Eastern (Byzantine) Catholic Martyrology for January
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The following are names, dates, and some prominent facts from the lives of Saints especially honored in the Byzantine Catholic Church. (Source: Annual Parish Calendar, Byzantine Seminary Press)
[edit] January
[edit] January 01:
- Feast of Circumcision of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
- The name of Jesus given to the child on this occasion, means Savior.
- The Feast of St. Basil the Great
- Archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia
- One of the four great Doctors of the Eastern Church.
- He died in A.D. 379
- (cf. January 30)
[edit] January 02:
- Our holy father, Silvester, Pope of Rome
- Under his Pontificate was held the First Ecumenical Council at Nicea A.D. 325, the decrees of which were approved by him.
- He died A.D. 335 during the reign of Constantine the Great, Emperor.
[edit] January 03:
- St. Malachias, Prophet. B.C. 400
- St. Gordins, Martyr, who suffered death A.D. 320, during the reign of Lidnius, Emperor.
[edit] January 04:
- Synaxis of 70 Apostles, whose names St. Dorotheus recorded.
- Our venerable father Theoktistus, Hegumen-Abbot in Cucume of Sykeleia.
[edit] January 05:
- SS. Theopemptus and Theonas, Martyrs. A.D. 290 under Diocletian.
- Syncletica, Venerable.
- St. Michaes, Prophet.
[edit] January 06:
- Theophany of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ
- Revelation of the Trinity at Christ's baptism in the Jordan River.
- Third greatest Feast of the Eastern Church, following Pascha (Easter) and Pentecost.
- One of the oldest Feasts in the East, traced back to the beginning of the 2nd Century.
- The Western (Roman) Catholic Church adopted this Feast in the 3rd Century, calling it Epiphany.
- The service of the Great Blessing of Water occurs on this day, and the blessed water is taken home by the faithful for private use.
- Traditionally, the blessing of homes by the pastor is begun on this day.
[edit] January 07:
- Synaxis of John the Forerunner & Baptist
- Last of the Great Prophets and Forerunner of Our Lord
[edit] January 08:
- Venerable George, the Chozebite and Emilian, Confessor.
- They were martyred A.D. 820, in the reign of Nicephorus Gennicus.
- Venerable, Dominika of Carthage, who lived in the year A.D. 374, in the reign of Theodosius the Great.
- SS. Juliana and Basilissa, Martyrs. A.D. 300 under Diocletian.
[edit] January 09:
- St. Polyeucte, Martyr. A.D. 255.
- Eustratius, Venerable, endured death in the reign of Leo Iconomachus, Emperor.
[edit] January 10:
- St. Gregory, Bishop of Nyssa
- Brother of St. Basil the Great
- Consecrated in A.D. 372 and died in A.D. 395
- Venerable Dometian, Bishop of Melite. Died in A.D. 570
- Venerable Marcian, Presbyter & Treasurer of the Great Church of Holy Wisdom, Hagia Sophia
[edit] January 11:
- Venerable Theodosius, Hegumen-Abbot
- Died in A.D. 485 at the age of 105.
[edit] January 12:
- St. Tatiana, Martyr
- After many tortures, she and her father, a soldier and elder of the city, died by the sword in A.D. 227.
- Venerable Eupraxia
[edit] January 13:
- SS. Hermylas and Stratonicus, Martyrs
- Hermylas, a Deacon of Singudunum (Belgrade), and his servant were tortured and drowned in the River Danube, A.D. 315, under Licinius, Emperor.
[edit] January 14:
- Venerable Fathers of Sinai and Raitha
[edit] January 15:
- Venerable Paul of Thebes
- John the Tent-Dweller
[edit] January 16:
- Veneration of the Chains of St. Peter
- The chains with which St. Peter was bound in the prison and preserved at the stational church on the Esquiline in Rome attracted numerous Pilgrims in the Middle Ages.
[edit] January 17:
- Venerable & Divinely-Inspired Anthony the Great
- Egyptian by birth, he went into the desert during the reign of Constantine the Great in A.D. 312.
