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{{short description|1st-century Maltese bishop and Christian Saint}}
{{Infobox saint
{{Infobox saint
|honorific_prefix = [[Saint]]
|name=Publius
|name=Publius
⚫
|death_date=c. 112;{{#tag:ref|"+ c 112. Tradition identifies this saint with Publius, 'chief man of the island of Malta', who befriended St Paul after his shipwreck (Acts 28:7). He became the first Bishop of Malta and later [[List of archbishops of Athens|Bishop of Athens]], being martyred under Trajan."<ref>''[http://orthodoxengland.org.uk/stdjan.htm Publius 21 Jan].'' Latin Saints of the Orthodox Patriarchate of Rome.</ref>|group=note}} or c. 125;<ref name="CO">{{cite web | title= Publius of Malta | publisher = Catholic Online| url= http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=5507 | access-date= April 22, 2011}}</ref> or c. 161–180<ref name="synax">Great Synaxaristes {{in lang|el}}: ''[http://www.synaxarion.gr/gr/sid/2918/sxsaintinfo.aspx Ὁ Ἅγιος Πούπλιος ὁ Ἱερομάρτυρας Ἐπίσκοπος Ἀθηνῶν].'' 13 Μαρτίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.</ref>
|birth_date=33
⚫
|death_place=[[Athens]],<ref name="orth">Fr. Andrew Anglorus. ''[http://orthodoxengland.org.uk/oemalta.htm Orthodox Europe: Orthodox Malta].'' St John's Orthodox Church, Colchester. Retrieved: 2013-02-07.</ref> [[Achaea (Roman province)|Achaea]], [[Roman Empire]]
⚫
|death_date=c. 125;{{#tag:ref|"+ c 112. Tradition identifies this saint with Publius, 'chief man of the island of Malta', who befriended St Paul after his shipwreck (Acts 28:7). He became the first Bishop of Malta and later [[List of archbishops of Athens|Bishop of Athens]], being martyred under Trajan."<ref>''[http://orthodoxengland.org.uk/stdjan.htm Publius 21 Jan].'' Latin Saints of the Orthodox Patriarchate of Rome.</ref>|group=note}}
⚫
|feast_day=22 January<ref name="roman">''[https://archive.org/details/romanmartyrology00cathuoft The Roman Martyrology].'' Transl. by the Archbishop of Baltimore. Last Edition, According to the Copy Printed at Rome in 1914. Revised Edition, with the Imprimatur of His Eminence Cardinal Gibbons. Baltimore: John Murphy Company, 1916. p.&nbsp;21.</ref> (Roman Catholic)<br/>[[March 13 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)|13 March]]<ref name="synax"/> (Eastern Orthodox)
c. 161-180,<ref name="SYNAX">Great Synaxaristes: {{in lang|el}} ''[http://www.synaxarion.gr/gr/sid/2918/sxsaintinfo.aspx Ὁ Ἅγιος Πούπλιος ὁ Ἱερομάρτυρας Ἐπίσκοπος Ἀθηνῶν].'' 13 Μαρτίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.</ref>
⚫
|venerated_in=[[Roman Catholic Church]]<br/>[[Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodox Church]]
⚫
|feast_day=22 January<ref name=ROMAN>''[https://archive.org/details/romanmartyrology00cathuoft The Roman Martyrology].'' Transl. by the Archbishop of Baltimore. Last Edition, According to the Copy Printed at Rome in 1914. Revised Edition, with the Imprimatur of His Eminence Cardinal Gibbons. Baltimore: John Murphy Company, 1916. pp.21-22.</ref> (Roman Catholic)<br>[[March 13 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)|13 March]]<ref name="SYNAX"/> (Eastern Orthodox)
⚫
|image=Saint Publius (cropped).jpg
⚫
|venerated_in=[[Roman Catholic Church]]<br>[[Eastern Orthodox Church]]
⚫
|image=Saint Publius-2.jpg
|imagesize=
|caption=
|caption=
|titles=[[List of archbishops of Athens|Bishop of Athens]]<br/>[[Archdiocese of Malta|Bishop of Malta]]
|birth_place=[[Malta]]
⚫
|death_place=[[Athens]], [[Greece]]<ref name="ortheu">Fr. Andrew Anglorus. ''[http://orthodoxengland.org.uk/oemalta.htm Orthodox Europe: Orthodox Malta].'' St John's Orthodox Church, Colchester. Retrieved: 2013-02-07.</ref>
|titles=[[Archdiocese of Malta|First Bishop of Malta]]<br>[[List of archbishops of Athens|Bishop of Athens]]
|beatified_date=
|beatified_date=
|beatified_place=
|beatified_place=
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|canonized_place=
|canonized_place=
|canonized_by=
|canonized_by=
|attributes=<!--Lion,_Mitre-->
|attributes=Shown with a lion next to him
|patronage=[[Floriana|Floriana, Malta]]
|patronage=[[Floriana|Floriana, Malta]]
|major_shrine=
|major_shrine=
|suppressed_date=
|issues=
|issues=
}}
}}


