February 20 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)

February 19 - Eastern Orthodox liturgical calendar - February 21

An Eastern Orthodox cross

All fixed commemorations below are observed on March 5 (March 4 on leap years) by Eastern Orthodox Churches on the Old Calendar.^{[note 1]}

For February 20th, Orthodox Churches on the Old Calendar commemorate the Saints listed on February 7.

Saints

• Hieromartyr Eleutherius of Byzantium, Bishop in Byzantium (136)^[1][2][3]
• Martyrs Didymos, Nemesios and Potamios, in Cyprus.^{[4][5][note 2]}
• Saint Eutropius, martyr (308)^{[5][6][note 3]}
• Hieromartyr Sadoc of Persia (Sadoth), Bishop of Persia, and 128 Martyrs with him (343)^{[1][5][7][8][note 4]}(see also: October 19)
• Saint Anianus (Aninas).^[5][9]
• Venerable Bessarion the Great, Wonderworker of Egypt (466)^[1][5][10] (see also: June 6)
• Saint Agatho of Rome, Pope of Rome (682)^{[1][5][11][12]}
• Saint Leo of Catania (Leo the Wonderworker), Bishop of Catania in Sicily (785)^{[1][5][13][14][15][note 5][note 6]}
• Venerable Cindeus of Pisidia (Kindeos), Bishop of Pisidia.^{[1][2][5][17]}
• Venerable Plotinus, monk.^[5][18]

Pre-Schism Western saints

• Saint Bolcan (Olcan), baptised by St Patrick, Bolcan later became Bishop of Derkan in Ireland (c. 480)^[15][19][20]
• Saint Valerius (Valier), first Bishop of Couserans in France (5th century?)^[15]
• Saint Falco of Maastricht, Bishop of Maastricht in the Netherlands (512)^[15]
• Saint Eleutherius of Tournai, Bishop of Tournai (531)^{[1][2][15][21][note 7][note 8]}
• Saint Mildrith, Anglo-Saxon abbess of the Abbey at Minster-in-Thanet, Kent (c. 700)^{[22][23][note 9]} (see also: July 13)
• Saint Eucherius of Orléans, Bishop of Orleans (c. 740)^{[1][2][15][24][note 10][note 11]}
• Saint Colgan, called 'the Wise' and 'the Chief Scribe of the Irish' , he was Abbot of Clonmacnoise in Offaly in Ireland (c. 796)^[15][25]

Post-Schism Orthodox saints

• Saint Yaroslav the Wise, great prince of Kyiv, son of the Varangian (Viking) Grand Prince Vladimir the Great (1054)^{[1][2][26][note 12]}
• Saint Agatho, Wonderworker of the Kyiv Caves Monastery (13th-14th centuries)^{[1][2][26][27][28][note 13]}
• Martyrdom of St. Cornelius, abbot of the Pskov-Caves Monastery, by beheading, and his disciple St. Bassian of Murom (1570)^{[1][2][26][29][30][note 14]}
• Venerable Martyrs 34 monks and novices of Valaam Monastery, martyred by the Lutherans (1578):^{[1][2][26][31]}

• Hieromonk Titus,
• Schemamonk Tikhon,
• Monks Gelasius, Sergius, Varlaam, Sabbas, Conon, Sylvester, Cyprian, Pimen, John, Samonas, Jonah, David, Cornelius, Niphon, Athanasius, and Serapion; and novices Varlaam, Athanasius, Anthony, Luke, Leontius, Thomas, Dionysius, Philip, Ignatius, Basil, Pachomius, Basil, Theophilus, John, Theodore, and John.

New martyrs and confessors

• New Hieromartyr Nicholas Rozov, Priest (1938)^[2][26]

Icon gallery

•  
  Saint Agatho of Rome, Pope of Rome.
•  
  Hieromartyr Sadoc of Persia and 128 Martyrs with him.
•  
  Saint Mildrith, Abbess of the Abbey at Minster-in-Thanet.
•  
  St Leo of Catania the Wonderworker.
•  
  St Leo of Catania the Wonderworker.
•  
  Reliquary shrine of St. Eleutherius of Tournai.
•  
  Saint Eucherius of Orléans.
•  
  Saint Yaroslav the Wise.
•  
  St. Agatho, Wonderworker of the Kyiv Caves Monastery.
•  
  St. Cornelius, abbot of the Pskov-Caves Monastery.

