Saint of the Day – 21 March – Saint Birillus (Died c90) the 1st Bishop of Catania, Consecrated by St Peter, Missionary. Born in Antioch (in modern Turkey) and died in c90 in Catania, Italy of natural causes . Patronage – of the Archdiocese of Catania, Italy. Also known as – Berillo, Beryl, Beryllus, Brillus.
The Roman Martyrology reads today: “At Catania, St Brillus, who was Consecrated Bishop by St Peter. After converting many Gentiles to the Faith, he rested in peace in extremely old age.”
Birillus was Consecrated Bishop by St Peter in Antioch in 42 and sent to Catania as a Missionary. After a long service as the City’s 1st Bishop, he died at an advanced age.
Birillus was first mentioned in the 8th Century in the biography of Leo of Catania, then in that of Pancras of Taormina and in two liturgical texts of the 9th Century.
In fact, the City’s first Cathedral, from 380 onward, was the Church of Sant’Agata la Vetere —probably only appeared in the 3rd/4th Century.
The tradition concerning Birillus is, therefore, uncertain, nevertheless, he is highly revered in his City of Catania.
AnaStpaul 
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