'''Saint Publius''' ({{lang-mt|San Publju}}) is a first century [[Maltese people|Maltese]] [[Saint]]. He is [[Veneration|venerated]] as the first Bishop of [[Malta]]. St. Publius is Malta‘s first acknowledged saint, the prince of the island ({{lang-mt|il-prinċep tal-gżira}}). According to Maltese Pauline Mythology, Publius' conversion led to [[Malta]] being the first [[Christianity|Christian]] nation in the [[West]]. His feast day is celebrated by the [[Roman Catholic Church]] and the [[Orthodox Church]], of which the traditions related and the day of celebration differ.
'''Saint Publius''' ({{lang-mt|San Publju}}; {{lang-grc-gre|Πούπλιος}}) was a first-century [[Maltese people|Maltese]] Christian [[prelate]]. He is considered the first [[Archdiocese of Malta|Bishop of Malta]] and one of the first [[List of archbishops of Athens|Bishops of Athens]].

Publius is [[Malta]]'s first [[canonised]] [[saint]], who is described in the [[Book of Acts]] as the 'chief' or prince of the island ({{lang-mt|il-prinċep tal-gżira}}). According to Maltese [[Christian tradition]], Publius' conversion led to [[Malta]] being the first [[Christianity|Christian]] nation in the [[Western world|West]].

His feast day is celebrated by the [[Catholic Church]] and the [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodox Church]], in which the traditions are related but the day of celebration differs.


==History and tradition==
==History and tradition==
According to Tradition, it was Publius who received the [[Apostle Paul]] during his [[shipwreck]] on the island as recounted in the [[Acts of the Apostles]]. According to the [[Acts of the Apostles]], [[Paul of Tarsus|St. Paul]] cured Publius' [[dysentery]]-afflicted father.
According to [[Christian tradition]], it was Publius who received [[Paul the Apostle]] during his [[shipwreck]] on the island as recounted in the [[Acts of the Apostles]]. According to the Acts of the Apostles, Paul cured Publius' [[dysentery]]-afflicted father.


:''"In the vicinity of that place were lands belonging to a man named Publius, the chief of the island. He welcomed us and received us cordially as his guests for three days. It so happened that the father of Publius was sick with a fever and dysentery. Paul visited him and, after praying, laid his hands on him and healed him. After this had taken place, the rest of the sick on the island came to Paul and were cured. They paid us great honor and when we eventually set sail they brought us the provisions we needed."'' - Acts 28:7-10, New American Bible
:''"In the vicinity of that place were lands belonging to a man named Publius, the chief of the island. He welcomed us and received us cordially as his guests for three days. It so happened that the father of Publius was sick with a fever and dysentery. Paul visited him and, after praying, laid his hands on him and healed him. After this had taken place, the rest of the sick on the island came to Paul and were cured. They paid us great honor and when we eventually set sail they brought us the provisions we needed."'' — Acts 28:7–10, New American Bible


Apart from being [[patron saint]] of [[Floriana]], St Publius is also one of the two patron saints of Malta beside St Paul. He was martyred c. 125, during the persecution of Emperor [[Hadrian]], and canonised in the year 1634
Apart from being [[patron saint]] of [[Floriana]], Publius is also one of the two patron saints of Malta beside Paul. He was martyred c. 125,<ref name="CO"/> during the persecution of Emperor [[Hadrian]].