Notes

1. The notation Old Style or (OS) is sometimes used to indicate a date in the 'Julian Calendar' (which is used by churches on the "Old Calendar").
   The notation New Style or (NS), indicates a date in the Revised Julian calendar (which is used by churches on the "New Calendar").
2. "In the island of Cyprus, the holy martyrs Pothamius and Nemesius."^[3]
3. His feast day is on March 3. It is unclear why he is listed here today.
4. "In Persia, in the time of king Sapor, the birthday of St. Sadoth, bishop, and one hundred and twenty-eight others, who refused to adore the sun, and by a cruel death purchased for themselves bright crowns."^[3]
5. Kontakion. Second Tone.
   "With songs let us crown him who was dedicated to the Lord from infancy, and who from his swaddling bands received grace from God, even Leo, the luminary and defender of the Church; for he is her support."^[16]
6. "At Catania, in Sicily, St. Leo, bishop, illustrious for virtues and miracles."^[3]
7. "At Tournai, in Belgium, St. Eleutherius, bishop and confessor."^[3]
8. Born in Tournai in Belgium, he became bishop there in 486 and enlightened the pagan Franks who had settled nearby. He died from wounds inflicted by Arian heretics.
9. One of the three daughters of St Ermenburgh of Minster-in-Thanet in England. She succeeded her mother as Abbess of Thanet. Her relics were enshrined in Canterbury and part of them survive. Her life describes her as 'ever merciful, of easy temper and tranquil'.
10. "The same day, St. Eucherius, bishop of Orleans, whose miracles increased in proportion to the slanders of the envious."^[3]
11. Born in Orleans in France, he became a monk at Jumièges near Rouen in about 714. In 721 he became Bishop of Orleans, opposing the theft of church lands by Charles Martel. For this he was exiled to Cologne in Germany in 737. Here he became very popular and so was sent to Liège in Belgium. He spent the rest of his life at the monastery of St Trond near Maastricht in the Netherlands.
12. St. Yaroslav the Wise was the builder of St Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv which, on September 21st, 2011, celebrated the 1,000th anniversary of its consecration.
13. See also: (in Russian) Агафон Чудотворец. Википедии. (Russian Wikipedia).
14. See also: (in Russian) Корнилий Псково-Печерский. Википедии. (Russian Wikipedia).

