Trevignano.[2]
Their association with Saint Alban may have come from confusion with Theonistus (or Theomastus, Thaumaustus), an early fifth century bishop of Mainz (feast day: January 1).[1][3] This figure is mentioned by Gregory of Tours: "Theomastus was noted for his holiness in accordance with the meaning of his name, and he is said to have been bishop of Mainz. For some unknown reason, he was expelled from Mainz and went to Poitiers. There he ended his present life by remaining in a pure confession.”[4] The grave of this Theonistus was attested to in 791 AD.[1] According to one scholar, “Albanus of Mentz, martyred at Mentz no one knows when, according to Baeda under Diocletian also, according to Sigebert (in Chron.), who says he had been driven from Philippi with Theonistus its bishop, in 425.”[5] This scholar goes on to write that Rabanus Maurus “goes so far abroad as to call [Alban] an African bishop flying from Hunneric...”[5]
There is another martyr by this name, Theonistus of Vercelli (feast day: November 20) (Vercelli has a church named Santi Tommaso e Teonesto in S. Paolo).[1][6] All three figures’ histories may have been confused.
The relics of Theonistus and his two companions may also have been enshrined with those associated with Liberalis of Treviso at the cathedral of Torcello after 639 AD.[7]
Theonistus' cultus remained strong. In the early 19th century, inhabitants of Trevignano hung a picture depicting St. Jerome at the feet of St. Theonistus. Villagers of Falzé, whose patron saint was St. Jerome, protested to the bishop about this "insolent picture."[8]
St. Talacrian
Feastday: October 30
Death: 6th century
Bishop of Scotland, also cal led Tarkin. He was probably of Pictish descent, serving as a bishop in Caledonia (Scotland). His name was listed in the Aberdeen Breviary.
St. Serapion of Antioch
Feastday: October 30
Death: 211
Bishop of Antioch and ecclesiastical writer. He was much praised by St. Jerome and Eusebius of Caesarea for his theological writings, and he was considered one of the chief theologians of his era. He became bishop of Antioch, Syria, in 190, and. was revered as a theologian. Only fragments of his work have survived. Among the extant writings are a letter to the Church of Rhossus forbidding the reading of the non-canonical Gospel of St. Peter and a letter against the heresy of Montanism.
Serapion was a Patriarch of Antioch (191–211). He is known primarily through his theological writings, although all but a few fragments of his works have perished.[1] His feast day is celebrated on October 30.[2]
Serapion was considered one of the chief theologians of his era. Eusebius refers to three works of Serapion in his history, but admits that others probably existed: first is a private letter addressed to Caricus and Pontius against Montanism, from which Eusebius quotes an extract (Historia ecclesiastica V, 19), as well as ascriptions showing that it was circulated amongst bishops in Asia and Thrace; next is a work addressed to a certain Domninus, who in time of persecution abandoned Christianity for the error of "Jewish will-worship" (Hist. Eccles, VI, 12).[2]
Lastly, Eusebius quotes (vi.12.2) from a pamphlet Serapion wrote concerning the Docetic Gospel of Peter, in which Serapion presents an argument to the Christian community of Rhossus in Syria against this gospel and condemns it.[2]
Eusebius also alludes to a number of personal letters Serapion wrote to Pontius, Caricus, and others about this Gospel of Peter.
Serapion also acted (Pantaenus supported him) against the influence of Gnosticism in Osroene by consecrating Palut as bishop of Edessa, where Palut addressed the increasingly Gnostic tendencies that the churchman Bardesanes was introducing to its Christian community. He ordained Pantaenus as a Priest or Bishop in Edessa.
Serapion was succeeded as bishop of Antioch by Asclepiades (Eusebius Historia ecclesiastica VI, 11, 4).
St. Saturninus
Feastday: October 30
Patron: of Cagliari
Death: 303
Martyr. He was put to death at Cagliari, Sardinia, during the persecution of Emperor Diocletian. According to his unreliable Acts, he was beheaded during the festival of Jupiter.
Saint Saturninus of Cagliari (Italian: San Saturnino, Saturno) is venerated as the patron saint of Cagliari. According to Christian tradition, Saturninus was a local martyr –that is, he was killed at Cagliari by order of governor Barbarus.[1] The legend states that he was beheaded for refusing to offer sacrifices to Jupiter during the persecutions of Christians by Diocletian.[1]
However, some scholars have determined that this tradition was invented centuries after the supposed martyrdom, and that the legend was devised a posteriori to attach a story to the name to whom the local ancient basilica was dedicated.[2] But the name of the saint in Sardinian language, "Santu Sadurru" (Saint Saturnus) suggests that there really was the martyrdom of Saturnus, a young Christian by the pagans and the saint was exactly buried where the ancient church was erected.[3]
5th century basilica of San Saturnino, Cagliari.
Saint Saturninus was so confused with Saturninus of Toulouse (Sernin). "Saturninus" was the name of several other martyrs, including some belonging to the group of the Martyrs of Abitina, and close trading ties and communications between North Africa and Cagliari may have resulted in the cult of a North African saint becoming attached to this Sardinian location.[2]
St. Maximus
Feastday: October 30
Death: 304
Martyr believed to have suffered at Apamea, Phrygia, in modem Turkey. He may have been martyred at Cuma, in Campania, Italy.
Bl. John Slade
Feastday: October 30
Death: 1583
Martyr of England. He was a native of Manston, Dorchestershire, and was educated at Oxford. John denied King Henry Viii's supremacy in religious matters and was arrested and tried with Blessed John Bodey. They were hanged, drawn, and quartered at Winchester. He was beatified in 1929.
Blessed John Bodey (1549 – 2 November 1583)[1][2] was an English Roman Catholic academic jurist and lay theologian. He was martyred in 1583, and beatified in 1929
Bl. Jeremiah of Valachia
Feastday: October 30
Birth: 1556
Death: 1625
Beatified: Pope John Paul II
Jeremiah of Valachia was a member of the Franciscan Order
Bl. Jean-Michel Langevin
Feastday: October 30
Birth: 1731
Death: 1793
Beatified: 19 February 1984 by Pope John Paul II at Rome, Italy
Jean-Michel Langevinwas a Priest in Angers, France. Martyred during the French Revolution.
St. Herbert
Feastday: October 30
Death: unknown
Image of St. Herbert
Bishop of Marmoutier, France, and archbishop of Tours, France. No details of his life survive.
Not to be confused with the 7th century Cumbrian Herbert of Derwentwater, a friend of Saint Cuthbert.
Saint Herbert (also Habern, Herbern) (dates of birth and death unknown) is a saint who is said to have once been the bishop or abbot of Marmoutier, France and archbishop of Tours.
No other records of his life exist. His feast day is on 22 November, however this is more commonly observed on the nearest Monday to 22 November.
St. Eutropia
Feastday: October 30
Death: 253
An African martyr whose sufferings are no longer documented.
St. Ethelnoth
Feastday: October 30
Archbishop of Canterbury, England called "the Good," also called Aethelnoth. He was a monk at Glastonbury until 1020, when he was consecrated archbishop. Ethelnoth won the loyalty of King Canute II, who aided his work.A gifted scholar, he persuaded Canute to assist in the restoration of Chartres Cathedral in France .
St. Artemas
Feastday: October 30
Death: 1st century
Bishop and disciple of St. Paul. He is mentioned by St. Paul in his letter to Titus. Aitemas is believed to have served as the bishop of Lystra.
St. Arilda
Feastday: October 30
Death: unknown
Virgin, martyr of Gloucestershire, England. She was slain while defending her chastity. St. Arilda is honored by a church on Oldbury on the Hill.
