Origins & traditions
Explore these lives with notes explaining historical geography and uncertain birthplaces.
Showing 13–24 of 130. Read each story’s origin note for traditional or disputed accounts.
Martyr · April 24
Anthimus of Nicomedia was the bishop of Nicomedia in Bithynia, where he was beheaded during a persecution of Christians, traditionally placed under Diocletian, in which "rivers of blood" flowed.
Origin uncertain · Birthplace uncertain
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Martyr · January 9
Anthony was an early Christian priest who suffered martyrdom with Anastasius, Julian, Celsus and Marcionilla during the Diocletianic Persecution.
Origin uncertain · Birthplace uncertain
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Bishop · January 29
Aphrahat was a third-century Syriac Christian author of Iranian descent from the Sasanian Empire, who composed a series of twenty-three expositions or homilies on points of Christian doctrine and practice.
Origin uncertain · Birthplace uncertain
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Martyr · February 9
Saint Apollonia was one of a group of virgin martyrs who suffered in Alexandria during a local uprising against the Christians prior to the persecution of Decius.
Origin uncertain · Birthplace unknown
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Bishop · September 15
Aprus of Toul was the seventh bishop of Toul.
Origin uncertain · Birthplace uncertain
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Bishop · July 21
Arbogast was a 7th-century missionary in the Frankish Empire and an early Bishop of Strasbourg.
Origin uncertain · Birthplace uncertain
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Lay Saint · July 18
Arnold of Arnoldsweiler is a saint of the Roman Catholic Church, Orthodox Church and True Orthodox Church and was a musician at the court of Emperor Charles the Great, known as Charlemagne.
Origin uncertain · Birthplace uncertain
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Bishop · May 27
Augustine of Canterbury was a Christian monk who became the first Archbishop of Canterbury in the year 597.
Origin uncertain · Birthplace unknown
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Martyr · August 24
Aurea of Ostia is venerated as the patron saint of Ostia.
Origin uncertain · Birthplace uncertain
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Bishop · February 5
Avitus of Vienne was a Latin poet and bishop of Vienne in Gaul.
Origin uncertain · Birthplace uncertain
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Martyr · January 24
Babylas of Antioch was a Syrian patriarch of Antioch, who died in prison during the Decian persecution.
Origin uncertain · Birthplace uncertain
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Martyr · March 31
Balbina is venerated as an early Christian martyr in Rome; the surviving accounts of her life are largely legendary.
Origin uncertain · Birthplace uncertain
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