Jerome, St (c. 340–420)

One of the early Christian leaders and scholars known as the Fathers of the Church. His Latin versions of the Old and New Testaments form the basis of the Roman Catholic Vulgate. He is usually depicted with a lion. His feast day is 30 September.

Born in Strido, Italy, he was baptized in Rome 360, and subsequently travelled in Gaul, Anatolia, and Syria. Summoned to Rome as adviser to Pope Damasus, he revised the Latin translation of the New Testament and the Latin psalter. On the death of Damasus 384 he travelled to the east and settled in Bethlehem, where he translated the Old Testament from Hebrew into Latin.