Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials of Saints
- Fabian, pope and martyr
- Sebastian, martyr
- Euthymius the Great, abbot
- Fechia, abbot
- Eustochia Calafato
When St. Fabian (d. ca. 250 A.D.), a layman, was in the assembly to elect a new pope, a pious story says that a dove flew inside and settled on the head of Fabian. Taken as a sign from God by the clergy and people assembled, they elected Fabian pope on January 10, 236 A.D.
Though there is little knowledge of his pontificate, after being martyred in 250 A.D. under the persecution of Christians by the Emperor Decius, his tomb still exists in the cemetery of St. Callistus. St. Cyprian wrote about St. Fabian and said that the glory of this pope's death corresponded with the purity and holiness of his life.
St. Sebastian (ca. 257-288 A.D.) became a soldier in the Roman army around 283 A.D. Discovered to be a Christian, Sebastian was sentenced to be shot to death by archers. His body was pierced with arrows and was left for dead. When the widow of St. Castulus [St. Castulus was the Emperor's chamberlain who sheltered Christians in his home] came to get his body for burial, she found Sebastian still alive. So she nursed him back to health. After recovering fully from his wounds, Sebastian refused to flee from the persecution. Eventually, he was seized and beaten to death.
St. Sebastian's popularity may be attributed to his many depictions in early Christian, medieval and Renaissance art. He is always represented as pierced with arrows or holding an arrow. St. Sebastian is the patron of archers, athletes, and soldiers.
St. Eustochia Calafato (1434-1491 A.D.) entered the Poor Clare convent of Santa Maria de Basico. As a Poor Clare, she was noted for her aid to the poor, her self-imposed penances, and her austerities. St. Eustochia was canonized in 1988 A.D. She is one of the incorrupt bodies of Beati and Saints featured in a YouTube video by czarneszci (8:13 minutes)
Saints in the Byzantine Calendar [January 20]
- Euthymius the Great, Hegumen-Abbot
The Greek and Russian Orthodox Churches commemorate Euthymius the Great (ca. 378-473 A.D.) on January 20. It also coincides with the Roman Calendar's commemoration of his feast on this day.
Euthymius the Great was from Armenia. He spent approximately 66 to 68 years in the desert and died at the age of ninety-five after having been ordained a bishop at one point to minister to the growing numbers of Arab converts in Palestine.
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