Saint of the Day – 8 March – Saint Pontius (Died c262) Deacon of St Cyprian of Carthage, biographer of the latter’s heroic life and virtues.
The Roman Martyrology reads today: “At Carthage, St Pontius, the Deacon of the Bishop, St Vyprian, who remained in banishment with him, until his death and composed an excellent history of his life and Martyrdom, By ever glorifying God in his own sufferings, he merited the crown of life.”
15th Century woodcut of St Pontius witnessing the Martydom of St Cyprian
St Jerome in his De Virus Illustribus (On Famous Men) states that “Pontius, Deacon of Cyprian, after having endured exile with him until the day of his Martyrdom, left a valuable volume on the life and death of Cyprian.” From this we can deduce very little biographical data on Pontius himself which, however, confirm those provided by St Jerome.
Pontius was close to his Bishop, especially during his imprisonment and in the last year of his life and witnessed his torture. In Curubis (modern Korba in Tunisia), where St Cyprian was exiled with Pontius, a Tombstone was discovered in which a Pontius is remembered and from this, it was thought that the Biographer of St Cyprian was originally from this City.
The Martyrdom of St Cyprian
Some scholars have, however, denied the authorship of the Life of Cyprian, based on the fact that neither the writer says his name, nor is he mentioned in the mss. prior to the 12th Century. St Jerome’s statement is, however, too explicit to be doubted.
St Apollonius of Antinoë St Arianus of Alexandri St Arnulf of Chartres Abbot St Beoadh of Ardcarne St Duthus of Ross
St Felix of Burgundy (Died 647) Bishop, “The Apostle of East Anglia” Missionary in East Anglia and particularly in the Port Town now known as Felixstowe, in Suffolk, England. Amongst being the Founder of countless Churches. a famouse Monastery of Bury Saint Edmunds, he is also the Founder of what is now the University of Cambridge. This wonderful “Apostle of East Anglia” https://anastpaul.com/2023/03/08/saint-of-the-day-8-march-st-felix-of-burgundy-died-647-bishop-the-apostle-of-east-anglia/
St Litifredus of Pavia St Philemon of Antinoë St Pontius (Died c262) Deacon of St Cyprian of Carthage St Provinus of Como St Quintilis of Nicomedia St Rhian
Martyrs of North Africa – 9 Saints: A Bishop and some of his flock who were Martyred together in North Africa. The only details that have survived are nine of the names – Beata, Cyril, Felicitas, Felix, Herenia, Mamillus, Rogatus, Silvanus, Urban.
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