Saint Deogratias of Carthage - Feast Day - January 5

Today is Friday, April 5, 2024

Saint Deogratias of Carthage was Born Tunisia, Africa. He worked in Tunisia, Africa and Died around 457 Carthage (modern Tunis, Tunisia), Africa. His Feast Day is celebrated on January 5.

Saint Deogratias of Carthage Biography
Date of Birth	N/A
Country of Birth	N/A
Profession	Priest, Bishop
Place of Work	Carthage, Africa
Date of Death	457
Place of Death	Carthage (modern Tunis, Tunisia)
Feast Day	January 5
Beatification	Beatified by Pre Congregation
Canonization	Canonized by Pre Congregation
Patron Saint of	N/A

Saint Deogratias of Carthage Life History

St Deogratias of Carthage lived in the 400’s in North Africa and was a priest in Carthage, modern Tunis in Tunisia. In 439, the Aryan he was captured during King Geiseric (428-77).

For fourteen years, the city was without a bishop and the King Gaiseric, after a request from the Roman emperor Valentinian III, allowed a new bishop to be consecrated. The people chose priest chose Deogratias for their new bishop in 453.

The example of the new bishop and teachings strengthened the faith of the people, and he was well-loved by Christians, pagans, and heretics. In 455, Geiseric conquered Rome and took hundreds of prisoners, and these discouraged prisoners took Geiseric back with them to North Africa, where whole Christian families split up and forced to work as slaves for the vandals and the Moors.

Deogratias released the slaves. The only way was to buy them free. For this purpose, the bishop sold everything he could, including the rich gold and silver clothing in the church and many precious decorations.

Deogratias bought so many families free that there was not enough room in Carthage to house them. He gave them room inside the churches, and two of the largest were filled with beds. Every day he saw they were fed until they could manage again. Even though Deogratias was worn out of age, he visited the sick every day to comfort them.

Many Arians opposed the bishop’s charitable work, and several attempted to kill him. He died in 457 in Carthage (modern Tunis, Tunisia) of natural causes and buried to avoid the destruction of his grave by relic seekers.

The Vandals refused to allow another bishop to occupy the seat for another 23 years.

Saint Deogratias of Carthage Date of birth

St Deogratias of Carthage was Born Tunisia, Africa though those dates are not known but we are keeping tabs and soon we will update this information.

Place of Birth

St Deogratias of Carthage was Born Tunisia, Africa though those dates are not known but we are keeping tabs and soon we will update this information.

Family Background

There are no data based on who were his family members or parents but we are keeping tabs and soon we will update this information.

Profession

During his bishopric he sold everything he could, including the diocesan gold and silver plate, works of art, and equipage of the Mass in order to ransom and house Christians captured and taken to north Africa as slaves by the Vandal king Genseric following the sack of Rome, Italy.

He made special attempts to buy and keep together whole families, turned his largest churches, Basilica Fausti and Basilica Novarum, into dormitories and hospitals for the refugees, and when his duties gave him the time, he worked in the sick wards.

Saint Deogratias of Carthage Date of Death

St Deogratias of Carthage died around 457 in Carthage (modern Tunis, Tunisia) of natural causes and buried secretly to avoid destruction of his grave by relic seekers.

Saint Deogratias of Carthage Place of Death

St Deogratias of Carthage died around 457 in Carthage (modern Tunis, Tunisia) of natural causes and buried secretly to avoid destruction of his grave by relic seekers.