Malchus, Saint

MALCO, santo. - He is commemorated in the Roman Martyrology on Oct. 21, but the true dies natalis is unknown; it does not appear that he had a cult in antiquity. Around 390 St. Jerome wrote his biography. M., the only son of a colonist from Nisibis, to avoid contracting marriage fled from home and took refuge in the hermitage of Chalcis near Aleppo.

After spending a few years in prayer, work, and penance, despite the prohibition of the abbot, he wanted to return home to see his mother, who was already a widow, and dispose of his paternal property. During the journey, however, he was taken prisoner by a band of Saracen raiders and assigned, along with a woman, to a master who sent him to tend the flock. As a reward for his good conduct, the master wanted to give him his companion in captivity in marriage, but she was already married. Threatened and distressed, the two prisoners decided to flee; they succeeded, despite being pursued, and were able to reach the Roman quarters in Mesopotamia. From there M. returned to the solitary life near the small town of Maronia, 30 miles distant from Antioch; it was precisely there that s. Girolamo met him and heard the story of his life from his own mouth.