12 May St Pancras
Some of you might recall the description by John Betjeman of St Pancras Station in a hushed tone of voice as if he was speaking of a cathedral . The station is named after the nearby Church of St Pancras , one of only 6 in Britain , so the Saint is probably not as widely known as the station named after him .
He was born in Phrygia , Western Turkey , lost both parents early and was taken to Rome by his uncle , where both were converted to Christianity . When the uncle died , the Emperor Diocletian ( 284-305 ), who seems to have known Pancras ’ father , took an interest in him and wanted to persuade him to give up this strange religion , telling him to consider his youth and prospects of a good life .
Pancras was then only 14 , but is said to have replied that he may be ‘ outwardly young but old inside .’
So , because of his defiance he was beheaded ( in 304 ), and his body thrown to the dogs .
It would have been retrieved and buried , ( there is a church in Rome dedicated to him ), since his relics reappeared again , as they were taken to Northumberland and handed over to Oswy , the king who convened the Synod of Whitby in 664 , possibly because he was in need of some powerful relics for his cause .
Pancras is somehow connected with legal matters , he is a Patron Saint to call upon when faced by false oaths . In Germany , he is known as one of the 3 ‘ Ice Saints ’, Pancras , Boniface and ‘ the cold Sophie ’ ( May 15 ), whose Saint days are feared to bring a cold spell in the middle of May .
Contrary to popular belief , St Pancras is not one of the stations of the Cross ! 14 May St Matthias ( First Century )
He was chosen to replace Judas to make up the number of the apostles to twelve once more . Acts 1 : 21-2 , describes the vote taken by the apostles to choose from 2 candidates . With this brief appearance in the New Testament definite information about him ends .
Tradition places him preaching in Judea , also in Cappadocia ( Southern Turkey )
There is a fictitious ‘ Acts of Andrew and Matthias ’ which links him to Ethiopia . Clement of Alexandria makes him one of the 72 disciples sent out to preach throughout the world .
His emblem is an axe , he is said to have been beheaded , his claimed relics were taken to Jerusalem and later sent to Rome by the empress Helen .
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