Saint of the Day – 26 January – Saint Theogenes (Died c262) Martyr and the 1st Bishop of Hippo

Saint of the Day – 26 January – Saint Theogenes (Died c262) Martyr and the 1st Bishop of Hippo in North Africa (present day Algeria) with 36 Companions. St Augustine wrote of him. Also known as – Theogenes of Hippo,… of Bona … of Ippona, Teógene…

The Roman Martyrology reads today: “At Hippo Regius, in Africa, the holy Bishop Theogenes and 36 others, who despising temporal death, obtained the crown of eternal life in the persecution of Valerian.”

Very little is known about St Theogenes, as the sources available to us are scarce and fragmentary.

According to the Roman Martyrology, Theogenes was Martyred in Hippo, Numidia, in present-day Algeria. He died during the persecution of Valerian, the Roman Emperor who, in 257, ordered the persecution of Christians.

Another source, St Augustine’s Sermon 301, provides a little more detail about the life of Theogenes. From this sermon we learn that Theogenes was the Bishop of Hippo, and that he was a man of great faith and devotion.
Augustine says that Theogenes was arrested by Roman soldiers and brought before the Prefect of the City. The Prefect tried to convince him to renounce the Christian Faith but Theogenes firmly refused.

Faced with his refusal, the Prefect ordered that Theogenes be tortured. Theogenes endured the torture with courage and patience and was eventually beheaded.

Theogenes’ death was a great sorrow for the Christians of Hippo. However, his testimony of faith and courage, inspired many others to follow in his footsteps. Although not confirmed by St Augustine, some say that 36 of his flock were also Martyred.

St Theogenes was succeeded by Saint Leontius (Died c303). Then came St Fidentius (Martyr c304), alerius who Ordained St Augustine (354– 8 August 430, co-adjutor in 395, Bishop in 396). After St Augustine came Heraclius (co-adjutor in 426, Bishop in 430).