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

Commemoration of Saints (February 26)

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

• Nestor, bishop and martyr
• Alexander of Alexandria, bishop
• Porphyry, bishop
• Victor or Vittre the Hermit

St. Porphyry or Porphyrius of Gaza (ca. 353-412 A.D.) was a bishop of Gaza known for his generosity to the poor. He was born in Thessalonika and at twenty-five went to live as a monk for five years in the desert of Skete. He spent the next five years as a hermit in Palestine in a cave near the river Jordan. He became crippled by illness and used a walking stick to visit the holy places. It was while in Jerusalem that he first Mark, who would become his deacon and biographer.

Porphyry sent Mark back to Thessalonika to sell his property for distribution to the poor. When Mark returned to Jerusalem, he found Porphyry restored to full health. In 393 A.D., the bishop of Jerusalem ordained Porphyry a priest. Three years later, at 43 years of age, he was elected bishop of Gaza without his knowledge. Porphyry had difficulties in working at his see because it was comprised of both pagans and Christians. Eventually, Porphyry received permission from the Emperor to destroy the remaining pagan temples so he could build a cruciform church on the site once occupied by a pagan temple. Porphyry spent the remaining thirteen years of his life in active pastoral service of his people. [1]

St. Porphyry's is commemorated today, February 26, by the Catholic Church, and also commemorated as a feast in both the Greek and Russian Orthodox Churches. [2]

Saints in the Byzantine Calendar [February 26]

• Porphyrius, Archbishop of Gaza
• St. Sebastian, Martyr
• St. Photina of Samaria, Martyr

St. Photina was the name attributed to the Samaritan woman of Sychar whom Jesus conversed with at a well (John 4). Stories handed down from generation to generation say that she preached the gospel, was imprisoned for three years, and died for the Christian faith at Carthage. She is commemorated today, February 26, in the Byzantine Calendar. In the Catholic Church, she is commemorated on March 20. [2]

References: Books
[1] Lives of the Saints, by Richard P. McBrien
[2] Dictionary of Saints, by John J. Delaney