Feast of Saint Epiphanius of Salamis – May 12

Saint Epiphanius (315-403) was born in Eleutheropolis (known today as Beit Govrin) in the Holy Land to a poor Christian family. He went at an early age to a monastery in Egypt but return to his home town to be ordained priest. There he founded a monastery in his home. He was later elected bishop of Costanza (today Salamis) in Cyprus.

He was known for his love of the poor and his great knowledge of the Bible. Saint Jerome also acknowledged that the bishop knew many languages, including Hebrew, Syriac, Coptic, Greek and Latin. He left many writings that testify to his defense of the Orthodox faith.