Theonistus

Who is Theonistus?

Saint Theonistus is a saint venerated by the Catholic Church. Theonistus is venerated with two companions, Tabra and Tabratha. Medieval documents give accounts of his life, which are contradictory and confused.

His legend is very confused and complex. He may have been a martyr of the end of the 4th or end of the 5th century. His legend is presented in a shorter, older version of the 10th century, which calls him a bishop of an island called Namsia or Namsis, and a longer version of the 11th century, which calls him a bishop of Philippi.

According to the 11th-century account, Theonistus, along with Alban of Mainz, Tabra, Tabratha, and Ursus, attended a council in Carthage, and then went on a pilgrimage to Rome. They then met Saint Ambrose at Milan, and were sent to serve as missionaries to Gallia. Ursus was killed either at Aosta or Augsburg. Albinus was beheaded by the Arians at Mainz and was a cephalophore. A miracle allowed Theonistus, Tabra, and Tabratha to escape from Mainz, and they managed to reach either Gothia or Gallia, and then reached Otranto or Sicily. Finally, they were martyred at Roncade or Altino by beheading, and were also said to have been cephalophores.