Memorial of Saints (January 9)

St. Marciana was a Christian from Mauritania, in the West coast of Africa. Accused as a Christian during the rule of Emperor Diocletian, she was arrested and brought to gladiators who tried to rape her. Her virginity however was miraculously preserved. But eventually, she was sent to the ampitheater where she was killed by a wild bull and a leopard (died ca. 303 A.D.).

Sts. Julian and Basilissa (his wife), used their home as a hospital to care for the poor and the sick. After St. Basilissa's death, Julian was arrested as a Christian during the persecutions under Emperor Diocletian. St. Julian was martyred together with a priest, and a mother and her child (died ca. 304 A.D.).

St. Peter of Sebastea is a brother of St. Basil (who founded Eastern monasticism). Peter entered a monastery in Armenia and eventually became its abbot in 362 A.D. In 380 A.D., he became bishop of Sebastea. As bishop, he worked against the Arian heresy and attended well the General Council of Constantinople (died ca. 391 A.D.).

St. Waningus left his position as a governor in Neustria to devote his life to God after a dream he experienced. In the dream, St. Eulalia of Barcelona warned him of the difficulties a rich man will have in entering the Kingdom of God. Because of this warning in a dream, St. Waningus left his political life, and together with St. Wandrille, helped to found an abbey, a church, and a convent (died ca. 683 A.D.).

St. Adrian of Canterbury became abbot of a monastery near Naples, Italy. St. Theodore, who became archbishop of Canterbury, appointed Adrian to be abbot of St. Augustine's monastery. As abbot of this monastery, the monastery became renowned as a center of learning. When St. Adrian's tomb was exhumed, his body was found to be incorrupt (died ca. 710 A.D.).

St. Berhtwald of Canterbury became abbot of Reculver in Kent, England. He succeeded St. Theodore as archbishop of Canterbury. Berhtwald was archbishop for thirty-seven years. He was noted to be a very good scripture scholar (died ca. 731 A.D.).