Western Saints of the Orthodox Church
AIGLULF (AGILULFUS) of BOURGES, a well-educated young man who became a hermit following the repose of his parents. St. Aigulf quickly became known for his great personal sanctity. When the See of Bourges (central France) fell vacant, circa 811, St. Aigulf was chosen to be the bishop. Quite reluctantly, he was consecrated Bishop of Bourges and was an excellent shepherd of his flock. St. Aigulf was in attendance at the Council of Toulouse in 829, and was one of the forty-three bishops who sat at the Synod of Thionville in 835 which deposed Ebbo, Archbishop of Reims, for his role in the revolt against Louis the Pious, King of the Franks (r. 814–840). St. Aigulf remained Bishop of Bourges until his repose circa 836.
AUSONIUS of ANGOULÊME, (Third Century), the first Bishop of Angoulême in Aquitaine (south-western France), and a disciple of St. Martial of Limoges (30th June). No further information on his life is extant.
BOBO (BEUVON) of PROVENCE, a Provençal soldier renowned for his role in the defence of Provence (southern France) against the Moors who were terrorising the region. St. Bobo left the military and became a hermit. While on a pilgrimage to Rome circa 985, St. Bobo reposed at Pavia in Lombardy (Italy), and was buried at Voghera.
BOETHIAN of PIERREPONT, (Seventh Century), a native of Ireland and disciple of St. Fursey (16th January), St. Boethian travelled to Picardy (northerm France) where he founded an abbey in Pierrepont 15 km/9 1⁄2 mi north-east of Laon. He was murdered by criminals whom he had previously castigated for their immorality.
CASTUS and ÆMILIUS (EMILIUS), two north African martyrs of the Decian Persecution. When first arrested, and tortured they renounced Christ and were released. They soon repented their apostacy, and were re-arrested. This time the remained steadfast in their faith and were burnt to death, circa 250.
CONALL (COEL, CONALD) of INNISCOEL, St. Conall was a seventh century Abbot of Inniscoel, Co. Donegal, in Ireland. There is a holy well at Inniscoel dedicated to him. Nothing further is known of his life.
FAUSTINUS, TIMOTHY, and VENUSTUS, three martyrs in Rome during the persecutions under Julian the Apostate circa 362.
FULK of CASTROFULI, a pilgrim on his way to Rome circa 600 who stopped at plague-stricken Santo-Padre or Castrofuli near Arpino in present-day central Italy to minister to the sick. Whilst caring for plague victims he contracted it himself and died. St. Fulk is the patron saint of both Santo-Padre and Castrofuli.
HELEN of AUXERRE, the Acts of Saint Amator of Auxerre (1st May) speak of St. Helen as a virtuous and godly young woman and a wonderworker. St. Helen also assisted at the deathbed of St. Amator. St. Helen reposed at Auxerre in Burgundy (France) circa 415.
JOHN of PARMA, a priest from Parma (northern Italy) who was made canon of the city’s cathedral at an early age. On one of his six pilgrimages to Jerusalem, St. John received monastic tonsure, and from 973 until his repose circa 982 was Abbot of the Abbey of St. John the Evangelist (Abbazia San Giovanni Evangelista) in Parma.
JULIA of CARTHAGE, (Fifth Century), a member of the Christian nobility of Carthage (a present-day suburb of Tunis, Tunisia) in Africa Proconsularis, and patron-saint of Corsica. St. Julia was captured by soldiers of Gaiseric, King of the Vandals (r. 428–477) during the invasion and sack of Carthage, and sold into slavery. The ship which was transporting St. Julia and her owner to Gaul (France), made a stop in Corsica during a pagan festival. When pressed to take part in the festival, St. Julia refused and was beaten and then crucified.
MARCIAN (MARIANO) of RAVENNA, the fourth Bishop of Ravenna (northern Italy) from circa 112 until his repose circa 127. Nothing further seems to be known of St. Marcian’s life.
QUITERIA, (Date Unknown), a saint, most likely of Spanish origin, who is venerated on the French-Spanish border, where several town have claimed possession of her relics. Unfortunately, there is no reliable information on St. Quiteria. If St. Quiteria flourished during a period of persecutions of Christians, it is highly probable she was a martyr.
ROMANUS of SUBIACO, a monk near Subiaco and friend of St. Benedict of Nursa (21st March), whom St. Romanus encouraged and provided with food in the first years of St. Benedict’s life as a hermit. A widely-held legend says St. Romanus went to Gaul where he founded a monastery near Auxerre in Burgundy (France). However, there is no historical evidence to support this. St. Romanus reposed circa 560.
Prior to the Schism the Patriarchate of Rome was Orthodox, and fully in communion with the Orthodox Church. As Saint John of Shanghai and San Francisco +1966 said “The West was Orthodox for a thousand years, and her venerable Liturgy is far older than any of her heresies”.