- He was a friend of St. Paul of Thebes, and was one of the founders of cenobitical life.
- He died in A.D. 356 at age 105.
[edit] January 18:
- St. Athanasius, Archbishop of Alexandria
- One of the four great Doctors of the Eastern Church
- Called the "Father of Orthodoxy"
- He opposed the Arian Heresy with zeal and endured exile for 46 years.
- St. Cyril, Archbishop of Alexandria
- Opposing the Nestorian Heresy, he properly taught that:
- The divine and human natures of Christ were in oneness of person.
- The Blessed Virgin Mary ought truly be called Theotokos or Mother of God since she gave birth to Christ, who is truly God.
- St. Cyril also presided over the 3rd Ecumenical Council at Ephesus A.D. 431
- Opposing the Nestorian Heresy, he properly taught that:
[edit] January 19:
- Venerable Marcarius of Egypt, Monk A.D. 373
- Venerable Macarius of Alexandria, Monk A.D. 395
- St. Euphrosinia, Virgin
[edit] January 20:
- Venerable & divinely inspired Euthymius the Great, Hegumen-Abbot
- He lived at the time of the reign of Arcadius and Honorius, Emperors; died in the year A.D. 473.
[edit] January 21:
- Venerable Maximus the Confessor
- He died of torture in A.D. 662 in the reign of Constans II.
- His tongue was cut out and his right hand cut off before being imprisoned.
- He died of torture in A.D. 662 in the reign of Constans II.
- St. Neophitus, Youth Martyr. A.D. 310 under Diocletian
- SS. Eugene, Canidius, Valerian, & Aquilas, Martyrs
- All four died by fire in A.D. 292
[edit] January 22:
- St. Timothy, Apostle and most noted disciple of St. Paul
- First Bishop of Ephesus in Asia Minor
- St. Anastasius, Martyr A.D. 619
[edit] January 23:
- St. Clemens, Priest-Martyr
- Lived in exile for 28 years before dying by the sword in A.D. 296
- St. Agathangel, Martyr
[edit] January 24:
- Venerable Xenia
- Born of a noble Roman family, she was named Eusebia.
- Her parents were planning her marriage when she escaped from her bridegroom with two handmaids, fleeing to Alexandria for refuge.
[edit] January 25:
- Gregory the Theologian, Archbishop of Constantinople
- One of the four great Doctors of the Eastern Church.
- Renowned as one of the greatest writers and poets.
- For 12 years presided over Great Church of Holy Wisdom, Hagia Sophia
- He died at age 80 in 389AD during the reign of Theodosius the Great
- (cf. January 30)
[edit] January 26:
- Venerable Xenophon, Martyred together with his wife (Mary) and sons (Arcadius and John)
- Theodore, Hegumen-Abbot, and his brother Joseph A.D. 826
[edit] January 27:
- Translation of the Relics of St. John Chrysostom A.D. 435
[edit] January 28:
- Venerable Ephraem, Deacon 373AD
- Known as "Prophet of Syrians and an instrument of the Holy Spirit"
- Was noted as a great poet, orator, and defender of the Faith.
[edit] January 29:
- Translation of the Relics of St. Ignatius, Priest-Martyr
- SS. Roman, James, Philotheus, & Aphraates, Martyrs
[edit] January 30:
- Feast of the Three Holy Hierarchs
- This Feast honors the three great Fathers of the Eastern Church -- St. Basil the Great, St. Gregory the Theologian, and St. John Chrysostom
- St. Hippolytus, Priest-Martyr.
- Bishop of Porto. Put to death by drowning, under Emperor Alexander Severus.
[edit] January 31:
- SS. Cyrus & John, Wonderworkers, Physicians, & Unmercenaries.
- Suffered death along with St. Athanasia and her three daughters (Theodotia, Theophista, and Eudokia) in A.D. 292 under Diocletian.
- (cf. June 28.)