References

1. February 20 / March 5. Orthodox Calendar (Pravoslavie.ru).
2. March 5 / February 20. Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Church (A parish of the Patriarchate of Moscow).
3. The Roman Martyrology. Transl. by the Archbishop of Baltimore. Last Edition, According to the Copy Printed at Rome in 1914. Revised Edition, with the Imprimatur of His Eminence Cardinal Gibbons. Baltimore: John Murphy Company, 1916. pp. 53-54.
4. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Οἱ Ἅγιοι Δίδυμος, Νεμέσιος καὶ Ποτάμιος οἱ Μάρτυρες ἐκ Κύπρου. 20 Φεβρουαρίου. Μεγασ Συναξαριστησ.
5. (in Greek) Συναξαριστής. 20 Φεβρουαρίου. Ecclesia.gr. (H Εκκλησια τησ Ελλαδοσ).
6. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ἅγιος Εὐτρόπιος. 20 Φεβρουαρίου. Μεγασ Συναξαριστησ.
7. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ἅγιος Σαδὼκ ὁ Ἱερομάρτυρας Ἐπίσκοπος Περσίδος καὶ οἱ σὺν αὐτῷ ἑκατὸν εἴκοσι ὀκτὼ τελειωθέντες. 20 Φεβρουαρίου. Μεγασ Συναξαριστησ.
8. Hieromartyr Sadoc (Sadoth) the Bishop of Persia. OCA - Lives of the Saints.
9. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ἅγιος Ἀνιανός. 20 Φεβρουαρίου. Μεγασ Συναξαριστησ.
10. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ὅσιος Βησσαρίων ὁ Θαυματουργός. 20 Φεβρουαρίου. Μεγασ Συναξαριστησ.
11. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ἅγιος Ἀγάθων Πάπας Ρώμης. 20 Φεβρουαρίου. Μεγασ Συναξαριστησ.
12. St Agathon the Pope of Rome. OCA - Lives of the Saints.
13. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ἅγιος Λέων ὁ Θαυματουργός Ἐπίσκοπος Κατάνης. 20 Φεβρουαρίου. Μεγασ Συναξαριστησ.
14. St Leo the Bishop of Catania in Sicily. OCA - Lives of the Saints.
15. February 20. Latin Saints of the Orthodox Patriarchate of Rome.
16. The Great Horologion or Book of Hours. Transl. from the Greek by the Holy Transfiguration Monastery. Boston, Massachusetts, 1997. p. 426.
17. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ὅσιος Κινδέος Ἐπίσκοπος Πισιδίας. 20 Φεβρουαρίου. Μεγασ Συναξαριστησ.
18. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ὅσιος Πλωτίνος. 20 Φεβρουαρίου. Μεγασ Συναξαριστησ.
19. Rev. Sabine Baring-Gould (M.A.). "S. Olcan, B. of Derkan. (About 500.)." In: The Lives of the Saints. Volume the Second: February. London: John C. Nimmo, 1897. pp. 349-350.
20. Very Rev. John O'Hanlon. "Article II.—St. Olcan or Bolcan, Bishop of Armoy, County of Antrim. [Fifth Century]." In: Lives of the Irish Saints: With Special Festivals, and the Commemorations of Holy Persons. Vol. II. Dublin, 1875. pp. 643-648.
21. Rev. Sabine Baring-Gould (M.A.). "S. Eleutherius of Tournai, B. M. (A.D. 531.)." In: The Lives of the Saints. Volume the Second: February. London: John C. Nimmo, 1897. pp. 350-353.
22. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ἡ Ὁσία Μιλδρέδη ἐκ Βρετανίας. 20 Φεβρουαρίου. Μεγασ Συναξαριστησ.
23. Rev. Sabine Baring-Gould (M.A.). "S. Mildred, V. Abss. (End of 7th Cent.)." In: The Lives of the Saints. Volume the Second: February. London: John C. Nimmo, 1897. p. 354.
24. Rev. Sabine Baring-Gould (M.A.). "S. Eucher, B. of Orleans. (A.D. 743.)." In: The Lives of the Saints. Volume the Second: February. London: John C. Nimmo, 1897. p. 355.
25. Very Rev. John O'Hanlon. "Article VIII.—St. Colga, or Colcho, Surnamed the Wise, Lector of Clonmacnoise, King's County. [Eighth Century]." In: Lives of the Irish Saints: With Special Festivals, and the Commemorations of Holy Persons. Vol. II. Dublin, 1875. pp. 649-655.
26. (in Russian) 20 февраля (ст.ст.) 5 марта 2014 (нов. ст.) 2014-11-08 at the Wayback Machine. Русская Православная Церковь Отдел внешних церковных связей. (DECR).
27. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ὅσιος Ἀγάθων ὁ Θαυματουργός. 20 Φεβρουαρίου. Μεγασ Συναξαριστησ.
28. Venerable Agathon the Wonderworker of the Kiev Caves. OCA - Lives of the Saints.
29. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ἅγιος Κορνήλιος ὁ Ἱερομάρτυρας ἐκ Ρωσίας. 20 Φεβρουαρίου. Μεγασ Συναξαριστησ.
30. Beheading of the Venerable Cornelius the Abbot of the Pskov Caves. OCA - Lives of the Saints.
31. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ἅγιος Μακάριος ὁ Ὁσιομάρτυρας καὶ ὁ σὺν αὐτῷ ἀναιρεθέντες. 20 Φεβρουαρίου. Μεγασ Συναξαριστησ.

Sources

• February 20 / March 5. Orthodox Calendar (Pravoslavie.ru).
• March 5 / February 20. Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Church (A parish of the Patriarchate of Moscow).
• February 20. OCA - The Lives of the Saints.
• The Autonomous Orthodox Metropolia of Western Europe and the Americas. St. Hilarion Calendar of Saints for the year of our Lord 2004. St. Hilarion Press (Austin, TX). p. 16.
• The Twentieth Day of the Month of February. Orthodoxy in China.
• February 20. Latin Saints of the Orthodox Patriarchate of Rome.
• The Roman Martyrology. Transl. by the Archbishop of Baltimore. Last Edition, According to the Copy Printed at Rome in 1914. Revised Edition, with the Imprimatur of His Eminence Cardinal Gibbons. Baltimore: John Murphy Company, 1916. pp. 53-54.
• Rev. Richard Stanton. A Menology of England and Wales, or, Brief Memorials of the Ancient British and English Saints Arranged According to the Calendar, Together with the Martyrs of the 16th and 17th Centuries. London: Burns & Oates, 1892. pp. 79-80.

Greek Sources

• Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) 20 Φεβρουαρίου. Μεγασ Συναξαριστησ.
• (in Greek) Συναξαριστής. 20 Φεβρουαρίου. Ecclesia.gr. (H Εκκλησια τησ Ελλαδοσ).

Russian Sources

• (in Russian) 5 марта (20 февраля). Православная Энциклопедия под редакцией Патриарха Московского и всея Руси Кирилла (электронная версия). (Orthodox Encyclopedia - Pravenc.ru).
• (in Russian) 20 февраля (ст.ст.) 5 марта 2014 (нов. ст.) 2014-11-08 at the Wayback Machine. Русская Православная Церковь Отдел внешних церковных связей. (Decr).