His feast is celebrated on January 22, in the [[Roman Catholic Church]], which places him as the successor of St. [[Dionysius the Areopagite]] (Denis the Areopagite), dating his martyrdom to ca. 112 AD.{{#tag:ref|"At Athens, the birthday of St. Publius, bishop, who, as successor of St. [[Dionysius the Areopagite|Denis the Areopagite]], nobly governed the Church of Athens. No less celebrated for the lustre of his virtues than for the brilliancy of his learning, he was gloriously crowned for having borne testimony to Christ."<ref name=ROMAN/>|group=note}}
His feast is celebrated on 22 January in the [[Roman Catholic Church]], which places him as the successor of [[Dionysius the Areopagite]], dating his martyrdom to c. 112.{{#tag:ref|"At Athens, the birthday of St. Publius, bishop, who, as successor of St. [[Dionysius the Areopagite|Denis the Areopagite]], nobly governed the Church of Athens. No less celebrated for the lustre of his virtues than for the brilliancy of his learning, he was gloriously crowned for having borne testimony to Christ."<ref name="roman"/>|group=note}}


In the [[Orthodox Church]], however, his feast day is observed on [[March 13 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)|March 13]], and according to an epistle of Saint [[Dionysius, Bishop of Corinth]], he is placed as the successor of Saint [[Narcissus of Athens]], dating his martyrdom to the period of the [[Persecution of early Christians in the Roman Empire#Under Marcus Aurelius to Maximinus the Thracian|persecution under Marcus Aurelius]] (161-180).<ref name=SYNAX/>
In the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]], however, his feast day is observed on [[March 13 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)|13 March]], and according to an epistle of [[Dionysius, Bishop of Corinth]], he is placed as the successor of [[Narcissus of Athens]], dating his martyrdom to the period of the [[Persecution of early Christians in the Roman Empire|persecution under Marcus Aurelius]] ({{Reign|161|180}}).<ref name="synax"/>

Contemporary historians, such as Professor Godfrey Wettinger, have made it clear, that in his opinion, there is no physical proof that St Paul ever was in Malta, other than in pseudo-Maltese history dating from the 11th to the 18th centuries. It is also well established that early Christianity was of the Orthodox tradition and that the island was conquered by the Muslims between 870 and 1091, during which period it also spent years uninhabited; meaning Christianity in Malta is not rooted on St Publius and St Paul as it is not of continuous tradition. The Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 28 verse one does specifically mention Malta in connection with Paul's voyage and shipwreck, however Pauline Mythology commonly presented as historical 'fact' in Malta, is rooted in religious views, specifically that of the Roman Catholic Church which is very powerful on the island. It is held that St Publius converted to Christianity after his father was cured of fever and dysentery by St Paul, however the Bible does not mention that St Publius ever converted.<ref>{{cite book|title=Il-Mit Pawlin u l-Abbuż tal-Istorja Maltija|url=http://www.mireva.com/DetailPanel.aspx?Id=22068621|first=Mark|last=Camilleri|date=2013|publisher=Publikazzjoni Sensiela Kotba Socjalisti (SKS)|language=mt|isbn=9789993217299|pages=12–16}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Il-Mit Pawlin u l-Abbuż tal-Istorja Maltija|url=https://www.pressreader.com/malta/the-malta-independent-on-sunday/20161106/281934542512714|work=The Malta Independent on Sundays|date=6 November 2016}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
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* [[Archdiocese of Malta]]
* [[Archdiocese of Malta]]
* [[Malta]]
* [[Malta]]
* [[List of minor New Testament figures#Publius|List of minor New Testament figures]]
* [[Floriana]]


==Notes==
==Notes==
Line 50: Line 49:


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist|35em}}

==Sources==
* Great Synaxaristes: {{in lang|el}} ''[http://www.synaxarion.gr/gr/sid/2918/sxsaintinfo.aspx Ὁ Ἅγιος Πούπλιος ὁ Ἱερομάρτυρας Ἐπίσκοπος Ἀθηνῶν].'' 13 Μαρτίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
* ''[https://archive.org/details/romanmartyrology00cathuoft The Roman Martyrology].'' Transl. by the Archbishop of Baltimore. Last Edition, According to the Copy Printed at Rome in 1914. Revised Edition, with the Imprimatur of His Eminence Cardinal Gibbons. Baltimore: John Murphy Company, 1916. p.&nbsp;7.
* {{cite web | title= Publius of Malta | publisher = Catholic Online| url= http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=5507 | access-date= April 22, 2011}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20091027025034/http://geocities.com/floriananet/ For more information on Publius]
* [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15757b.htm Info on the other St Publius]
* [http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=5507 St. Publius - Saints & Angels]
* [http://www.malta.com/en/about-malta/city-village/rabat Rabat, Malta - Information and interests]
* [http://www.visitmalta.com/en/roman-times Roman Times - History of Malta | Visit Malta]


