August 25

Saint Maginus (died AD 306) was a Christian hermit from Tarragona known for his piety. He lived as an ascetic on the outskirts of the city during the Diocletian persecution. Arrested for his faith, he endured imprisonment and torture without renouncing Christianity. Maginus was executed by beheading on August 25, 306. He became the patron saint of Tarragona, where his memory is honored with annual processions. His life symbolizes steadfast faith and inspired devotion among early Spanish Christians.

Gennadius I served as the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople from 458 to 471. He succeeded Anatolius during a period marked by theological disputes following the Council of Chalcedon. Gennadius worked to enforce orthodox Christology and condemn lingering heresies. He oversaw the organization of the clergy and the administration of church lands in the Byzantine capital. His leadership contributed to the consolidation of the imperial church's authority. Gennadius died on August 25, 471, leaving a legacy as a defender of orthodoxy.

Thomas de Cantilupe served as Chancellor of Oxford University before becoming Chancellor to King Henry III. In 1275, he was appointed Bishop of Hereford, where he implemented reforms to strengthen ecclesiastical discipline and pastoral care. Revered for his piety and dedication to the poor, Cantilupe was reported to have performed miracles both during his life and after his death. He died on August 25, 1282, and was canonized by Pope John XXII in 1320, becoming the patron saint of Hereford. His shrine in Hereford Cathedral attracted pilgrims for centuries, cementing his legacy in English religious history.

John Morrison Birch (1918–1945) was an American Baptist missionary in China. During World War II, he served as a U.S. Army intelligence officer. Birch was killed by Chinese Communist troops shortly after the war ended. His death made him one of the first American casualties of the emerging Cold War. In 1958, author Robert Welch named the John Birch Society in his honor. Birch is remembered for his missionary work and controversial legacy in Cold War history.