Let’s take a look at the manner in which Christendom arranges the metaphorical seats in Heaven.
January Saints 2023
This is enough for now, though I am curious about the Nestorians!
Saints of the 18th of January
Celtic
18
St. Dicuil of Lure
St. Day
St. Dermot of Innis-Clotran
St. Dicuil of Lure
Born in Leinster, Ireland, c. 530; died in Lure, France, c. 625. Deicolus, the elder brother of Saint Gall (f.d. October 16), was one of the 12 disciples of Saint Columbanus (f.d. November 21) who accompanied him to France in 576 and helped to found the great abbey of Luxeuil. Deicolus worked with Columbanus in Austrasia and Burgundy. Though life was not easy, Deicolus was known for the peace and joy that radiated from his soul and could be seen on his face. Columbanus once asked him, Why are you always smiling? He simply answered, ‘Because no one can take God from me.’
When Columbanus was expelled by Thierry in 610, Deicolus succumbed to fatigue just a few miles from Luxeuil. Columbanus blessed the monk who was unable to accompany him into exile because of his age. Deicolus wandered a bit in the forest region. When he became thirsty with no water in sight, he knelt down in prayer. Miraculously, a spring gushed forth under his walking stick. He settled where the water arose at Lure (Lutra) in the Vosgesr, Ireland, c. 530; died in Lure, France, c. 625. Deicolus, the elder brother of Saint Gall (f.d. October 16), was one of the 12 disciples of Saint Columbanus (f.d. November 21) who accompanied him to France in 576 and helped to found the great abbey of Luxeuil. Deicolus worked with Columbanus in Austrasia and Burgundy. Though life was not easy, Deicolus was known for the peace and joy that radiated from his soul and could be seen on his face. Columbanus once asked him, Why are you always smiling? He simply answered, Because no one can take God from me.br />
When Columbanus was expelled by Thierry in 610, Deicolus succumbed to fatigue just a few miles from Luxeuil. Columbanus blessed the monk who was unable to accompany him into exile because of his age. Deicolus wandered a bit in the forest region. When he became thirsty with no water in sight, he knelt down in prayer. Miraculously, a spring gushed forth under his walking stick. He settled where the water arose at Lure (Lutra) in the Vosges…[..] Source Celtic and Old English Saints – 18 January (celticsaints.org)
Roman
18
- St. Fazzio
- St. Jaime Hilario Barbel
- St. Leobard
- St. Liberata
- St. Margaret of Hungary
- Bl. Marie de la Dive du Verdier
- Bl. Monique Pichery
- St. Moseus & Ammonius
- St. Ulfrid
- Bl. Victoire Gusteau
- St. Vincenza Mary Lopez y Vicuna
- St. Volusian
St. Deicola
Monk and companion of St. Columbanus, also called Deicolus, Desle, Dichul, Deel, Delle, or Deille. He was an elder brother of St. Gall, born in Leinster, Ireland. As one of St. Columbanus’ twelve disciples, Deicola accompanied him to France in 567 and worked with him in Austrasia and in Burgundy, France. In 610, St. Columbanus was exiled by Thierry II. Deicola, too old to accompany him, founded the monastery of Lure in the Vosges, France, and lived there as a hermit…[..] source St. Deicola – Saints & Angels – Catholic Online
Greek Orthodox
Our Holy Fathers Athanasius the Great (373) and Cyril (444), Patriarchs of Alexandria
Athanasius the Great (373)
St. Athanasius the Great was born of Christian parents and educated in Alexandria’s catechetical school. He became deacon and secretary to his bishop Alexander, whom he accompanied to the Council of Nicea in 325 AD, The Council condemned Arianism which denied the eternity of the Word of God and the Divinity of Christ in full. He vigorously defended Orthodoxy and refused all compromise with Arians and semi-Arians, who were, however, strongly represented at the imperial court.
