St. Severinus of Noricum was an ascetic. He loved the contemplative life and also his mission among the Roman peoples of Noricum in Austria. From his life and mission in Noricum, he moved on to become superior of different monasteries - teaching his monks love for the poor, the sick and the oppressed. St. Severinus was also known for his prophecies and his miracles. One of his miracles was to help the famine-stricken city of Faviana. Through his intercessory prayers, the ice in the river Danube (next to Faviana) cracked. Because of this miracle, the city acknowledged him as their wonder-worker (died ca. 533 A.D.).
St. Apollinaris the Apologist defended the faith through a letter he sent to the Emperor Marcus Aurelius (ca. 161-180 A.D.). Apollinaris pointed out that a recent military victory had been achieved mainly because of the Emperor's twelfth legion - which was composed mainly of Christian soldiers. Apollinaris argued that both the prayers and the fighting skills of these Christian soldiers contributed much to the victory of the Emperor. The prayers of the Christian soldiers produced a miraculous rain shower that quenched their thirst. When this rain shower then turned into a thunderstorm, it blinded and then frightened the Emperor's opponents (died ca. 179 A.D.).
St. Lawrence Giustiniani was an archbishop of Venice known for his concern for the poor. Early in life, he entered an Augustinian monastery and was ordained priest in 1046 A.D. He eventually became superior general of the Augustinian canons from 1424-1431 A.D. As general, he wrote works of an ascetical and mystical nature. When he became archbishop, his episcopate was noted for its austerity and charity to the poor -in the form of food and clothing (died ca. 1455 A.D.).
St. Lucian of Beauvais was a missionary in Gaul. Catholic tradition tells us that he is a companion of St. Denis of Paris. Lucian was made bishop of Beauvais. He was martyred there together with Maximian and Julian. Lucian's companions were martyred earlier before his own execution (died ca. 290 A.D.).
St. Severinus of Septempeda was the brother of St. Victorinus. Severinus became bishop of Septempeda in Ancona, Italy. The area in which he administered his see was later on to be known as San Severino (died ca. 550 A.D.).
St. Erhard was an Irishman. Tradition says he became auxiliary bishop of Ratisbon and then abbot of Ebersheimmünster Abbey. Nothing more is known of St. Erhard save for these little biographical details about his life (died ca. 686 A.D.).
St. Gudula was educated at Nivelles under her cousin St. Gertrude. After her cousin Gertrude's death in 664 A.D., she returned to the family castle near Morzelles. It was here that she led a holy life dedicated to God until her death. She was noted for her help to the poor in her area and became patroness of Brussels (died ca. 712 A.D.).
St. Pega was the sister of St. Guthlac. She lived a secluded life near her brother's hermitage at Croyland in the Fens in England. She was reputed to have cured a blind man. After her brother's death, she made a pilgrimage to Rome where she passed away (died ca. 719 A.D.).
St. Thorfinn was a Norwegian who became a canon of the cathedral at Nidaros. In time, he became bishop of Hamar. His support of the archbishop of Nidaros against King Eric caused his exile. In his exile he experienced a shipwreck, but was eventually able to reach the Cistercian abbey of Ter Doest near Flanders. His life was commemorated in a poem written by Walter de Muda (died ca. 1285 A.D.).
Other Saints celebrated on January 8 in the Roman Calendar
- St. Wulsin, bishop
Saints in the Byzantine Calendar [January 8]
- Venerable George the Chozebite, Abbot and St. Emilian the Confessor, Bishop of Cyzikus
- Venerable Dominika of Carthage
- Sts. Juliana and Basilissa, Martyrs
- Afterfeast of the Theophany of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
- Venerable Gregory the Recluse, of the Kiev Caves
- Hieromartyr Isidore and 72 others at Yuriev, Estonia
- Saint Paisius of Uglich
- Saint Carterius of Caesarea in Cappadocia
- Martyrs Theophilus the Deacon, and Helladius, in Libya
- Martyrs Julian and his wife, Basilissa, and those with them in Egypt
- Venerable Elias the Hermit, of Egypt
- Martyr Abo the Perfumer, of Tbilisi, Georgia
- Venerable Gregory of Ochrid
- Learn more
St. Isidore the Hieromartyr was a priest in Derpto, Estonia. There was a treaty between Moscow and Livonia that obligated protection for the Orthodox believers in Yuriev, Estonia (now present-day Derpto). The Livonian knights, who were German Catholics, broke the treaty and forced the Orthodox believers to become Roman Catholics. St. Isidore bravely stood his ground in defense of Orthodoxy. When St. Isidore and 72 of his parishioners went to bless the waters of the River Omovzha (or Emaiyga, now Emajogi) for the Feast of Theophany, they were arrested. St. Isidore and his 72 parishioners refused to renounce Christ or the Orthodox Faith. Enraged by this, the authorities had them thrown into prison.
The bishops and the judges demanded that they convert to Catholicism. When they still refused to do so, they were dragged back to the river and pushed through the hole in the ice that they had cut to bless the water. So they all suffered and died for Christ, Who bestowed on them crowns of unfading glory. During the spring floods, the incorrupt bodies of the holy martyrs, including the fully-vested body of the hieromartyr Isidore, were found by Russian merchants journeying along the river bank. They buried the saints around the church of Saint Nicholas. Although people began to venerate these saints shortly after their death, they were not officially glorified by the Church until 1897 A.D.
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