Dr. John (Ellsworth) Hutchison-Hall

Eastern Orthodox Christian theologian, historian, philosopher, and cultural commentator.

            

Orthodox Saints of the Pre-Schism See of Rome

Orthodox Icon of Italian Saint, Ambrose of Milan 291x375px

Icon of St. Ambrose of Milan

AMBROSE of MILAN, born to a Christian family in Trier, St. Ambrose was the son of the Praetorian Prefect of Gaul. He followed his father in an administrative career culminating in his appointment as governor of Aemilia-Liguria, with his seat at Milan. Upon the repose of the Arian Bishop of Milan, Auxeminus (374), St. Ambrose was chosen bishop by acclimation, even though he was still a catechumen. Initially he refused, but final accepted, and was baptised, and ordained. St. Ambrose gained fame as a preacher, a passionate defender of orthodoxy against Arianism, and was an important figure in the conversion of St. Augustine (28th August). He is credited with introducing a great deal of Eastern theology to the West, and encouraging monasticism. St. Ambrose introduced antiphonal singing, into the Western Church, was instrumental in making hymns an integral part of the Western Liturgy, and is believed to be the author of the Te Deum.

Troparion of St. Ambrose of Milan
Tone IV

In truth you were revealed to your flock as a rule of faith,

an image of humility and a teacher of abstinence;

your humility exalted you;

your poverty enriched you.

Hierarch Father Ambrose,

entreat Christ our God

that our souls may be saved.

Kontakion of St. Ambrose of Milan
Tone III

You shone forth with divine doctrine eclipsing the deception of Arius,

shepherd and initiate of the mysteries, Ambrose.

you worked miracles through the power of the Spirit,

healing various passions;

righteous father, entreat Christ our God to grant us His great mercy.

ANIANUS (AGNAN), a fifth century Bishop of Chartres.

BUITHE (BUITE, BOETHIUS), a Scot who went on a pilgrimage to Rome, and spent several years in studying Italy. Returning to Scotland, St. Buithe helped enlighten the Picts, reposing in 521.

DIUMA, a member of the first group of missionaries invited to the Kingdom of Mercia in 653 by Peada of Mercia the son of King Penda. Following Peada’s succession to the throne, St. Diuma was consecrated bishop by St. Finan of Lindisfarne (17th February). The exact boundaries of his See are unknown, though St. Bede the Venerable (25th May) styles him ‘Bishop of the Middle Angles and the Mercians’.

MARTIN of SAUJON, a disciple of St. Martin of Tours (11th November) who, following the repose of his spiritual father he returned to his place of birth and founded the monastery of Saujon. St. Martin reposed circa 400.

SERVUS, a layman and member of the nobility in North Africa. St. Servus was tortured to death (483) for refusing to renounce orthodoxy Christianity during the reign of the Arian Huneric, King of the Vandals (r. 477–484).

URBAN (URBANUS), according to tradition, a Bishop of Teano in Campania who reposed circa 356.

VICTOR of PIACENZA, the first Bishop of Piacenza from circa 322 until his repose in 375. St. Victor was a resolute defender of orthodoxy against Arianism.

Prior to the Schism the Patriarchate of Rome was Orthodox, and fully in communion with the Orthodox Church. As Saint John of Shanghai and San Francisco +1966 said “The West was Orthodox for a thousand years, and her venerable Liturgy is far older than any of her heresies”.

Details of British Saints excerpted from Orthodox Saints of the British Isles.
Details of continental saints from these sources.

In many cases there are several spelling versions of the names of saints from the British Isles. I use the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography version as the primary version with the more prevalent version in parenthesis e.g. Ceadda (Chad) of Lichfield.