Saint of the Day – 25 September – Saint Anathalon of Milan 1st Century Bishop of Milan, Italy, Consecrated by Saint Barnabas. Also known as – Anatalone, Anatelon, Anatalo, Anatolo, Anatolio, Anatalofle, Anatelofl, Anatolofle, Anatolius. Additional Memorial – 24 September in the Diocese of Brescia.
The Roman Martyrology reads today: “St Anathalon, Bishop, who was a disciple of the blessed Apostle Barnabas and succeeded him in the See of Milan.”
Anathalon is regarded as the first Bishop of Milan. Having been the assistant and disciple of St Barnabas, the Apostle, he was designated and Consecrated by the latter to become the Bishop of Milan.
A later tradition makes our Saint the first Bishop of Brescia too, as that City certainly came under the jurisdiction of Milan. In Brescia his Feast day is celebrated on 24 September.
Nothing is known about the life and Episcopate of Anathalon, except that he had a Greek name, that he was bishop of Milan and that he died during a pastoral trip to Brescia which was under his jurisdiction.
The older place of veneration for this Saint was the Basilica ad Concilia Sanctorum in Milan, today no more extant, near the present Church of San Babila. In 1268 his Relics were discovered in Brescia and translated to the Church of Saint Florian. In 1472 his Relics were translated to the Old Cathedral of Brescia where they still reside today (see the Cathedral below).
AnaStpaul 