| 22 April |
• yesterday • tomorrow |
• Pope of Charity
• Sotero
• Soterius
• Soterus
Nothing is known of his life before he was chosen 12th pope c.166, and not much is known of his pontificate. Forbade women to burn incense in services. Ratified that matrimony was a valid sacrament only if blessed by a priest. Inaugurated Easter as an annual festival in Rome.
at Fondi, Italy
c.166
• tradition says he was martyred c.175, though no evidence has survived
• buried in the Callistus cemetery in Rome, Italy
From the beginning it has been your custom to do good to all the brethren in many ways, and to send alms to many churches in every city, refreshing the poverty of those who sent requests, or giving aid to the brethren in the mines, by the alms which you have had the habit of giving from old, Romans keeping up the traditional custom of the Romans; which your blessed Bishop Soter has not only preserved, but has even increased, by providing the abundance which he has sent to the saints, and by further consoling with blessed words with brethren who came to him, as a loving father his children. - from a fragment of a letter to Pope Saint Soter from Saint Dionysius of Corinth
https://catholicsaints.info/pope-saint-soter/
• Caius the Dalmatian
• Cayo, Gaius
11 August (Eastern calendar)
Some unreliable early documents indicate he was from Spalato in Dalmatia, may have been a relative of Emperor Diocletian, and the uncle of Saint Susanna. However, nothing reliable is known of his early life.
Pope in a time of peace before the last great persecution of Rome, and little concerning his papacy has survived. Decreed that before a man could be bishop, he must first be porter, reader, exorcist, acolyte, sub-deacon, deacon, and priest. Divided the districts of Rome among deacons.
Originally listed as a martyr based on the tales of his suffering during the Diocletian persecutions, these did not begin until years after his death, and there is no evidence of his suffering or martyrdom. This lack of verifiable information led to his name being dropped from the Martyrology.
17 December 283
• 22 April 296 of natural causes
• buried in the chamber next to the papal crypt in the Catacombs of Saint Callistus on the Appian Way
pope with Saint Nereus
https://catholicsaints.info/pope-saint-caius-i/
Opportune
Sister of Saint Chrodegang of Séez. Niece of Saint Lanthilda. Benedictine nun and abbess at the convent near Almenêches, France, receiving the veil from her brother. Legend says that a peasant stole a donkey from her convent and refused to acknowledge his crime. Opportuna turned it over to God; the next day the farmer's field was sown with salt. The peasant returned the donkey AND gave the field to the nuns.
at castle of Exmes, Argentan, Normandy, France
• 22 April 770 from a brief illness compounded by grief from the death of her brother
• relics taken to the priory of Moussy, France, in 1009, and then to Senlis, France
• in 1374 her right arm and a rib were taken to Paris, France to a church built in her honor
• part of her head remains at Moussy
• her left arm and part of her skull are at Almenêches
• one jaw is in the priory of Saint Chrodegang of Metz at Isle-Adam
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-opportuna-of-montreuil/
Francis Venimbeni
Born to a wealthy family, the son of Compagno Venimbeni, a physician, and Margaret di Federico. Studied humanities and philosophy, then joined the Franciscans in 1267, at age 16; he spent part of his novitiate studying under the companions of Saint Francis of Assisi. Friar. Priest who offered his Masses for souls in Purgatory. Missionary in the region of his house. A man of endless prayer and work, he insisted that this brother friars stay strictly orthodox in their preaching and teaching, and to insure they had the proper background, used his family money to purchase an extensive library for them. Wrote on matters of theology and philosophy, but only time scraps of his work have survived.
2 September 1251 in Fabriano, Ancona, Italy
22 April 1322 of natural causes
1 April 1775 by Pope Pius VI (cultus confirmation)
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-francis-of-fabriano/
Friend of and worker with Saint Alexander of Lyon. Imprisoned, tortured, and martyred during the persecutions of Marcus Aurelius. Though he never joined an order, Epipodius was a confirmed celibate bachelor, devoting his time to work with and for God. Betrayed to imperial authorities by a servant. Martyr.
2nd century at Lyon, France
• beheaded in 178
• relics at the church of Saint Irenaeus at Lyon, France
• miracles reported at the tomb
• bachelors
• betrayal victims
• torture victims
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-epipodius-of-lyon/
Agapetus I
20 September (date of internment in Saint Peter's Basilica)
Son of a priest named Gordian; his father was murdered. Archdeacon of the priests of Rome, Italy. Elected pope when a very old man, he reigned for less than a year. Died while on a mission to prevent the invasion of Italy by Justinian. He failed in that, but succeeded in having the Monophysite Patriarch of Constantinople, Anthimus, replaced by the more orthodox Mennas.
in Rome, Italy
13 May 535
• 22 April 536 in Constantinople of natural causes
• interred in Saint Peter's Basilica, Rome, Italy
https://catholicsaints.info/pope-saint-agapitus-i/
Altfrid, Altfrith
Monk. Priest. Fifth abbot of the monastery of Werden, Germany. Abbot of the monastery of Helmstedt, Germany. Nephew of Saint Liudger, first bishop of Münster, Germany; related to Saint Gerfried of Münster, the second bishop; Altfried served as third bishop from 839 until his death ten years later. He wrote a biography of Saint Liudger.
