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The veneration of saints is an important aspect of Catholic and Orthodox worship and plays a crucial role. Although modern saints such as Popes John XXIII and John Paul II have well-documented life stories, historically that's not always the case. Hagiographies, or biographies of saints, used to rely heavily on legends, myths, and traditions, making them highly unreliable before critical examination. Although some early hagiographies had some factual basis, they do not provide a complete understanding of the saint's story.
If you want to know which beloved saints probably never existed check out this gallery.
Although St. George wasn't English, he's the patron saint of England and represents the English ideals of honor, valor, and chivalry. He's said to have been born in the 3rd century in Cappadocia, in what is now Turkey, of Christian parents.
George joined the Roman army and was even promoted to a higher rank. But when Emperor Diocletian intensified his campaign against the Christians, George decided to resign. He defiantly tore up the emperor’s decree against the Christians and enraged Diocletian, who had George imprisoned and tortured. The saint survived all the beatings and it was believed that his wounds had been healed by Christ.
George was compelled to perform pagan sacrifices, but rather than complying, he chose to pray to the Christian God. According to legend, divine fire descended from the sky, leading to the destruction of the pagan temples during an earthquake. Over time, the tale of Saint George combating a dragon was incorporated into this narrative, likely influenced by the medieval concepts of chivalry.
Very little is known about Saint George, as stated by Pope Gelasius in the 5th century, who acknowledged that George is among those saints whose actions are only known by God. Saint George remains a mysterious and legendary figure.
Euphrosyne, the rich heiress of a citizen of Alexandria, chose a religious path and became a nun. To escape her family's expectations of her marrying a nobleman, she cleverly transformed herself into a male monk and committed herself to a monastery for an impressive 38 years.
Euphrosyne's father approached her without knowing that she was his daughter, seeking comfort in his grief. Over time, Euphrosyne earned a reputation for her piety and wisdom, revealing her true identity only at the end of her life. However, modern scholars dismiss her story as mere fiction.
A patron saint and protector of travelers, Saint Christopher has long been popular. However, he was taken off the Church’s liturgical calendar due to the lack of evidence of his existence.
Originally known as Offerus, he matured into a colossal man. Because of this peculiar trait, he decided to dedicate himself to helping people cross a raging stream. Carrying a young child, he gradually sensed the burden becoming increasingly weighty, to the point where it nearly overwhelmed him. Upon reaching the opposing shore, the child disclosed his true identity as Christ.
The child baptized him in the stream, renaming him Christopher, the Christ-bearer. Later, he became a martyr after converting numerous pagans.
Catherine, considered the most helpful saint in heaven, came from a noble family and pursued studies in the sciences. At the age of 18, she fearlessly confronted the Roman Emperor Maxentius for his mistreatment and oppression of Christians. Maxentius sent his scholars to refute her, but she confronted them and managed to convert them. The emperor ordered her execution and had her imprisoned.
However, she persevered and managed to convince the empress. Enraged, the emperor ordered her execution by the wheel, but when she touched it, it unexpectedly shattered. Instead, she was beheaded.
The existence of Catherine has been a subject of debate due to lack of evidence. In 1969, she was removed from the Church's liturgical calendar but later restored by Pope John Paul II in 2002.
Margaret, born in Pisidian Antioch (Turkey) was the daughter of a pagan priest. Her mother died when she was an infant. She was then raised by a Christian nurse who adopted her when her father disowned her. Margaret became a Christian herself and dedicated herself to God.
Margaret's beauty attracted the attention of the Roman prefect Olibrius while she was tending her sheep. She rejected his advances, which angered Olibrius, and he labeled her an outlaw Christian. He put her on trial, but she refused to embrace paganism. The authorities tried to burn her alive, but her prayers saved her.
Another version of the story says that in her captivity she was threatened by a dragon, but she drove it away by making the sign of the cross. Since there is hardly any written evidence, her existence seems to be fictitious. Nevertheless, her story captivated the medieval public.
St. Veronica is often depicted in Catholic churches with a cloth containing the face of Jesus, as it is believed that she wiped his face with it. She was summoned to Rome at the request of Emperor Tiberius, whom she healed with the help of the holy image.
Some believe that she remained in Rome during the mission of Paul and Peter. Others say that she traveled to France, where she married and participated in apostolic preaching. However, none of these legends is substantiated, not even that she wiped Jesus' face.
The final representation of her is likely a misinterpretation of language. In Rome, just after Jesus' passing, his followers worshiped a cloth bearing his face. This cloth was referred to as 'vera icon,' which translates to 'true image.' Over time, the term was distorted into Veronica, ultimately evolving into a female name.
Ancient records do not offer conclusive proof of Philomena's existence. Philomena was created by rector Francis Di Lucia and a Dominican Tertiary nun in Mungano, Italy, near Naples.
The story goes back to the discovery of a tomb in the catacomb of Priscilla in Rome in 1802. Originally, this tomb was mistaken for the tomb of an early Christian martyr. The presence of the name Filumena led people to believe that it belonged to a virgin with that name.
Legend has it that Saint Alexius was the child of eminent Roman Christian senator Euphemianus. Despite his parents' desire to marry him off, Alexius wanted to dedicate his life to God. He fled secretly to Edessa in Syria, where he lived as a devout hermit. His reputation grew, and the Virgin Mary appeared to him in a vision and declared him a 'Man of God.'
Alexius returned to Rome after a 17-year absence. He lived in his father's palace, disguised as a beggar beneath the stairs. During this time he devoted himself to a life of prayer and taught catechism to children. His true identity remained hidden until his passing.
Prior to the late 10th century, no record of his name is found in martyr or liturgical writings in the Western world. The story of Alexius can be compared to that of a Syrian man who was known as the 'Man of God' during the same period.
St. Eustace, a pagan general, had a life-changing encounter when he spotted a stag bearing a crucifix between its antlers. A voice told him that he would suffer much for the sake of Christ. Eustachius then converted to Christianity with his wife and two sons. When he was denounced for his faith, he lost everything, including his family, which was taken away by the authorities.
While living in poverty, one day he was summoned by the emperor to lead the army against invading barbarians. The campaign ended triumphantly and Eustace was reunited with his family. However, when he returned to Rome, the emperor demanded that Eustace offer a sacrifice to the pagan gods. He refused and paid a heavy price when the emperor ordered his execution and that of his family. Although he was highly revered in the Middle Ages, the authenticity of his story has long been disputed.
Formerly believed to be one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers, a group thought to aid against illnesses, the Catholic Church admitted her non-existence and excluded her from the General Roman Calendar in 1969.
According to folklore, Barbara was an attractive young woman who was confined to a tower by her father, oblivious to the world outside. During her captivity, she secretly exchanged letters with the Christian thinker Origen, embracing Christianity herself.
According to the tale, she had three windows in her bathhouse to represent the Holy Trinity. When her father discovered this, he denounced her to the authorities. Despite her attempts to flee, her father captured her. He tortured and beheaded her. As punishment, he was immediately killed by lightning. Or so the story goes.
Sources: (Listverse) (History Extra)
St. George and other saints who probably never existed
These holy figures are legendary but not factual
LIFESTYLE All saints' day
The veneration of saints is an important aspect of Catholic and Orthodox worship and plays a crucial role. Although modern saints such as Popes John XXIII and John Paul II have well-documented life stories, historically that's not always the case. Hagiographies, or biographies of saints, used to rely heavily on legends, myths, and traditions, making them highly unreliable before critical examination. Although some early hagiographies had some factual basis, they do not provide a complete understanding of the saint's story.
If you want to know which beloved saints probably never existed check out this gallery.