Taking A Look at Saints: St. Patrick & More

As far as well-known saints go , who can ignore the importance of St. Patrick , who lived from around 385 to 461? Ironically, he was never Irish and was actually British (originating from what some believe to be modern-day Wales). The man was never in Ireland either until Irish raiders kidnapped him.

Once Patrick was able to escape, he became a priest and then a bishop , returning to Ireland to serve as a missionary. Because he was so successful in converting the Irish , he was dubbed the ” patron saint of Ireland.” Did you know that because of his enslavement as a youth, St Patrick would grow into a man that became the first prominent character throughout history to speak out against the practice of slavery?

Roman Catholics and Orthodox Christians often refer to Saint Christopher as the patron saint of travelers. Christopher was murdered during the times of the 3rd century Roman emperor by the name of Decius, who reigned from 249 to 251. Today, he is also seen as the patron saint of sports. Various legends are attached to the history of this saint, as the Roman Catholics saw him as a man with a great deal of physical strength. Originally, he was called Reprobus. According to the legend, he was called a “giant” by those who came in contact with him and is known for converting to Christianity , vowing to serve Jesus Christ.

In the Orthodox religion, the traditional patron saints for education are called the “Three Hierarchs,” which consisted of Basil the Great, Gregory of Nazianzus, and John Chrysostom.

Within the Anglican Church, the title of Saint is spelled with a capital “S.” In their system of belief, this term is used to make reference to an individual who has been elevated by popular opinion as a pious and holy person.

Many of the traditions that come with Easter, Christmas, and Halloween (also known as All-Saints’ Day) have developed due to Pope St. Gregory I, which started traditions at the beginning of the 7th century AD. Early missionaries also played a role in these popular holidays. It was Gregory’s idea to use local beliefs and customs as a way to convert residents. This is seen with All Saints Day, which was invented by missionaries in the 4th century who wished to rival the Celtic holiday called Samhain, where Druid gods (their rivals) were portrayed as spirits, devils, and witches.

The woman who was leading the French army into battle at the age of 17 (St. Joan of Arc) was eventually burned at the stake before she turned 20 years old. She was known for hearing voices and experiencing visions at the age of 13.

Agrippina of Mineo was invoked against evil spirits, thunderstorms, bacterial infections, and leprosy. Saint Agrippina was venerated as a virgin martyr within the Catholic Church. To this day, there is no information regarding her true identity, as there isn’t even any proof that any worship has taken place at an early date. The legend associated with her existence states that she was a princess born to a noble Roman family and was martyred either in the times of Valerian or Diocletian.