Ancient African Saints on October 4 & 5 in the Orthodox Church

October 4 (from here)

Holy Martyrs Gaius, Faustus, Eusebius and Chaeremon the Deacons (Menologion of Basil II)

 

Holy Martyrs
 
Saint Gaius was a deacon, and the disciple of Saint Dionysius of Alexandria (October 5). He and Saint Dionysius were arrested and banished from Alexandria.
Saint Gaius endured martyrdom during the persecution of Valerian (253-259) . 

Saint Faustus was a deacon of the church of Alexandria, and the disciple of Saint Dionysius of Alexandria (October 5).
Saint Faustus was tortured and beheaded in 250, during the persecution of Decius (249-251).

Saint Eusebius was a deacon of the church of Alexandria, and the disciple of Saint Dionysius of Alexandria (October 5).
Saint Eusebius was tortured and beheaded in 250, during the persecution of Decius (249-251). 

Saint Matyr Chaeremon was a deacon of the church of Alexandria, and the disciple of Saint Dionysius of Alexandria (October 5). 

 

You can see more here (icon from there).

Fathers of the Desert

Saint Ammon of Egypt was raised in Christian piety. He entered into marriage at the urging of his parents, but by agreement with his spouse preserved his virginity and they lived as brother and sister. The spiritual spouses pursued asceticism in fasting, prayer and joint effort for twenty years. Having matured in piety, the spouses separately continued their ascetic deeds. Ammon’s wife remained home and established a women’s monastery. Ammon went out into the Nitrian desert, where he dwelt for twenty-two years and attained the high spiritual accomplishments of wonderworking and discernment.
Saint Ammon often came to Saint Anthony the Great (January 17) for his blessing. At the time of Saint Ammon’s death, Saint Anthony saw angels bearing the soul of the righteous one to heaven. Saint Ammon died in the mid-fourth century. 

See also
Holy Abba Ammoun of Nitria, Father of Egyptian Monasticism (icon from there)
 
Saint Paul the Simple of Egypt also lived in the fourth century and was called the Simple for his simplicity of heart and gentleness. He had been married, but when he discovered his wife’s infidelity, he left her and went into the desert to Saint Anthony the Great (January 17). Paul was already 60 years old, and at first Saint Anthony would not accept Paul, saying that he was unfit for the harshness of the hermit’s life. Paul stood outside the cell of the ascetic for three days, saying that he would sooner die than go from there. Then Saint Anthony took Paul into his cell, and tested his endurance and humility by hard work, severe fasting, with nightly vigils, constant singing of Psalms and prostrations. Finally, Saint Anthony decided to settle Paul into a separate cell.
During the many years of ascetic exploits the Lord granted Saint Paul both discernment, and the power to cast out demons. When they brought a possessed youth to Saint Anthony, he guided the afflicted one to Saint Paul saying, “I cannot help the boy, for I have not received power over the Prince of the demons. Paul the Simple, however, does have this gift.” Saint Paul expelled the demon by his simplicity and humility.
After living for many years, performing numerous miracles, he departed to the Lord. He is mentioned by Saint John, the Abbot of Sinai (Ladder 24:30): “The thrice-blessed Paul the Simple was a clear example for us, for he was the rule and type of blessed simplicity....”
Saint Paul is also commemorated on March 7. 

Troparion — Tone 8 In you, o venerable Father Paul, / The image of God shone forth, / For you carried your Cross and followed Christ. / By so doing you taught us to disregard the flesh for it passes away, / And to care instead for the soul since it is immortal, / Wherefore your soul forever rejoices with the angels!

See also: The life and miracles of saint Paul the Simple (photo).

October 5 (from here)

Saint Hieromartyr Dionysius, Bishop of Alexandria, was the son of wealthy pagan parents. He converted to Christianity at a mature age, and became a pupil of Origen. Later, he was appointed as the head of Alexandria’s Catechetical School, and then became Bishop of Alexandria in the year 247.
Saint Dionysius devoted much effort to defend the Church from heresy, and he encouraged his flock in the firm confession of Orthodoxy during the persecution under the emperors Decius (249-251) and Valerian (253-259).
The holy bishop endured much suffering in his lifetime. When the Decian persecution broke out, Saint Dionysius was forced to flee Alexandria, but returned when the Emperor died. He was later exiled to Libya during the reign of Valerian.
When he was able to resume his duties in Alexandria in 261, Saint Dionysius had to contend with civil war, famine, plague, and other difficulties. The saint called upon his flock to tend sick Christians and pagans alike, and to bury the dead. Concerning the death of his spiritual children he wrote, “In such a manner the best of our brethren have departed this life. This generation of the dead, a deed of great piety and firm faith, is no less of a martyrdom.”
Saint Dionysius illumined his flock through his preaching, and with deeds of love and charity. An illness prevented him from attending the Council of Antioch (264- 265), and he fell asleep in the Lord while it was in session.
The influence of Saint Dionysius extended beyond the limits of his diocese, and his writings dealt with practical as well as theological subjects (“On Nature,” “On Temptations,” “On the Promises,” etc.). He was also familiar with Greek philosophy. Only fragments of his writings survive today, most of them preserved in Eusebius, who mentions him in his CHURCH HISTORY ( Book 7) and calls him “Dionysius the Great.”
Two complete letters of Saint Dionysius are extant, one addressed to Novatian, and the other to Basilides. 

More here!...

See also

The Orthodox Church of Alexandria & the Patriarchate of Alexandria
"Out of Egypt Have I Called My Son"
REJOICE, FAITHFUL EGYPT; REJOICE, BLESSED LIBYA
Nitria: one of the earliest orthodox christian monastic sites in ancient Egypt
The holy anarchists... in the Egyptian Desert
Ancient Christian faith (Orthodox Church) in Africa  
 
Dream Team of the Desert (tag)
Orthodox Monasticism
Monasticism (tag)
Saint Pambo of the Nitrian desert, whose face shone like lightning (July 18)
Three Africans ancients saints: Anthony the Great (the Professor of Desert), Athanasius the Great & Cyril of Alexandria
St Pachomius the Great of Egypt, the founder of the cenobitic monastic life