St. Anysius, Bishop of Thessalonica

We know very little about the life of this Saint who became Bishop of Thessalonica upon the death of Ascholius in 383. On this occasion, St. Ambrose wrote to the new Bishop and expressed he hope that since Anysius was a dedicated disciple of Ascholius he might prove to be “another Elisha to Elijah.”

Pope St. Damasus made this saintly Bishop the patriarchal vicar of Illyricum and he was confirmed in his power by Sts. Siricius and Innocent I. when St. John Chrysostom was being harassed by the authorities, St. Ansius came strongly to his defense. In 404, he called upon Pope Innocent I to review the case whereby St. John had been exiled from his See, and he was joined in this by fifteen other Bishops of Macedonia. In return he received a letter from St. John thanking him for his efforts on his behalf.

St. Anysius was a dedicated shepherd who in spired his people by his life and teachings. Both St. Innocent I and St. Leo the Great had high praise for his virtues. He died about 406.

PRAYER: God, Light and Shepherd of souls, You established St. Anysius as Bishop in Your Church to feed Your flock by his word and form it by his example. Help us through his intercession to keep the Faith he taught by his word and follow the way he showed by his example. Amen.