Saint Optatus of Milevis

Catholic Saint

st.Optatus of Milevis-Bishop of Milevis, Father of the Church

Feast Day : June 4

Little is known about Optatus, though it appears he was raised a pagan and was a late convert to Christianity. He survived fourth-century persecutions and rose in the Church to become bishop of Milevis, Numidia (now Algeria), in North Africa. In a series of six treatises, he defended the orthodox doctrine of the Church in its battle with the Donatist heresy. Optatus died about 387. Although there is no sign that he ever received a cultus, and early martyrologies and calendars do not mention him, his name was later inserted in the Roman Martyrology under June 4. In art, Optatus is depicted as an early Christian bishop trampling heretics.