Saints

Cistercian archbishop. Born in Dauphine, France in 1102, Peter joined the Cistercian Order at Bonneveaux at the age of 20 with his two brothers and father. When he was 30 he was sent to serve as the first abbot of Tamie, in the Tarantaise Mountains, between Geneva and Savoy. There he built a hospice for travellers. In 1142, he was named archbishop of Tarantaise, although he was initially very rel... Read More

Bishop of York. This eighth century saint was born at Harpham in Humberside. He studied at Canterbury, before returning to Yorkshire to become a monk at St Hilda's double monastery in Whitby. In 687, he was consecrated bishop of Hexham. St John was known for his special care for the poor and for those with disabilities. He taught one young man to speak. From time to time he would go on retreat... Read More

St Pachomius Founder of Christian monasticism. Pachomius was born in 292, in Thebes (Luxor, Egypt) to pagan parents. According to his hagiography, at 21, he was swept up against his will in a Roman army recruitment drive, a common occurrence during this period of turmoil and civil war. With several other youths, he was put onto a ship that floated down the Nile river and arrived at Thebes in the ... Read More