This is a list of Algerian saints, blesseds, venerables, and Servants of God, as recognized by the Catholic Church. These people were born, died, or lived their religious life in the present territory of Algeria.
Catholicism had reached Algeria within the first centuries of Christianity. Though interrupted by the Muslim conquest, from ancient times, through the period of French rule, and into the present time, Algeria has had an active Catholic presence. Aside from Egypt, and possibly Tunisia, Algeria accounts for the most known saints of any individual country in Africa.
Before the Arab Conquest
editWhile Catholicism reached northern Africa during Roman times, the Roman borders did not exactly match modern ones. Some saints, particularly of Berber origin, may have been more closely associated with parts of modern Tunisia or Libya. This is a partial list of early saints certainly or probably associated with modern Algeria.
Popes
edit- Pope Victor I (r. 189–199)
- Pope Miltiades (r. 311–314)
- Pope Gelasius I (r. 492–496)
Writers and theologians
edit- Augustine of Hippo, Doctor of the Church
- Optatus, author against Donatism
- Possidius, author of a life of Augustine of Hippo
Others
edit- Adrian of Canterbury, of North Africa
- Alypius of Thagaste
- Arcadius of Mauretania
- Cerbonius, of North Africa
- Crispina
- Donatian and companions, of North Africa
- Fabius
- Marciana of Mauretania
- Marcellinus, Vincent, and Domninus, of North Africa
- Marianus, James, and companions
- Maximilian of Tebessa
- Monica of Hippo
- Nemesian and companions
- Typasius
- Zeno of Verona
Modern times
editIn 1000, the privilege of naming saints was reserved to Rome. As Christianity returned to northern Africa (outside Egypt) in the latter half of the second millennium, the identities and histories of the Algerian saints has become more clear.
List of saints
edit- Serapion of Algiers, Mercedarian religious and martyr (canonized 1728)
- Charles de Foucauld, religious and martyr
List of blesseds
edit- Martyrs of Algeria, Trappists and martyrs
- Francesco Zirano, Franciscan priest and martyr
List of venerables
edit(There are not currently any Algerian Venerables)
List of Servants of God
edit- Bernardo de Monroy and two companions, Trinitarian priests and martyrs
See also
editSources
edit- "Hagiography Circle"
- O'Malley, Vincent J. (2001). Saints of Africa. Our Sunday Visitor. ISBN 0-87973-373-X.