Hierarch8th century

Saint Leo Bishop of Catania in Sicily

born at Ravenna c. 703/709; died 20 February 789

Also known as Leo of Catania · Leo the Wonderworker of Catania

Bishop of Catania in Sicily, born at Ravenna, famed for his charity to the poor, his healing miracles, and his confrontation with the sorcerer Heliodorus.

February 20New Calendar

Feast Day

March 5Old Calendar

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Commemorated as

Our Father among the Saints Leo, Bishop of Catania, the Wonderworker

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Healing

Deliverance from the Occult

Life

Saint Leo was a hierarch of the eighth century who served as bishop of Catania in Sicily. He was born at Ravenna in northern Italy, by most accounts of pious and noble parents, and is remembered above all for his charity toward the poor and the wandering, and for the wonders attributed to him during his episcopate. He is honored with the title of Wonderworker (Thaumaturgus).

His most celebrated act, recounted in the synaxarion and later traditions, was his confrontation with a sorcerer named Heliodorus, whom he is said to have led into a fire from which Leo himself emerged unharmed. He reposed at Catania on 20 February 789, the day on which he is commemorated.

Kontakion & Troparion2 hymnsReadHide

KontakionTone 2

With hymns of praise let us crown Leo,
who was consecrated to the Lord from early childhood;
he received grace while still a babe in swaddling clothes.
He is a brightly shining star in the Church:
its valiant defender and firm support!

Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).

TroparionTone 1

You were shown forth as a resplendent priest,
a teacher of godliness and a wonderworker, blessed hierarch Leo;
by the light of heavenly virtue you were enriched with the power of the Spirit,
and heal the souls and bodies of those who hasten to you.
Glory to Christ who has glorified you!
Glory to Him who has crowned you!
Glory to Him who through you works healing for all!

Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).

Timeline4 momentsReadHide

c. 703/709Birth at RavennaLeo is born at Ravenna, in the Exarchate of Ravenna, by tradition to pious and noble parents.
765Bishop of CataniaHe is elected bishop of Catania, accounted the fifteenth holder of that see, and becomes known for his care of the poor.
c. 778The confrontation with HeliodorusBy tradition, during the Liturgy Leo confronts the sorcerer Heliodorus and leads him to a fire ordeal from which Leo alone emerges unharmed.
20 February 789Repose at CataniaSaint Leo dies at Catania; this date becomes his feast.

Contributions & Legacy

2 contributionsReadHide

Life and episcopate

According to his life, Leo was born at Ravenna of pious and noble parents and was educated there before being ordained to the priesthood. He was distinguished by benevolence and Christian love for the poor and for wanderers. One account relates that in his youth he became a monk and afterward moved to Reggio Calabria, where the bishop appointed him archdeacon.

He was elected bishop of Catania, by one reckoning in 765 and as the fifteenth bishop of that see. Throughout his episcopate he remained renowned for his care of those in need. Tradition further holds that during the period of Byzantine iconoclasm he opposed the destruction of holy images and for a time endured exile in the mountainous country of Sicily before returning to his bishopric.

Miracles & Traditions

Traditional Accounts: The best-known account of Saint Leo concerns the sorcerer Heliodorus, said to have come of a noble Christian family who renounced Christ and trafficked in magic, deceiving the people of Catania and Sicily through apparitions, spells, and charms. The synaxarion relates that Leo repeatedly admonished him to repent, but the sorcerer mocked the warnings and disrupted the church services. During the Liturgy, the tradition holds, Leo removed his omophorion, wrapped it about the sorcerer's neck, and led him out; a fire was kindled, and Leo entered the flames with him. Heliodorus was consumed, while Leo emerged unharmed, his vestments untouched.

Later accounts add that this wonder spread Leo's fame widely and that he was summoned to Constantinople, where further healings and signs were attributed to him. These episodes are transmitted as hagiographical tradition rather than as documented history.

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Sources: OCA Synaxarion (oca.org), Feb 20