SABINUS of CANOSA, St. — He is commemorated in the Roman Martyrology on February 9.
He was already bishop of Canosa in 528 when he was accused of sorcery; he was present at the Roman Synod of 531 and in 537 was sent by Pope Agapitus to Constantinople to the Emperor Justinian, to settle the question of the Monophysites. He took part in the Council the following year, in which Antimus and Severus were deposed. During his episcopate he labored much for the good of the faithful, restoring churches and showing himself to all as a model of virtue. He was a friend of St. Benedict, and St. Gregory the Great extolled his prophetic spirit. He died about 566 after about 50 years as bishop. A biography written in the 8th–9th century does not stand up to criticism.