March 8 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)

March 7 - Eastern Orthodox liturgical calendar - March 9

An Eastern Orthodox cross

All fixed commemorations below are observed on March 21 by Orthodox Churches on the Old Calendar.^{[note 1]}

For March 8th, Orthodox Churches on the Old Calendar commemorate the Saints listed on February 23 (February 24 on leap years).

Saints

• Apostle Hermas of the Seventy, Bishop in Philipopoulis (1st century)^[1][2][3]
• Martyr Dius (Dion, Dionos), by the sword.^[4][5]
• Martyrs Quinctilian and Capatolinus, at Nicomedia.^[1][6][7]
• Venerable Dometius, reposed in peace (363)^{[5][8][note 2]}
• Hieromartyr Theodoretus, priest, of Antioch (361-363)^[1][10] (see also: March 3)
• Venerable Paul the Confessor, bishop of Plousias in Bithynia (c. 840)^[1][5][11] (see also March 7)
• Saint Theophylactus, Bishop of Nicomedia (842)^{[1][5][12][13]}
• Righteous Tarasius the Wonderworker, of Lycaonia.^[1] (see also March 9 and May 7)

Pre-Schism Western saints

• Saint Pontius of Carthage, a Deacon of the Church of Carthage (c. 260)^{[14][note 3]}
• Hieromartyr Cyril, a bishop,^[15] with martyrs Rogatus, Felix, another Rogatus, Beata, Herenia, Felicitas, Urban, Silvanus and Mamillus, martyrs in North Africa.^[7][14][16]
• Saint Provinus, Bishop of Como in Italy (c. 420)^[14]
• Saint Beoadh (Beatus), Bishop of Ardcarne in Roscommon in Ireland (c. 518)^[14][17]
• Saint Senán mac Geirrcinn (Senames), a monk in Kilmanagh in Ireland (c. 540)^{[14][18][19][note 4]}
• Saint Felix of Burgundy, Bishop of Dunwich and Enlightener of East Anglia (c. 648)^{[1][14][20][21][note 5]}
• Saint Julian of Toledo, Archbishop of Toledo and Confessor (690)^{[1][7][14][note 6]}
• Saint Humphrey (Hunfrid of Prüm), Bishop of Therouanne in France and was Abbot of St Bertin (871)^{[14][note 7]}

Post-Schism Orthodox saints

• Venerable Saints Lazarus (1391)^[23] and Athanasius (15th century),^[24] monks of Murman Island, Onega Lake, Republic of Karelia.^[1][25]

New martyrs and confessors

• New Hieromartyr John Znamensky, Priest (1923)^[26][27]
• Martyr Vladimir Ushkov (1942)^[26][27]
• Saint Andronicus (Lukash), Schema-Archimandrite of Tbilisi, Georgia, Elder of Glinsk Hermitage (1974)^[1]
• New Martyr and Confessor John of Sonkajanranta (Johannes (Ivan) Vasileinpoika Karhapää) (1884–1918)^[28]

Other commemorations

• “Kursk Root” Icon of the Sign of the Most Holy Theotokos (“Kurska-Korinna”) (1295)^{[1][29][note 8]}
• Repose of Blessed Basiliscus of Uglich (1863)^[1]
• Repose of Archbishop Vitaly (Maximenko) of Eastern America (1960)^[1]

Icon gallery

•  
  New Martyr and Confessor John (Karhapää) of Ilomantsi.
•  
  Kurskaya Korennaya icon

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. "It is possible that this St Dometius is the same as St Dometius the Persian who is commemorated on August 7 with his two disciples."^[9]
3. He was with St Cyprian in his exile, at his trial and execution, and wrote his Life.
4. A monk in Kilmanagh in Ireland. Having founded a monastery, probably in Enniscorthy, he is said to have visited Rome and on his way home stayed with St David in Wales. On his return to Ireland he founded more churches and monasteries, notably one in Iniscarra near Cork. Finally he settled on Scattery Island in the Shannon estuary where he was buried.
5. "ST. FELIX was a native of Burgundy, and was already consecrated Bishop, when his zeal for the spread of the Faith brought him to England, that he might share in the work of the conversion of our ancestors. He explained his wish to St. Honorius, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and was advised by him to betake himself to East Anglia, where the pious King St. Sigebert was labouring for the conversion of his people. The Saint established his See at Dunwich, in Suffolk, and forthwith began his apostolic work. So great was the success with which God favoured him that, after an episcopate of seventeen years, when he was called to the reward of his labours, the whole province was found to be Christian. St. Felix was buried at Dunwich, but afterwards translated to Seham, near Ely, and finally, many years later, to Ramsey Abbey."^[22]
6. A monk at Agali in Spain under St Eugene, whom he succeeded first as Abbot and in 680 as Archbishop of Toledo. He was the first Metropolitan of All Iberia. Presiding over several national Councils, revising and developing the Mozarabic liturgy, he was a prolific writer and outstanding churchman.
7. He was a source of strength and comfort to the people during the Norman invasion. He kept the feast of the Dormition with special splendour.
8. This is a copy of the famous “Kursk Root” Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos commemorated on November 27.^[30]

