Saint Publius 1321529 225274276 2008-07-12T20:48:40Z 67.80.38.124 {{Infobox Saint |name=Publius |birth_date=unknown |death_date=c. [[112]] |feast_day=[[21 January]] |venerated_in=[[Roman Catholic Church]] |image= |imagesize= |caption= |birth_place=[[Malta]] |death_place=[[Athens]], [[Greece]]<ref name="ortheu">[http://orthodoxengland.org.uk/oemalta.htm Orthodox Europe]</ref> |titles=First Bishop of Malta |beatified_date= |beatified_place= |beatified_by= |canonized_date= |canonized_place= |canonized_by= |attributes= |patronage=[[Floriana|Floriana, Malta]], [[Malta|country of Malta]] |major_shrine= |suppressed_date= |issues= }} '''Saint Publius''' (in [[Maltese language|Maltese]], '''San Publju''') is [[Veneration|venerated]] as the first Bishop of [[Malta]]. Publius led to [[Malta]] being the first [[Christian]] nation in the [[West]], and one of the first in the world. It was the same 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. "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 fact apart from being the particular [[patron saint]] of the town of [[Floriana]], Saint Publius is also one of the patron saints of Malta. St Publius was never canonised as all the biblical saints are never canonised, so he is not recognised as Malta's first saint for that reason. Reference Mons Scicluna - postulator of [[George Preca]] on Xarabank, 8/6/07. He was martyred c. 112, during the persecution of Emperor [[Trajan]]. His feast is celebrated on [[January 21]]. There is another Saint Publius in Greece which may have been mixed up with Malta's Publius. The other St Publius was a monk. == References == '''Source''' *{{cite web | title= Publius of Malta | work= Patron Saints Index | url=http://www.catholic-forum.com/SAINTS/saintp4x.htm | accessmonthday=September 23 | accessyear=2006}} '''In-line References''' {{reflist}} ==External links== * [http://www.geocities.com/floriananet/ For more information on Publius] * [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15757b.htm Info on the other St Publius] {{New Testament people}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Publius}} [[Category:112 deaths]] [[Category:Maltese saints]] [[Category:New Testament people]] [[Category:Christianity in Malta]] [[it:San Publio di Malta]] [[he:פובליוס הקדוש]] [[scn:San Pubbliu]]