Saint of the Day – 18 December – Saint Auxentius of Mopsuetia (Died c 321) Bishop of of Mopsuestia, Southern Turkey, ex-Officer in the Roman army.
The Roman Martyrology reads: “At Mopsuestia in Cilicia, Turkey, St Auxentius, Bishop, who while he was still a soldier under Licinius, preferred to surrender his military insignia, rather than to offer grapes to the pagan god Bacchus. Having been made the Bishop, he was renowned for merit and rested in peace.”
Auxentius had been an Officer in the personal guard of the Emperor Augustus Licintus. But for refusing to sacrifice at the feet of the statue of the pagan god Bacchus, he was dismissed from his post.
He was then Ordained as Priest and appointed and Consecrated as the Bishop of Mopsuestia in Cilicia, Turkey.
He is known to have given refuge to exiles.
AnaStpaul 