{{s-start}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-rel|[[Catholic Church|Catholic Church titles]]}}
{{s-rel|[[Catholic Church|Catholic Church titles]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Dionysius the Areopagite]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Narcissus of Athens]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of archbishops of Athens|Bishop of Athens]]|years= <112-125}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of archbishops of Athens|Bishop of Athens]]|years= c. 112 – c. 125}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Quadratus of Athens]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Quadratus of Athens]]}}
{{s-new|creation}}
{{s-new|creation}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Malta|Bishop of Malta]]|years= 60-90}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Malta|Bishop of Malta]]|years= 60–90}}
{{s-aft|after=Quadratus of Malta}}
{{s-aft|after=Quadratus of Malta}}
{{s-end}}
{{s-end}}

Revision as of 23:20, 9 February 2024

Saint

Publius
Bishop of Athens
Bishop of Malta
Diedc. 112;[note 1] or c. 125;[2] or c. 161–180[3]
Athens,[4] Achaea, Roman Empire
Venerated inRoman Catholic Church
Orthodox Church
Feast22 January[5] (Roman Catholic)
13 March[3] (Eastern Orthodox)
AttributesShown with a lion next to him
PatronageFloriana, Malta

Saint Publius (Maltese: San Publju; Greek: Πούπλιος) was a first-century Maltese Christian prelate. He is considered the first Bishop of Malta and one of the first Bishops of Athens.

Publius is Malta's first canonised saint, who is described in the Book of Acts as the 'chief' or prince of the island (Maltese: il-prinċep tal-gżira). According to Maltese Christian tradition, Publius' conversion led to Malta being the first Christian nation in the West.

His feast day is celebrated by the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church, in which the traditions are related but the day of celebration differs.

History and tradition

According to Christian tradition, it was Publius who received Paul the Apostle during his shipwreck on the island as recounted in the Acts of the Apostles. According to the Acts of the Apostles, Paul cured Publius' dysentery-afflicted father.

"In the vicinity of that place were lands belonging to a man named Publius, the chief of the island. He welcomed us and received us cordially as his guests for three days. It so happened that the father of Publius was sick with a fever and dysentery. Paul visited him and, after praying, laid his hands on him and healed him. After this had taken place, the rest of the sick on the island came to Paul and were cured. They paid us great honor and when we eventually set sail they brought us the provisions we needed." — Acts 28:7–10, New American Bible

Apart from being patron saint of Floriana, Publius is also one of the two patron saints of Malta beside Paul. He was martyred c. 125,[2] during the persecution of Emperor Hadrian.

His feast is celebrated on 22 January in the Roman Catholic Church, which places him as the successor of Dionysius the Areopagite, dating his martyrdom to c. 112.[note 2]

In the Eastern Orthodox Church, however, his feast day is observed on 13 March, and according to an epistle of Dionysius, Bishop of Corinth, he is placed as the successor of Narcissus of Athens, dating his martyrdom to the period of the persecution under Marcus Aurelius (r. 161–180).[3]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ "+ c 112. Tradition identifies this saint with Publius, 'chief man of the island of Malta', who befriended St Paul after his shipwreck (Acts 28:7). He became the first Bishop of Malta and later Bishop of Athens, being martyred under Trajan."[1]
  2. ^ "At Athens, the birthday of St. Publius, bishop, who, as successor of St. Denis the Areopagite, nobly governed the Church of Athens. No less celebrated for the lustre of his virtues than for the brilliancy of his learning, he was gloriously crowned for having borne testimony to Christ."[5]

References

  1. ^ Publius 21 Jan. Latin Saints of the Orthodox Patriarchate of Rome.
  2. ^ a b "Publius of Malta". Catholic Online. Retrieved April 22, 2011.
  3. ^ a b c Great Synaxaristes (in Greek): Ὁ Ἅγιος Πούπλιος ὁ Ἱερομάρτυρας Ἐπίσκοπος Ἀθηνῶν. 13 Μαρτίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
  4. ^ Fr. Andrew Anglorus. Orthodox Europe: Orthodox Malta. St John's Orthodox Church, Colchester. Retrieved: 2013-02-07.
  5. ^ a b The Roman Martyrology. Transl. by the Archbishop of Baltimore. Last Edition, According to the Copy Printed at Rome in 1914. Revised Edition, with the Imprimatur of His Eminence Cardinal Gibbons. Baltimore: John Murphy Company, 1916. p. 21.
Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Bishop of Athens
c. 112 – c. 125 		Succeeded by
New creation Bishop of Malta
60–90 		Succeeded by
Quadratus of Malta
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