St. Publius of Malta

Saint Publius was a 1st century Christian bishop and saint. He is considered the first Bishop of Malta and one of the first Bishops of Athens. Publius is Malta's first canonised saint. The prefect of Malta, he was described in the Acts of the Apostles as "the chief man of the island" at the time when St. Paul, who was being taken to Rome, was shipwrecked on the isle. Paul cured Publius' father of fever and dysentery, and Publius and Paul became good friends. According to tradition, Publius became the first bishop of Malta and also the first Saint of Malta, suffering martyrdom during the persecution of the Church under Emperor Hadrian. His memory is kept on January 22.

In the vicinity of that place were lands belonging to a man named Publius, the chief of the island. He welcomed us and received us cordially as his guests for three days. It so happened that the father of Publius was sick with a fever and dysentery. Paul visited him and, after praying, laid his hands on him and healed him. After this had taken place, the rest of the sick on the island came to Paul and were cured. They paid us great honor and when we eventually set sail they brought us the provisions we needed. (Acts 28:7-10)