References

1. March 8/March 21. Orthodox Calendar (PRAVOSLAVIE.RU).
2. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ἅγιος Ἑρμῆς ὁ Ἀπόστολος. 8 Μαρτίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
3. Apostle Hermḗs of the Seventy. OCA - Lives of the Saints.
4. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ἅγιος Δίων ὁ Μάρτυρας. 8 Μαρτίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
5. (in Greek) Συναξαριστής. 8 Μαρτίου. ECCLESIA.GR. (H ΕΚΚΛΗΣΙΑ ΤΗΣ ΕΛΛΑΔΟΣ).
6. The Autonomous Orthodox Metropolia of Western Europe and the Americas (ROCOR). St. Hilarion Calendar of Saints for the year of our Lord 2004. St. Hilarion Press (Austin, TX). p.20.
7. 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.69-70.
8. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ὅσιος Δομέτιος. 8 Μαρτίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
9. Venerable Dometius. OCA - Lives of the Saints.
10. Hieromartyr Theodoritus of Antioch. OCA - Lives of the Saints.
11. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ὅσιος Παῦλος ὁ Ὁμολογητής. 8 Μαρτίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
12. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ὅσιος Θεοφύλακτος ὁ Ὁμολογητής Ἐπίσκοπος Νικομήδειας. 8 Μαρτίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
13. Saint Theophylactus, Bishop of Nicomedia. OCA - Lives of the Saints.
14. March 8. Latin Saints of the Orthodox Patriarchate of Rome.
15. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ἅγιος Κύριλλος ὁ Ἱερομάρτυρας. 8 Μαρτίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
16. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Οἱ Ἅγιοι Φηλικίτη, Ἑρένια, Ρογάτος, Φίλιξ, Ρογάτος, Βεάτος, Οὐρβανός, Σιλβάνος καὶ Μάμμιλος οἱ Μάρτυρες. 8 Μαρτίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
17. Very Rev. John O'Hanlon. "Article XVIII.—St. Beoadh, or Beatus, Bishop of Ardcarne, County of Roscommon. [Fifth and Sixth Centuries]." In: Lives of the Irish Saints: With Special Festivals, and the Commemorations of Holy Persons. VOL. III. Dublin, 1875. pp. 270-271.
18. Rev. Sabine Baring-Gould (M.A.). "S. SENAN OF INISCATTHY, AB. B. (ABOUT A.D. 546.)." In: The Lives of the Saints. Volume the Third: March. London: John C. Nimmo, 1897. pp. 159-163.
19. Very Rev. John O'Hanlon. "ARTICLE I.- ST. SENAN, OR SENANUS, BISHOP AND ABBOT OF INISCATTERY, COUNTY OF CLARE. [FIFTH AND SIXTH CENTURIES]." In: Lives of the Irish Saints: With Special Festivals, and the Commemorations of Holy Persons. VOL. III. Dublin, 1875. pp. 210-257.
20. Saint Felix of Burgundy, Bishop of Dunwich, Enlightener of East Anglia. OCA - Lives of Saints
21. Rev. Sabine Baring-Gould (M.A.). "S. FELIX, B. (A.D. 654.)." In: The Lives of the Saints. Volume the Third: March. London: John C. Nimmo, 1897. pp. 163-164.
22. 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. p. 108.
23. Venerable Lazarus of Murom. OCA - Lives of the Saints.
24. Venerable Athanasius of Murom. OCA - Lives of the Saints.
25. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Οἱ Ὅσιοι Λάζαρος καὶ Ἀθανάσιος ἐκ Ρωσίας. 8 Μαρτίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
26. March 21 / March 8. HOLY TRINITY RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH (A parish of the Patriarchate of Moscow).
27. (in Russian) 8 марта (ст.ст.) 21 марта 2013 (нов. ст.). Русская Православная Церковь Отдел внешних церковных связей. (DECR).
28. Communiqué (29/11/2018). The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. 29/11/2018.
29. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Σύναξις Ὑπεραγίας Θεοτόκου τοῦ Σημείου ἐν Κοὺρσκ τῆς Ρωσίας. 8 Μαρτίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
30. Kurst Root Icon of the Mother of God “of the Sign”. OCA - Lives of Saints.

Sources

• March 8/March 21. Orthodox Calendar (PRAVOSLAVIE.RU).
• March 21 / March 8. HOLY TRINITY RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH (A parish of the Patriarchate of Moscow).
• March 8. OCA - The Lives of the Saints.
• The Autonomous Orthodox Metropolia of Western Europe and the Americas (ROCOR). St. Hilarion Calendar of Saints for the year of our Lord 2004. St. Hilarion Press (Austin, TX). p. 20.
• March 8. 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. 69–70.

Greek Sources

• Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) 8 ΜΑΡΤΙΟΥ. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
• (in Greek) Συναξαριστής. 8 Μαρτίου. ECCLESIA.GR. (H ΕΚΚΛΗΣΙΑ ΤΗΣ ΕΛΛΑΔΟΣ).

Russian Sources

• (in Russian) 21 марта (8 марта). Православная Энциклопедия под редакцией Патриарха Московского и всея Руси Кирилла (электронная версия). (Orthodox Encyclopedia - Pravenc.ru).
• (in Russian) 8 марта (ст.ст.) 21 марта 2013 (нов. ст.). Русская Православная Церковь Отдел внешних церковных связей. (DECR).