SAINT ZENO AND COMPANIONS, MARTYRS - 28 APRIL

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN APRIL 

Saints celebrated on the 28th of April

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SAINT ZENO AND COMPANIONS, MARTYRS

A page of one of Fortunatus Hueber's
Saints' books,
"Stammenbuch..." (1693)

Saint Zeno, martyr of Corcyra (that was the name of the city and island of Corfu in antiquity) had three companions: Eusebius, Neon and Vitalius, of whom the first two are also mentioned on April 24 as martyrs of Nicomedia. According to local tradition, they were converted to the Faith by Saints Jason and Sosipater.

Seized by the excited idolaters, they were thrown to the ground on their way to the dungeon, beaten and maltreated, and when they remained steadfast, the Praeses Cercilinus sentenced them to death by fire. 

According to the Bollandists*, their martyrdom happened in A.D. 100. The large Greek church in Corfu, in honour of Saint Zeno and his Companions, is one of the most beautiful buildings in the whole city. (III. 561)

These holy martyrs are also commemorated on April 29.

Source:

Complete Saints Lexicon, Volume 5. Augsburg 1882, p. 857.

(Information from Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints, Volume 2, Augsburg, 1861, p. 100)

*A hagiography source used by the authors 

Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints - Sources and Abbreviations

PRAYER:

Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that the venerable feast of Saints Zeno, Eusebius, Neon and Vitalius may increase our devotion and promote our salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Sources of these articles (in the original German): books.google.co.uk, de-academic.com, zeno.org, openlibrary.org