Saint Gallicanus
Saint Gallicanus (died c. 362 AD in Alexandria, Egypt) was a Roman general under Emperor Constantine the Great who, according to hagiographic tradition, was converted to Christianity through a miraculous victory in battle and the influence of the daughters of Constantine. He distributed his wealth, became a deacon and devoted himself to charitable service, and was later martyred under Julian the Apostate in Alexandria. His feast day is June 25.
Stored in Cargo: Saint Gallicanus
| Saint Gallicanus | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | June 25 |
| Profession | Roman general; deacon; charitable worker; martyr |
| Rel. Affiliation | Catholic Church; martyr under Julian the Apostate |
| Patronage | Soldiers; those who convert from paganism; the sick and poor (he served lepers) |
| Attributes | Military armor or Roman toga; palm (martyr); alms or purse (charity); his servants-companions SS. John and Paul |
| Birthplace | Rome, Italy (tradition) |
| Death Place | Alexandria, Egypt |
| Cause of Death | Martyrdom; killed by soldiers of Julian the Apostate in Alexandria c. 362 AD |
| Primary Shrine | Basilica of Santi Giovanni e Paolo, Rome — the basilica commemorates him along with Saints John and Paul martyred in the same period; the church preserves connections to this era's Roman martyrs |
| Liturgical Class | Not in universal Roman Calendar; feast June 25 in the traditional Roman Martyrology |
| Historic Class | Feast (June 25, with Saints John and Paul) |
Biography
The life of Gallicanus is known primarily from hagiographic sources of uncertain reliability, including an Acts of Gallicanus associated with the Acts of Saints John and Paul. According to these accounts:
Gallicanus was a distinguished military commander under Emperor Constantine the Great, serving around 330 AD. He was engaged to be married to Constantia (or Constantina), Constantine's daughter. Before his campaign against the barbarians, he set off to battle. In the midst of a desperate engagement, he prayed for divine help and vowed that if God gave him victory he would convert to Christianity. A miraculous figure appeared and turned the tide of battle in his favor.
After his victory, he was baptized. He renounced his betrothal to Constantia (who was herself a consecrated virgin), distributed his enormous wealth to the poor, and freed his slaves. He became a deacon and devoted himself to caring for the sick and the poor, particularly lepers, in imitation of Christ.
When the Emperor Julian the Apostate (r. 361–363) launched his effort to restore paganism and persecute Christians, Gallicanus was exiled. He went to Alexandria in Egypt, where Julian's soldiers or supporters killed him around 362 AD.
His feast in the Roman Martyrology is June 25, where he is sometimes listed with Saints John and Paul, Roman martyrs also killed under Julian.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Rome, Italy (tradition)
Death location: Alexandria, Egypt
Notable location: His base as a Roman military commander; betrothed to Constantia, daughter of Constantine the Great; renounced the betrothal and his career to embrace the ascetic Christian life (Rome, Italy)
Notable location: Place of his martyrdom under Julian the Apostate; Julian's soldiers killed him here during the anti-Christian persecutions of 361–363 AD (Alexandria, Egypt)
Notable location:
Notable location:
Notable location:
Dynamic content
Parishes
No parishes dedicated to Gallicanus have been added to the database yet.
Media
No media found for this saint.
Shrines
Dynamic shrines
No results
No shrines where this saint is the primary saint.
Feast day
June 25
Veneration
Saint Gallicanus is venerated in the Roman Catholic Church with a feast day on June 25 in the traditional Roman Martyrology.
Prayers
Authored
There are prayers authored by this saint in prayers list yet.
Intercessory
There are no prayers asking for this saint's intercession in prayers list yet.