Saint Paul of Thebes: The First Hermit, the Raven’s Bread and the Meeting With Anthony
Biography of Saint Paul of Thebes, honored as the first Christian hermit, with the story from Saint Jerome, the meeting with Anthony the Great, the uncertainty of the sources and his place in Eastern and Western devotion.
Blessed Christina the Astonishing: The Medieval Mystic of Sint-Truiden Who Prayed for the Dead
Biography of Blessed Christina the Astonishing (Christina Mirabilis) of Sint-Truiden, the medieval mystic known for her prayer for the dead, with the sources, the legends and the cautions that belong with her story.
Saint Faith of Conques: The Child Martyr of Agen, Her Golden Reliquary and the Prisoners She Freed
Biography of Saint Faith (Sainte Foy) of Agen and Conques, the virgin martyr, with the story of her passion, her relics, her golden reliquary and her patronage of prisoners and pilgrims.
Saint Zosimas of Palestine: The Priest-Monk Who Carried Communion to Mary of Egypt
Saint Zosimas of Palestine, the priest-monk of the Life of Mary of Egypt, with documented veneration separated from tradition. Feast day April 4.
Saints Joachim and Anne: The Righteous Ancestors of God and the Grandparents of Jesus
Saints Joachim and Anne, traditional parents of the Virgin Mary, with the Protoevangelium of James, feast days, relics and devotion separated from what history can verify.
Saint Gerasimos of the Jordan: Desert Abbot, Founder of a Lavra and the Monk Remembered With a Lion
Saint Gerasimos of the Jordan, fifth-century Palestinian monk and abbot, his lavra near Jericho, his role after Chalcedon, and the lion story, with history separated from tradition.
Saint Gianna Beretta Molla and Pietro Molla: A Physician, a Mother and the Husband Who Kept Her Memory
Saint Gianna Beretta Molla, Italian pediatrician, wife and mother canonized in 2004, and her husband Pietro Molla, with documented facts separated from devotion.
Venerable Sergio and Domenica Bernardini: A Widower, a Mother of Ten and a Family That Gave Eight to the Church
Venerable Sergio and Domenica Bernardini, Italian spouses from Modena who raised ten children, eight of whom entered religious life. Declared Venerable by Pope Francis in 2015.
Saint Eustace and Saint Theopista: The Stag Vision, a Family Tested Like Job and the Bronze Bull
The story of Saint Eustace and Saint Theopista, the Roman martyrs of the stag vision legend, with what is tradition, what is documented and where their relics rest.
Blessed Franz Jägerstätter: Austrian Farmer, Husband and Martyr of Conscience, with His Wife Franziska
The life of Blessed Franz Jägerstätter, the Austrian farmer executed in 1943 for refusing Nazi military service, and of his wife Franziska, with sources and open questions.
Saint Elijah the Prophet: Tishbite, Defender of Covenant Faith and Witness at Horeb
The life of the prophet Elijah the Tishbite, from Scripture and tradition, with his feast on July 20 and his place in Orthodox and Eastern Catholic worship.
Saint Elzear and Blessed Delphina of Sabran: Provencal Nobles, Franciscan Tertiaries and a Celibate Marriage
The life of Saint Elzear and Blessed Delphina of Sabran, Provencal nobles and Franciscan tertiaries, with the evidence for their celibate marriage and devotion.
Saint Nimatullah Kassab Al-Hardini: Maronite Monk, Teacher of Saint Charbel and Saint of Kfifan
The life of Saint Nimatullah Al-Hardini, Maronite monk of Kfifan and teacher of Saint Charbel, with his teaching, death, canonization and traditions.
Saint Nohra: Martyr of Smar Jbeil and Patron of Eyesight
The biography of Saint Nohra (Mar Nuhra), Maronite martyr of Lebanon and patron of eyesight, with the medieval evidence, the traditional life, the well at Smar Jbeil and his devotion today.
Blessed Abouna Yaacoub: Lebanese Capuchin, Apostle of Lebanon and Servant of the Sick
The biography of Blessed Abouna Yaacoub (Jacques Haddad), Lebanese Capuchin and founder of the Franciscan Sisters of the Cross, with documented dates, his beatification in 2008 and his place among Eastern Catholics.
Saint Awtel of Lycia: Hermit and Wonderworker of Kfarsghab
The biography of Saint Awtel of Lycia, a hermit honoured in Maronite and Syriac tradition, with the sources, the disputed century, the traditional stories and the devotion of Kfarsghab.
Saint Stephen the Protomartyr: Archdeacon of Jerusalem and the First Christian Martyr
The biography of Saint Stephen the Protomartyr, archdeacon of Jerusalem, with Acts 6 to 8, the reported discovery of his relics in 415 and his place in Byzantine Catholic, Orthodox and Roman worship.
Saint Olga of Kyiv: Princess Regent, First Christian Ruler of Rus and Equal to the Apostles
The biography of Saint Olga of Kyiv, princess regent of Kyivan Rus, with the sources, the dispute over her baptism, the Drevlian revenge stories and her place in Orthodox and Eastern Catholic worship.
Saint Volodymyr the Great: Grand Prince of Kyiv, Baptizer of Rus and Equal to the Apostles
The pagan prince of Kyiv who accepted Byzantine Christianity in the late tenth century, told from the Primary Chronicle and the disputes over his baptism.
Saint Gregory the Wonderworker: Bishop of Neocaesarea, Student of Origen and Apostle of Pontus
The third-century bishop of Neocaesarea who studied under Origen and was remembered by Basil and Gregory of Nyssa, told from the early sources and the disputes over his writings.