St. Olga, also called Helga or Saint Olga of Kiev, (born c. 890—died 969, Kiev; feast day July 11), princess who was the first recorded female ruler in Russia and the first member of the ruling family of Kiev to adopt Christianity. She was canonized as the first Russian saint of the Orthodox Church and is the patron saint of widows and converts. Olga was the widow of Igor I, prince of...

Saint Veronica Giuliani, O.S.C. Cap., was an Italian Capuchin Poor Clare nun and mystic. She was canonized by Pope Gregory XVI in 1839. Veronica’s desire to be like Christ crucified was answered with the stigmata. Veronica was born in Mercatelli, Italy. It is said that when her mother Benedetta was dying she called her five daughters to her bedside and entrusted each of them to one of...

St. Augustine Zhao Rong (d. 1815) was a Chinese soldier who was assigned to escort the captive Catholic bishop, John Gabriel Taurin Dufresse, to Beijing where he was to be executed by beheading. The bishop's faith made a strong impact on Zhao, who then requested baptism. He took the Christian name Augustine, and later entered the seminary and was ordained to the priesthood. During the...

St. Killian (640-689 A.D.), also known as St. Cillian, was born to a noble family in Ireland. As a child he was known for his piety and love of study, which led him to the priesthood. He became a traveling bishop on the island, and in 686 A.D. left Ireland with eleven companions to travel throughout Gaul (present day France and parts of Germany) to preach the Gospel. From there he traveled to...

The Four Crowned Martyrs or Four Holy Crowned Ones (Latin, Sancti Quatuor Coronati) were nine individuals who are venerated as martyrs and saints of Early Christianity. The nine saints are divided into two groups: 1. Severus (or Secundius), Severian(us), Carpophorus (Carpoforus), Victorinus (Victorius, Vittorinus) 2. Claudius, Castorius, Symphorian (Simpronian), Nicostratus, and...