Venerable Sampson the Hospitable

Venerable Sampson came from a noble and wealthy Roman family, received a good education and medical training, and gave free care to the sick. After his parents' death he distributed his wealth and freed his slaves, intending to withdraw into the desert, but, by divine instruction, went instead to Constantinople.

There he was ordained a presbyter and established a free hospice-hospital for the poor, sick, and travelers. Tradition holds he miraculously healed Emperor Justinian I (r. 527–565) of a fatal illness by laying his hands on the afflicted spot in prayer; when the emperor offered gold and silver in gratitude, Sampson asked instead that a proper hospital be built — and it was.

He reposed peacefully of old age around 530 and was buried by the Church of Martyr Mocius in Constantinople; the hospital he founded became renowned for healing miracles even after his death, surviving a major fire in the capital.

IMPORTANT CORRECTION: the saint died a natural death and did not suffer martyrdom — the category has been corrected from "martyr" to "venerable."

His feast is kept on June 27/July 10.