Commemoration of Saints (March 3)

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

• Marinus and Astyrius, martyrs
• Chelidonius and Emeterius, martyrs
• Arthelais, virgin
• Non
• Winwaloe, abbot
• Anselm of Nonantola, abbot
• Cunegund, widow
• Gervinus, abbot
• Aelred of Rievaulx, abbot
• Teresa Eustochio Verzeri
• Katharine Drexel, foundress

St. Cunegund (978-1033 A.D.) was the empress of Germany who entered the Benedictine nuns after her husband's death [1] in 1024 A.D. Traditional stories tell that early in her married life to Henry II, the slander of some of those at the court of the Emperor caused him to question Cunegund's constancy. St. Cunegund was able to dispel with virtue all the innuendos hurled against her and emerged unscathed from the ordeal [2].

St. Cunegund devoted her last years to prayer and care of the sick. She is a patron saint of Lithuania, Poland, and Luxembourg [1].

Saints in the Byzantine Calendar [March 3]

• St. Eutropias and his bodyguards, Sts. Cleonicus and Basilicus, Martyrs

Sts. Eutropias (or Eutropius), Cleonicus and Basilicus were holy martyrs from the city of Amasea, Asia Minor, in ca. 308 A.D. Eutropius and Cleonicus were brothers while Basilicus was the nephew of the great Martyr Theodore the Recruit. After the martyrdom of Theodore, the three comrades ended up in prison. They converted many of the pagans in prison to the Christian faith.

The holy martyrs persevered in their faith despite the pressure to offer public worship and sacrifice to pagan gods. On March 3, Eutropius and Cleonicus were crucified. Basilicus, who was left in prison, was then led to his execution in Komana. The executioners beheaded him and threw his body into a river. His fellow Christians found his body and buried it in a ploughed field [3].

References: Books, Websites & AI Search Results

• [1] Lives of the Saints, Richard P. McBrien
• [2] Dictionary of Saints, John J. Delaney
• [3] Martyrs Eutropius, Cleonicus, and Basiliscus of Amasea, Oca.org

Commemoration of Saints (March 2)

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

• Chad of Lichfield, abbot and bishop

St. Chad of Lichfield (d. ca. 672 A.D.) became abbot of Lastingham upon the death of his brother. He was consecrated bishop of the Northumbrians by a bishop and two other coconsecrators who were considered simoniacal [1]. Theodore, the archbishop of Canterbury, refused to recognize Chad's consecration. St. Chad yielded to Archbishop Theodore's judgment, saying:

"If you consider that I have not been properly ordained, I gladly resign. I never thought myself worthy of the office and agreed to undertake it, though unworthy, only under obedience."

St. Chad then retired to his abbacy at Lastingham.

Impressed by Chad's humility, Archbishop Theodore had Chad reconsecrated for Lichfield. Chad then built a small place where he could pray and read with seven or eight other monks; he also built a monastery in his diocese.

Chad died in 672 A.D. Venerated as a saint after his death from a plague, his relics were later transferred to the Church of St. Peter on the site presently occupied by Lichfield Cathedral. Miracles were reported from his relics in the shrine. [2]

Saints in the Byzantine Calendar [March 2]

• St. Theodotus, Priest-Martyr

St. Theodotus (d. ca. 304 A.D.) was raised by a Christian woman named Thecusa and when of age, became an innkeeper at Ancrya, Galatia. During the persecution of Christians under Diocletian he helped imprisoned Christians. Thecusa and six other Christian women were arrested and paraded naked in an open chariot because they refused to wear the robes of pagan priestesses and join a pagan festival. When they continually refused they were sentenced to death by drowning. Theodotus recovered their bodies for a proper Christian burial but he was betrayed by an apostate. He was sentenced to death, tortured and beheaded. Fronto, the local priest, came to the city, recovered Theodotus' lifeless body, and sent it to the town of Malus, where a chapel was built to enshrine it. [3]

References: Books, Websites & AI Search Results

• [1] In the Catholic Church, "simony" refers to the act of buying or selling spiritual things, like church offices or sacred items, essentially considered a grave sin; the term originates from the biblical story of Simon Magus who attempted to purchase the power to bestow the Holy Spirit from the apostles, offering money in exchange for this spiritual gift. AI Overview, response to "simony in the catholic church", Google.com, March 2, 2025
• [2] Lives of the Saints, Richard P. McBrien
• [3] Dictionary of Saints, John J. Delaney

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