Liboso di Vaga

Who they were

Liboso was a bishop who served the early Christian community of Vaga, today Béja in Tunisia, in the third century. Recognised for his wisdom and leadership, he took part in the Council of Carthage on the question of the baptism of heretics, declaring that in the Gospel Christ said 'I am the truth,' not 'I am custom.' Some of his letters survive and offer insight into the faith and struggles of the early Church.

He was martyred in 258 during the persecution of the emperor Valerian, giving his life in defence of his faith, and was buried in the cemetery of Carthage near the place of his martyrdom. Honoured as a saint from the early Church, before the formal process of canonisation existed, he is venerated on his feast day of 29 December.

The miracles

There was never a formal cause: he has been honoured as a saint since before the Church's formal processes began.

Why that counted as sanctity

African bishop of Vaga who spoke at the Council of Carthage on the baptism of heretics and was martyred under Valerian in 258; feast 29 December.