Memorial of Saints (January 12)

Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials of Saints

• Arcadius, martyr
• Tigirius and Eutropius, martyrs
• Caesaria, virgin
• Victorian, abbot
• Benedict or Benet Biscop, bishop
• Antony Pucci, priest
• Marguerite Bourgeoys, religious
• Aelred of Rievaulx, monk

St. Aelred of Rievaulx (1110-1167 A.D.) was born in Hexham, England, and also known as Ethelred. He became part of the court of King David of Scotland and was known for his piety and spirituality. At 24 years of age, he left Scotland and became a Cistercian monk at Rievaulx, Yorkshire, England. Considered a saint in his own lifetime, St. Aelred was also known as a writer. He composed On Spiritual Friendship and wrote numerous sermons and prayers.

Since St. Aelred of Rievaulx died on the 12th of January, some liturgical sources peg his feast day on January 12. Other liturgical sources, perhaps from older ones, peg his feast day on February 3.

Saints in the Byzantine Calendar [January 12]

• St. Tatiana, Martyr
• Eupraxis, Venerable

Memorial of Saints (January 11)

Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials of Saints

• Theodosius the Cenobiarch
• Salvius or Sauve, bishop

St. Salvius (d. ca. 625 A.D.) or St. Sauve of Montreuil, succeeded Ado as bishop of Amiens. He was the fifth Bishop of the French city of Amiens . He lived on the cusp of the 6th century and 7th century A.D. Often confused with Salvius of Albi and Salvius of Valencijn, he was made the patron saint against speech impediments, of Montreui, the Frisian town of Dronrijp and of the town of Saint-Sauflieu, in France. Learn more from Anastpaul.com

Saints in the Byzantine Calendar [January 11]

• Theodosius, Hegumen-Abbot

St. Theodosius (423-529 A.D.) is commemorated this day in both the Roman Calendar and the Byzantine Calendar. He was a leading pioneer of cenobitic or monasticism in community. Born in Cappadocia in Asia Minor, St. Theodosius built a large monastery at Cathismus near Bethlehem and filled it with vocations. He attached three infirmaries to the monastery:

• one for the sick,
• one for the aged,
• and one for the mentally disturbed.

There were also four churches attached to the monastery:

• one for the Greeks
• one for the Armenians
• one for the Slavs
• and one for those doing penance or recovering from mental illness

The monastic complex resembled a small city and became a good example of its kind in the East. It was probably because of this achievement that the patriarch of Jerusalem appointed Theodosius as abbot general of all cenobitic communities in Palestine - thus earning him the title, "Cenobiarch."

Related blog posts:

• St. Theodosius, Feast: January 11
• Saints Who Lived to a 100 Years (Part Three)

Memorial of Saints (January 10)

Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials of Saints

• William of Bourges, abbot
• Marcian
• John the Good, bishop
• Agatho, pope
• Peter Orseolo

Saints in the Byzantine Calendar [January 10]

• Gregory, Bishop of Nyssa
• Venerable Dometian, Bishop of Melite
• Marcian, Presbyter

St. Gregory of Nyssa (ca. 330-395 A.D.) was the third of the three great Cappadocian Fathers (with his brother St. Basil the Great and St. Gregory Nazianzen). He became bishop of Nyssa in 371 A.D. Greatly influenced by the writings of Origen and Plato, Gregory wrote numerous theological treatises, which were considered the true exposition of the Catholic faith. Among his writings were:

• Catechetical Discourse
• treatises against Eunomius and Appolinaris
• a book on virginity
• commentaries on Scripture

The feast day of Saint Gregory of Nyssa is January 10 in the Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches. The Roman Catholic Church and the Episcopal Church celebrate his death on March 9.

The second General Council of Nicaea (680-681 A.D.) called him "Father of the Fathers." Learn more