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.
StOM Page 16