St. Isidore was employed as a laborer in a farm outside of Madrid, Spain. He married, and had a son who died at an early age. After the death of his son, he and his wife decided to practice the virtue of chastity and continence. Isidore continued to work in the fields, but spent the mornings in prayer at church - causing him to be late at work. When the master of the land in which he worked, tried to find out why he was late, the master saw from a distance saw St. Isidore arriving late but with angels by his side. Many more miracles were attributed to St. Isidore the Farmer (died ca. 1130 A.D.).
St. Torquatus was one of the seven missionaries sent out by Sts. Peter and Paul to evangelize Spain. His six companions were: Caecilius, Ctesiphon, Euphrasius, Hesychius, Indaletius, and Secundius. Each of these seven evangelized each a region in Spain, with Torquatus having great success at Guadix, Granada. All seven died as martyrs in the 1st century.
St. Isidore of Chios was an officer in the army of Emperor Decius, and was with the fleet that went to Chios, in Greece. The commander of the fleet, Numerius, learned of Isidore's Christian faith. Isidore was arrested, tortured and then beheaded when he refused to renounce his faith. His body was thrown into a well at Chios - a well which became famous for its miracles of healing (died ca. 251 A.D.).
St. Hilary of Galatea was attracted to religious life at the young age of 12. Years past and he decided to leave home to build a hermitage. This hermitage grew to become the Galatea Monastery. He became its abbot. When the Goths invaded their land, Hilary convinced Theodoric (leader of the Goths) not to destroy his monastery. Hilary also convinced Theodoric to grant him additional land for his mission (died ca. 558 A.D.).
St. Dympna fled home upon the death of her mother, and went to Antwerp together with her confessor St. Gerebernus. With two other companions, they built an oratory at Gheel, near Amsterdam, where they lived as hermits. Since Dympna's father was a pagan Celtic chieftain, he had his daughter tracked down. When her father found them, he had her companions killed and Dympna was beheaded by her own father. During the 13th century, discovery of their tombs led to reports of healing miracles - most of which were the healing of epileptics and those mentally ill (died ca. 650 A.D.).
St. Bertha owned extensive properties along the Rhine. After her husband was killed in battle, she devoted to raising her son Rupert as a Christian. With her wealth and political influence, she founded several hospices for the poor. St. Bertha then gave their possessions to the poor and together with her son Rupert, became hermits near Bingen, Germany. St. Rupert died at 20 years of age, while St. Bertha spent the remaining years of her life there (died ca. 840 A.D.).
St. Hallvard was a Norwegian trader in the Baltic islands. A woman, who was accused of theft, sought sanctuary in Hallvard's ship. Hallvard tried to defend the woman, but he was killed together with the woman, with arrows from her accusers. The accusers attached a stone to his body and threw it into the sea. Miraculously, St. Hallvard's body floated to the surface. This story became widespread, and Hallvard had since then been revered as a martyr and a patron saint of Oslo, Norway (died ca. 1043 A.D.).
St. Isaias of Rostov became a monk at the Monastery of the Caves near Kiev, Ukraine. In 1062 A.D., he was named abbot of St. Demetrius in Kiev. In 1077 A.D., he became bishop of Rostov. He then started the extensive work of converting the pagans of his diocese. St. Isaias is well known for his preaching ability and for working miracles (died ca. 1090 A.D.).
St. Peter of Lampsacus was arrested during Emperor Decius' persecution of the Christians. When he was ordered to sacrifice to the pagan goddess Venus, St. Peter refused. For this refusal, he was tortured and beheaded at Troas, Cyzigus. Also arrested with Peter were Andrew, Niomachus and Paul. Sts. Andrew and Paul were tortured and then stoned to death. Niomachus on the other hand apostasized under torture. 16 year old St. Dionysia saw how Niomachus apostasized and denounced him. The authorities got hold of this 16 year old girl and had her beheaded also (died ca. 251 A.D.).
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