Who is the oldest Saint

[Nelka]

I know St. Joseph who was born before Jesus Christ but is there someone who was alive long before St. Jospeh who has been canonised?

It doesn’t matter when he was canonised but is there someone earlier?

Thanks.

 

[Rolltide]

I know St. Joseph who was born before Jesus Christ but is there someone who was alive long before St. Jospeh who has been canonised?

It doesn’t matter when he was canonised but is there someone earlier?

Thanks.

Well, most of the holy Old Testament figures, for a start…

 

[Catholic4Christ]

I’m gonna say Adam.

 

[LoyalViews]

Moses? Noah?

 

[ExGratia]

I’ve never heard the title “saint” used for Old Testament characters (although I do believe Adam and Eve were the first into heaven after Jesus opened the gates!). Saints

Sts. Anne and Joachim, two traditional saints who are the grandparents of Jesus, would be older than St. Joseph I’d think, but he may have died first. The Holy Innocents are also saints that died before St. Joseph. Saint Simeon and Saint Anna also died shortly after meeting our Lord when he was a baby. Sts. Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar might be in the running for oldest, too (the three Magi).

Of course, on consideration, since the Archangels were around a lot longer, they may be the “oldest” saints!

 

[George_Stegmeir]

I’ve always thought it might be St. Dismas, the Good Thief, who died on the Cross, next to Christ.

 

[Rhuarc]

Are Adam and Eve saints?

 

[thistle]

I know St. Joseph who was born before Jesus Christ but is there someone who was alive long before St. Jospeh who has been canonised?

It doesn’t matter when he was canonised but is there someone earlier?

Thanks.

Papal canonization only started in the year 973. Nobody prior to that that date was officially canonized. Of course that does not mean we don’t accept them as saints. It just means they were not formally canonized by a Pope.