Saint Ananias of Damascus
Also known as
- Anania
Profile
A Christian in Damascus, Syria, Ananias received a vision of Jesus in which he was ordered to find Saul (aka Paul the Apostle). Ananias found Saul, blind and staggering into the city after his encounter with Christ on the road. He cured Saul of the blindness, baptized him into the faith, supported him while he prepared, and helped him begin his missionary work. Ananias evangelized in Damascus, then went on his own mission to Eleutheropolis. Martyr.
- 1st century in Eleutheropolis, a now-ruined village in Palestine
Readings
There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.”
He answered, “Here I am, Lord.”
The Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight and ask at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is there praying, and (in a vision) he has seen a man named Ananias come in and lay (his) hands on him, that he may regain his sight.”
But Ananias replied, “Lord, I have heard from many sources about this man, what evil things he has done to your holy ones in Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to imprison all who call upon your name.”
But the Lord said to him, “Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before Gentiles, kings, and Israelites, and I will show him what he will have to suffer for my name.”
So Ananias went and entered the house; laying his hands on him, he said, “Saul, my brother, the Lord has sent me, Jesus who appeared to you on the way by which you came, that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately things like scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight. – Acts 9:10-18a
MLA Citation
- “Saint Ananias of Damascus“. CatholicSaints.Info. 16 November 2023. Web. 19 April 2024. <>