Saint Lucy was a Roman Christian martyr who died during the Diocletianic Persecution. She is venerated at as a saint in Catholic, Anglican and Eastern Orthodox Christianity. The single fact upon which various accounts agree is that a disappointed suitor accused her of being a Christian which resulted in her being executed during the Diocletian Persecutions. Lucy is one of the best known virgin martyrs. Several pictures show her with eyes removed. She is said to have removed her eyes to discourage a persistent suitor from admiring them. When she died her eyes were some how miraculously restored. This is why Lucy is the patron saint for the blind. She is also the patron saint of the city of Syracuse (Sicily) St. Lucy’s day is celebrated especially in Scandinavian countries. Traditionally a young girl is dressed in a white dress with a red sash (as a symbol of martyrdom) and wears a crown or wreath of candles in her hair. Sources Britannica Wikipedia Saint Over 150 Patron Saints for Today edited by Elizabeth Hallam

Saint Hugh of Lincoln was born in Avalon in France - that’s why he also known as Hugh of Avalon. His mother died when he was only 8. His father, Guillaume, a soldier, decided to retire and together they went to the monastery of Villard-Benoit, near Grenoble Aged 15 Saint Hugh became a religious novice. Aged 19 he was ordained a deacon. On his father’s death in about 1165 he joined the monks at the Carthusian motherhouse of La Grande Chartreuse near Grenoble. He was ordained a priest and later became procurator of the housse ( c.1170). In 1179/80 he came to England where he was appointed by Henry11 to be the first prior of the Carthusian house of Witham in Essex. He became bishop of Lincoln in 1186. He was consecrated at Westminster. As both prior and bishop he defended the church’s liberties and gained respect from the monarchy. In 1185 Lincoln cathedral had been was badly damaged because of an earthquake. Saint Hugh set about rebuilding and greatly enlarging it in the new Gothic style. He was now one of the premier bishops in the UK and acted as a diplomat… Following visit to La Grande Chartreusein in 1200, to promote peace between King John of England and King Philip Augustus of France, he fell ill. He died in London and was buried in Lincoln Cathedral on November 24th , 1200. Two kings, 17 bishops, nobles and crowds of the common people came to the funeral of this much loved man. Saint Hugh is often shown with a swan by his side. This is because at his palace at Stow Park he had a pet wild swan. It would follow him everywhere, looking for food in his clothes, ’ walking ’ upstairs in the house and even guarding him while he slept. At the time of the Reformation he was the best known saint after Thomas Becket. Sources used wikipedia Britannica Online Encyclopedia The Church’s Year by Charles Alexander

While looking for a list of 21st century Christian to use to write more profiles about I came across this list of 20 Christians written by Scott Wilson for Church Ministry ED . Scott has done my homework for me. Scott has written short notes, with a picture, about each of the 20 he chose. He gives his reasons for including 5 famous Christians who have already died because they continue to tribute and influence Christians today. I have added a word search ( with answer sheet) to his notes.

I decided to find out further information about the Top 20 leaders!! Using Wikipedia I found extra information about most of them - see breakdown on first sheet. For Billy Graham and Martin Luther King I have already done profiles for them in TES. For John Mark Comer I used* Pastors Bio*. For Pope Francis there are lots of page about him on Wikipedia. For Jim Winker I could only find a single paragraph. I hope this helps you in your research.

Saint Apollonia was one of the group of virgin saints who suffered in Alexandra during a local uprising against the Christians prior to the persecution of Decius. According to church tradition her torture included having all her teeth violently pulled or shattered. This is why she is regarded as the patroness of dentistry and those suffering from toothache.or other dental problems. She was probably a deaconess and held in high esteem. Men seized her and broke and repeatedly broke her teeth. They then took her outside the city and erected a pile of wood to burn her alive… She refused to repeat blasphemous against Christ. Given, at her own request, a little freedom, she sprang quickly into the fire and was burned to death. Saint Apollonia is represented in art with pincers in which a tooth is held. Sources Wikipedia Saints Over 150 patron Saints for Today Editor Elizabeth Hallam

Just three short pieces of information about the hermit Saint Antony of Egypt who is remembered on January 17th.

Anthony was born Fernando Martins de Bilhoes. Upon his admission to the the life of friars, later in life in Olivais he adopted the name Anthony ( from the name of the chapel located there and dedicated to Anthony the Great). He was a teacher and preacher. He was so charismatic that the crowds who came to listen to him during his 9 years of ministry could not be contained in a church. They gathered in the marketplace to his attacks on usury and avarice. He was noted by his contemporaries for his powerful preaching, expert knowledge of the scriptures and undying love for the sick and poor. He was chosen by St. Francis of Assisi to teach theology to the friars at Padua and Bologna. He was chosen by Pope Gregory 1X to produce a series of sermons for feast days. He gained a major reputation as a worker of wonders and miracles One of the best known stories about Anthony is that a novice borrowed his personal psalter without permission. The novice was compelled to return it by a terrifying apparition. This is the reason put forward for him being the patron saint of lost property. He died aged only 36. On his death he was one of the quickest to be canonized- less than one year of his death. In 1946 he was proclaimed a doctor of the church by Pope Pius X11. Sources Wikipedia Saints Over 150 Patron Saints for Today editor Elizabeth Hallam

Saint Anne according to apocrypha, as well a according to Christian and Islamic tradition, was the mother of Mary. the wife of Joachim and the maternal grandmother of Jesus. Mary’s mother is not mentioned by name in the N.T.gospels. of the Bible. Anne and her husband Joachim are only mentioned by name in the New Testament apocrypha in the Gospel of James. sources Wikipedia The Encyclopedia of Saints Howard Loxton

Saint Eloi or Eliguis, the Limousin goldsmith, was called to Paris to make a throne for Clotaire 1. He managed to make 2 from the metal allotted, earning the friendship of the king and more commissions, eventually becoming master of the Paris mint. His wealth enabled him to ransom slaves, build churches and monasteries and support the poor. He legislated for slaves to rest on holy days. A counsellor and diplomat at the court of Draobert, the son of Clotaire1, he was later ordained bishop of Noyon and Tournai in 641/2. According to legend he was forced to cut off the leg of a troublesome horse in order to shoe it but later restored it! Patron saint of goldsmiths, blacksmiths and farriers. Sources Wikipedia Saints Over 150 Patron saints for Today edited by Elizabeth Hallam

Bruno of Cologne, venerated as Saint Bruno, was the founder of the Carthusians - a Latin enclosed religious order of the Catholic church. It was founded by Bruno in 1084 and includes both monks and nuns. Their motto in English means The cross is steady while the world turns. I have included notes about both Bruno and the Carthusians (Wikipedia). His disciples praised his three chief virtues - his great spirit of prayer, extreme mortification and devotion to th e blessed virgin. He has long been regarded and as the patron saint of Calabria and one of the patron saints of Germany. Saint Bruno obviously lived a very active Christian llfe in the eleventh century AD