Commemoration of Saints (March 1)

Solemnities, Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials, and Traditional Dates of Commemoration

• David, bishop
• Felix II, pope
• Albinus of Angers, bishop
• Swithbert, bishop
• Rudesind, bishop

St. David of Wales (5th-6th A.D.) was the third son of King Sant and St. Non. He was ordained a priest, engaged in missionary activities, and eventually founded twelve monasteries [1]. These monasteries he built in both Wales and England. One of the monasteries he built was Menevia, now St. David's, at southwest and central Wales, a monastery known for following the ascetic way of life of the monks of Egypt. The austere practices they adopted from the Egyptian monks were:

• rigorous manual labor
• immersion in cold water
• study
• a diet of bread, water, salt, and vegetables [2]

According to traditional stories, when St. David was about to give a sermon at the synod of Brefi in 550 A.D., the ground beneath him swelled to make him more visible from the back of the crowd [1]. His eloquence eventually made him eligible to be elected primate of the Cambrian Church. He also convened a Council called the Synod of Victory, so called because it marked the final influence of Pelagianism [3].

St. David died at a monastery he built in Mynyw and his cult was approved by Pope Callistus II in ca. 1120 A.D. He is the patron saint of Wales [3].

Saints in the Byzantine Calendar [March 1]

• St. Eudoxia, Venerable-Martyr

The name of St. Eudoxia is associated with other names, such as Eudokia of Heliopolis or Eudokia the Martyr [4][5]. She was said to have led an evil life until converted to Christianity by Bishop Theodotus. During the persecution of Christians under Trajan, she was beheaded for her faith [3]. A Venerable-Martyr of the 3rd century A.D., she is commemorated in the Byzantine Calendar every March 1st.

References: Books and AI Overviews

• [1] The Dictionary of Saints, Annette Sandoval
• [2] Lives of the Saints, Richard P. McBrien
• [3] Dictionary of Saints, John J. Delaney
• [4] Eudokia of Heliopolis, OrthodoxSaintDay@Youtube
• [5] AI Overview, response to "St. Eudoxia Venerable Martyr", March 1, 2025, Google.com

Commemoration of Saints (February 28)

Solemnities, Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials, and Traditional Dates of Commemoration

• Proterius, bishop
• Romanus and Lupicinus, abbots
• Hilarus, pope
• Oswald of Worcester, bishop

St. Hilarus or Hilary (d. ca. 468 A.D.) was an archdeacon when he was elected Pope on November 19, 461 A.D. His pontificate:

• improved ecclesiastical discipline,
• strengthened church organization in Gaul and Spain,
• adjucated disputes between contending bishops,
• held councils,
• rebuilt many Roman churches,
• publicly rebuked Emperor Anthemius in connection to the Macedonian heresy,
• confirmed the decisons of the General Councils (Nicaea, Ephesus, Chalcedon)

St. Hilarius died in Rome on February 28 [1]

Saints in the Byzantine Calendar [February 28]

• Basil, confessor and co-faster of St. Procopius
• Marina, Cyra, and Domnicia, Venerable Women

Sts. Marina, Cyra or Kyra, and Domnicia were ascetics during the 5th century in the East, in the area of Syria. Marina and Cyra were sisters, and Domnicia may have been one of their servants. The two sisters were from an illustrious and rich family.

When they reached maturity, Marina and Cyra left their parents and went off to a deserted place to practice an ascetical way of life. Some of their servants came to them and wanted to join their ascetical way of life, so the two sisters put them in a separate dwelling next to their enclosure.

Bishop Theodore of Cyrrhus knew of these holy women and wanted to visit them. (He also described them in his Religiosa Historica.) Out of respect for his office, they allowed him to enter their dwelling, so that they may converse. The Bishop advised them to moderate their penance. However, as soon as he left, the women resumed their very ascetical practice of wearing chains on their bodies, fasting and prayer.

Sts. Marina and Cyra died in about the year 450 A.D. Their ascetical life equaled the male ascetics of their time and as such, were rewarded as well with the crown of victory from Christ. [2]

References: Books and Websites

• [1] Dictionary of Saints, John J. Delaney
• [2] Venerable Marina and Kyra of Syria, Oca.org

Commemoration of Saints (February 27)

Solemnities, Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials, and Traditional Dates of Commemoration

• Leander of Seville, bishop
• Gabriel Possenti, confessor
• Alnoth
• John of Gorze, abbot
• Besas, Cronion and Julian, martyrs
• Thalelaeus the Hermit
• Baldomerus
• Anne Line, martyr

John of Gorze (d. ca. 974 A.D.) was born at Vandieres, Lorraine, was educated at Metz, and inherited a wealthy estate at the death of his father. He was interested in religious life and made a pilgrimage to Rome. In 933 A.D., he was about to go on a second piligrimage to Rome with Einhold of Toul, an archdeacon, when the bishop of Metz sent them to a run-down abbey of Gorze. They revitalized this abbey with John as prior. He was then sent as head of a delegration to a Caliph of Cordova by Emperor Otto I. Upon his return to Gorze in 960 A.D., he was elected abbot. The reforms he applied to the Gorze abbey were later adopted by other Benedictine monasteries in the area. [1]

More on Saints for February 27 in the Catholic Church

Saints in the Byzantine Calendar [February 27]

• Procopius, venerable confessor and monk

St. Procopius left the vanity of the world and was tonsured in a monastery. At that time the heresy of iconaclasm appeared and threatened the orthodoxy of the Christian faith. Procopius fought against this heresy and the policies of Emperor Leo the Isaurian that supported the heresy. His battle against the heresy led to his arrest, torture and imprisonment in a dank dungeon. Together with St. Basil, they languished in this environment until the death of Emperor Leo the Isaurian. St. Procopius spent the remainder of his life in peace and died around the year 750 A.D. [2]

References: Books & Websites

• [1] Dictionary of Saints, John J. Delaney
• [2] Venerable Prokopius the Confessor of Decapolis, Oca.org