Saints

Bishop of Antioch. According to legend, this third century saint was so revered by his flock that they nicknamed him 'Agathangelus' - which means 'The Good Angel'. When the Emperor Decius began persecuting Christians, it is said not a single Christian in his diocese denied their faith. In 261, a representative of Decius named Martian, summoned the bishop for cross-examination. Acacius told him ... Read More

Monk and Abbot of Mount Sinai. A seventh century Palestinian, John was married as a young man. When his wife died he became a monk. He lived in a community for a short time and then became a hermit. He lived at Thole, coming to church with other Egyptian solitaries on Saturdays and Sundays, but spending the rest of the week alone. His name means ladder, and he wrote a book called the Ladder to P... Read More

Bishop and monk. Hugh was born in 1052, at Chateauneuf in France. He was the son of a knight called Odilo and educated at the cathedral school at Valence, where he became a canon. Hugh is said to have been very gifted, and good looking. He was also very shy. The bishop of Die, who was a papal legate made him his secretary. In 1080 he attended the Synod of Avignon which reviewed the deplorable s... Read More