He became bishop in 328 AD at the age of about 30 and made extensive pastoral visits in his province, but was soon the target of bitter attacks by Arians and Meletians. Summoned to the hostile Council of Tyre and appealing to the emperor for fair treatment, he was exiled and then restored, deposed, and then reinstated. Much of his life was spent in exile.[ ] Source St. Athanasius the Great (373 AD) (truechristianity.info)
Russian Orthodox
There are too many to list, so I’m offering The Holy Martyrs Theopemtos, bishop of Nicomedia, and Theon, and the Eve of the Theophany through its link.
Eve of the Theophany (Kreshchenskyi Sochelnik).Fast Day.
The Holy Martyrs Theopemptos and Theonas(303)
Commemorated on January 5/18th.
The Holy Martyrs Theopemptos and Theon suffered in Nicomedia in the year 303. Saint Theopemptos was bishop in Nicomedia during the time of Diocletian. Speaking out against idol worship, he defended the faith in Christ. Summoned to the emperor, he refused to carry out his demand to worship an idol of Apollo. They threw Saint Theopemptos into a red-hot furnace, but by the power of God, he remained alive. The emperor came by night with a detachment of soldiers to the furnace and there actually saw the saint alive and praying to God. Ascribing the miracle accomplished to be a work of magic, Diocletian gave orders to wear down Saint Theopemptos by hunger and thirst during the course of 22 days, but here also by the will of God, the martyr was preserved.
The emperor then summoned the famous sorcerer Theon, brought in to overcome the magical power which, as they supposed, was possessed by the holy bishop Theopemptos. Theon prepared a poison for Saint Theopemptos – put into a little cake, and offered it to him to eat. The poison did no harm at all to Saint Theopemptos. A second time, Theon tried out the effect of a still stronger poison on the martyr; but seeing, that Saint Theopemptos remained unharmed, he himself came to believe in Christ. They threw him into prison together with the holy bishop, who taught and baptised him, giving him the name Synesios (which means “fulfillment of understanding”).
In the morning Diocletian summoned Saint Theopemptos and again contended with him to recant from Christ; but, seeing the unbending rigour of the holy man, he subjected him to many grievous tortures, after which the saint was beheaded. The holy martyr Theon, having refused to offer sacrifice to idols, was buried alive in a deep ditch. This occurred at Nicomedia in the year 303.
© 1996-2001 by translator Fr. S. Janos. Permission to use gained. The Holy Martyrs Theopemptos and Theon (holytrinityorthodox.com)
Coptic
Tubah 9th/18th January
In the Coptic Church most of January and some of February lie in the month of Touba. Touba is the fifth month of the Coptic calendar. It lies between January 9 and February 7 of the Gregorian calendar. The month of Tobi is also the first month of the Season of ‘Proyet’ (Growth) in Ancient Egypt, where the Nile floods recede, and the crops start to grow throughout the land of Egypt. The name of the month of Tobi comes from Amso Khem, a form of the Ancient Egyptian God Amun Ra. The Hebrew word tobi means ‘goodness’.
So, the 9th day of Touba approximates January 18th
The Departure of Abba Abraam, Companion of Abba Gawarga
On this day the blessed St. Abraam departed. His father was a pious man, merciful and kind to the poor. Because of his piety and good nature, he was entrusted to look after the treasury of his village, as well as that of the neighbouring villages. When Egypt suffered a famine, he gave all he had to the needy.
As for St. Abraam’s mother, she lived in the fear of God and Satan envied her, and provoked an evil man against her. As a result, he accused her to the Persians who captured and took her to Persia. During her captivity, one night she saw in a vision, one who told her; “you shall return to your country.” Shortly thereafter, the vision was fulfilled and she returned to her country, Egypt, safely.
After her husband’s death, she wanted her son, Abraam, to be married, but he refused and told her of his desire for monastic life, and she rejoiced. As she bid him farewell at the outskirts of the city, she lifted up her arms toward heaven and prayed saying, “Please Lord, accept him from me as an offering.”[ ] Source 9 Tubah – Topa Month – Coptic Synaxarium (Coptic Orthodox Calendar: Daily Synaxarion) | St-Takla.org
Image Deicolus. (2022, April 11). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deicolus
Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1325988