Saint of the Day – 21 March – Saint Christian (Died 1002) the 1st Abbot of St Pantaleon Monastery in Cologne North Rhine-Westphalia, modern Germany. Also known as – Christianus. Christian was also an Author of renowned, publishing widely read Theological treatise. He was a zealous and hard-working Abbot, creating a flourishing community of holy Monks.
In around 975, Bishop Gero of Cologne brought the Relics of Saint Pantaleon to his Episcopal City and placed them in the Church traditionally dedicated to ‘The Three Holy Doctors’ (Saints Cosmas, Damian and Pantaleon).
This Church dated to the time of Saint Hildebold, perhaps even to the 7th Century. Between 950 and 964, Bishop Bruno had the Church extensively renovated and expanded with a n attached monastic community.
On the occasion of the dedication of the Monastery, he appointed Christianus as the 1st Abbot. This Christianus came from the Monastery of Fulda.
The extent to which he worked for the flourishing of his Monastery is evident from the Bishop’s placement of the Relics of Saint Pantaleon in the Monastery Church.
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