Monday, 22 November 2010

St Philemon - one of the early martyrs and a friend of St Paul

Our Lady Queen of Martyrs' Church, Chideock
Not a great deal known about this saint whose feastday it is (along with St Cecilia). More seems to be known about his slave, St Onesimus.

Philomen was a wealthy individual who shared his goods with the poor and needy and whose house became a meeting place for converts and catechumens. St Paul addresses him warmly in his Epistle to the Colossians as his 'dear and intimate friend.'
He and his wife, Apphia were stoned to death in Colossae.
For some reason, he is cited as the Patron Saint of Dancers so, in one of Holy Mother Church's wonderful quirks, he shares his feastday with the Patron Saint of Music, St Cecilia.
Saint Philomen and Saint Cecilia - Ora pro nobis

2 comments:

  1. Thank for the information. I din't know him but now I'm already liking him and his wife.

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  2. There are so many Saints it is difficult keeping up with them all. Patron Saint of Dancers? Never seen him on Strictly Come Dancing ... he'd make a better Judge no doubt than the ones we have now.

    Thank you Richard for a very interesting Blog.

    God bless.

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