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Thursday, November 12
Prophet Ahijah the Shilonite
Sinaxarion

Venerable

Valerius Pinianus

Husband of Saint Melania the Younger

A Roman senator, husband of Saint Melania the Younger, with whom he lived ascetically in Jerusalem; he reposed in 420.

Uncertain source. We are looking to verify this information as soon as we can.

Feast
December 31old style January 13
Era
5th century
Place
Jerusalem
Order
Venerables

Life

Valerius Pinianus (born about 381 at Rome) was a member of a branch of the gens Valeria and among the richest men of his time. He was the son of a Roman prefect of the city and had a brother, Severus. His life is closely tied to that of his cousin and wife, Saint Melania the Younger, whom he married between 396 and 400, usually given as 399. After their arrival in Tagaste in North Africa in 410, and that of Melania's mother, possibly together with Pelagius, Augustine, bishop of Hippo, convinced the couple to give a large part of their wealth to his Church. In 417 they moved to Palestine, where they lived in ascetic struggle at Jerusalem. He died there in 420 or 432.

Our sources show no cult of his own; the archive record gives his commemoration on 31 December, the day of Saint Melania the Younger.

Commemorated the same day December 31