List of saints from Asia

This page is a list of saints, blesseds, venerables, and Servants of God from Asia, as recognized by the Catholic Church. These people were born, died, or lived their religious life in any of the states or territories of Asia.

Martyrs of Nagasaki (1628 engraving)

Since Christianity began in Asia, the first Christians were Asians, and Biblical figures of the Old Testament considered to be saints also spent all or most of their lives in the Holy Land. While Catholicism has waxed and waned in various parts of the continent, it has had a continuous presence there into the twenty-first century.

Saints in early times

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Due to the rise of Islam and the schisms leading to the establishment of Nestorian, Oriental Orthodox and Eastern Orthodox churches, the Asian saints of times before the modern era are largely concentrated in the area of the Holy Land and the time of the Roman Empire. Christianity reached as far as China and India. The following is a very partial list of those Asian-connected saints traditionally recognized by Rome.

Popes

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Nine of the early popes are said to have been Asian. Three of these (Popes Constantine, John V, and John VI) have not been traditionally considered saints. The other five are:

In addition, Pope Sergius I was born to Syrian immigrants living in Sicily.

One pope died in Asia: Pope Agapetus I (r. 535–536).

Apostles

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All the apostles were Asians, and many of them lived and died in Asia.

Doctors

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Seven of the thirty-five Doctors of the Church were from Asia, all of them from this time period. They are:

Writers and theologians

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Many of the early writers and theologians had connections with Asia. A partial list would include:

Others

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In addition to the categories above, these first centuries gave the Church many other saints, among them:

Modern times

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After the canonization of saints came to be reserved to the Papacy around AD 1000, and especially after the establishment of the Congregation of Rites in 1588, the list of official saints with Asian connections is more clear.

List of saints

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The following is the list of saints, including the year in which they were canonized and the country or countries with which they are associated.

List of blesseds

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List of venerables

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List of Servants of God

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Other open causes

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Others have been proposed for beatification, and may have active groups supporting their causes. These include:

See also

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References

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  1. ^ [1]The Scranton Times-Tribune
  2. ^ "Indonesian pilgrims find answers at martyred priest's tomb - UCA News".