9th century, possibly in Friesland (in modern Netherlands)
• 22 April 849 of natural causes
• buried in the Liudgerid crypt at the monastery of Werden, Germany
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-altfried-of-munster/
Stephen of Hungary
Franciscan friar. Imprisoned for his faith, he escaped and sought shelter in Sarai Batu (modern Selitrennoye, Russia). To save himself from his persecutors, he denied that he was Christian and announced his conversion to Islam. He immediately repented this apostasy, declared that he was a Christian, and was executed. Martyr.
Naggyvarad, Transylvania (modern Oradea, Romania)
• sentenced to burn at the stake, the fire was twice miraculously extinguished, so his killers stoned him and finally stabbed him with a sword on 22 April 1334 in Sarai Batu (modern Selitrennoye, Russia)
• the site of his death became known for miraculous healings
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-stephen-of-nagyvarad/
Leonides
Wealthy and pious layman. Father of seven sons, the eldest of whom was the philosopher Origen, whom he raised and taught. Philosopher and rhetorician. Imprisoned and martyred by command of Laertus, Governor of Egypt, during the persecutions of emperor Septimius Severus. All his property was confiscated, and his family reduced to complete poverty until they were "adopted" by a wealthy Christian woman.
beheaded in 202 at Alexandria, Egypt
large families
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-leonidas-of-alexandria/
• Theodore of Siceone
• Theodore of Sikion
• Theodore the Sykeote
Son of a pagan imperial messenger. Convert. Monk. Priest. Bishop of Anastasiopolis, Galatia. Founded monasteries. Had the gift of healing. Miracle worker. Warded off a plague of insects by prayer. Supported the cultus of Saint George.
at Sykeon, Galatia
c.613
• against rain
• difficult marriages
• for rain
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-theodore-of-sykeon/
Related to Saint Rudesind of Mondoñedo. Raised by her aunt, Abbess Godina at the convent of Saint John of Venaria, Italy. Senorina joined the convent as a nun and eventually became its abbess. She later moved the convent and sisters to Basto, Portugal.
982
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-senorina/
Born to the wealthy 8th century nobility, he was the Count of Ostrevant, and served in the Frankish royal court. Married and the father of ten daughters, including Blessed Ragenfreda. Adalberto was known for his piety and charity, and help found the convent in Denain, Hainault where his daughter was abbess.
22 April c.790
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-adalberto-of-ostrevant/
Soldier. Imperial Roman legionaire. Martyr.
• buried in the cemetery of Saint Priscilla in Rome, Italy
• re-interred under the main altar of Saint Peter's Basilica
• relics transferred to Cherasco, Italy in 1623 by Pope Gregory XV
Cherasco, Italy
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-euflamia/
Soldier. Imperial Roman legionaire. Martyr.
• buried in the cemetery of Saint Priscilla in Rome, Italy
• re-interred under the main altar of Saint Peter's Basilica
• relics transferred to Cherasco, Italy in 1623 by Pope Gregory XV
Cherasco, Italy
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-virginio/
Acepsimas
Bishop of Hnaita, Persia. Over 80 years old, he was tortured and martyred in the persecutions of King Sapor II.
beaten to death on 10 October 376 in Persia
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-aceptismas-of-hnaita/
First-century convert, and may have been on of the 72 chosen by Jesus as missionaries. Bishop of Laodicea. Mentioned by Saint Paul the Apostle in his Epistle to the Romans. Martyr.
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-lucius-of-laodicea/
Apellius of Smyrna
First century convert. Bishop of Smyrna. Saint Paul greeted him as "approved in Christ" in Romans 16. Martyr.
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-apelles-of-smyrna/
Priest. Martyred with Saint Acepsimas in the persecution of King Shapur II.
376 in Persia
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-joseph-of-persia/
Son of a prince on the Isle of Wight. Martyred by the then-pagan King Caedwalla on the day after his baptism.
686
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-arwald/
Priest. Martyred when Decius invaded Mesapotamia.
<beheaded c.250 at Babylon
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-helimenas/
Priest. Martyred in the persecutions of Shapur II.
341 in Persia
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-maryahb/
Bishop of Sens, France for 22 years.
541
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-leo-of-sens/
Holy Irish woman.
Irish
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-abel-mcaedh/
Bishops, priests, deacons and laity who were martyred in Persia and celebrated together. Several of them have their stories related in the Acta of Saints Abdon and Sennen.
• Abdiesus the Deacon
• Abrosimus
• Aceptismas of Hnaita
• Aithilahas
• Azadanes the Deacon
• Azades the Eunuch
• Bicor
• Chrysotelus
• Helimenas
• James
• Joseph
• Lucas
• Mareas
• Milles
• Mucius
• Parmenius
• Tarbula
https://catholicsaints.info/martyrs-of-persia/
• Martyrs of Alexandria
CatholicSaints.Info Portable Edition