October 23 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)

October 22 - Eastern Orthodox liturgical calendar - October 24

The Eastern Orthodox cross

All fixed commemorations below celebrated on November 5 by Eastern Orthodox Churches on the Old Calendar.^{[note 1]}

For October 23rd, Orthodox Churches on the Old Calendar commemorate the Saints listed on October 10.

Saints

• Holy Apostle James, the Brother of the Lord, first Bishop of Jerusalem (c. 63)^{[1][2][3][4][note 2]}
• Venerable Petronius of Egypt, disciple of St. Pachomius the Great (346)^[1][3][5][6]
• Venerable Ignatios of Constantinople, Patriarch of Constantinople (877-878)^{[1][3][7][8][note 3]}
• Saint Macarius the Roman, of Mesopotamia.^{[1][3][6][10][11]}
• Venerable Nicephorus of Charsianos, Constantinople.^{[1][3][6][12]}

Pre-Schism Western saints

• Saints Servandus and Germanus, sons of St Marcellus of Léon in Spain, martyred in Cadiz while on their way to Tangiers under arrest (c. 305)^{[13][note 4]}
• Saint Amon of Toul, Second Bishop of Toul in France, the successor of St Mansuetus (4th century)^[13]
• Saint Verus, third Bishop of Salerno in Italy (4th century)^[9][13]
• Saint Severin of Cologne, third known Bishop of Cologne and a prominent opponent of Arianism (c. 403)^{[13][note 5]}
• Saint Severinus of Bordeaux (Seurin), Bishop of Bordeaux in France (c. 420)^[13]
• Saint Clether (Cleer, Clydog, Scledog, Clitanus or Cleodius), one of the twenty-four children of Saint Brychan, a Welsh saint and King of Brycheiniog (c. 520)^{[13][note 6]}
• Saint Severinus Boethius, a Roman senator, consul, magister officiorum, and philosopher, martyred at Pavia in Italy (524)^{[13][note 7]}
• Saint John of Syracuse (Ioannes), Bishop of Syracuse in Sicily from 595 (c. 609)^{[13][note 8]}
• Saint Romanus of Rouen, Bishop of Rouen (639)^{[9][13][note 9][note 10]}
• Saint Benedict of Sebaste, Bishop of Sebaste in Samaria, who fled to Gaul and built a hermitage near Poitiers (c.654)^{[13][note 11][note 12]}
• Saint Syra, a nun at Faremoutiers Abbey, from where she was asked by Bishop Ragnebaud to become Abbess of Châlons-sur-Marne (c. 660)^{[13][note 13]}
• Saint Leothadius (Léothade), Abbot of Moissac Abbey in the south of France, later he became Bishop of Auch (718)^[13]
• Saint Oda of Amay, Belgium (Ode)], foundress of churches (723)^{[1][6][13][18][note 14]}
• Saint Domitius, hermit near Amiens in France (8th century)^{[13][note 15]}
• Saint Elfleda (Aelflead), a princess who lived as an anchoress in Glastonbury Abbey; she was revered by St Dunstan (c. 936)^{[13][note 16]}
• Saint Ethelfleda (Elfleda), Abbess of Romsey Abbey (c. 970)^{[6][13][note 17][note 18]}

Post-Schism Orthodox saints

• Venerable Elisha (Elisæus) of Lauryshava Monastery in Belarus, Igumen (1250)^{[1][6][22][23][24][note 19]}

New Martys and Confessors

• New Hieromartyr Eusebius (Rozhdestvensky), Archbishop of Shadrinsk (1937)^{[1][note 20]}
• New Hieromartyr Vladimir Ambartsumov, Archpriest, of Moscow (1937)^{[1][6][22][25][note 21]}
• New Hieromartyrs Nicholas Agafonnikov, Alexander Soloviev,^[26] Nicholas Archangelsky, Emilian Goncharov^[27] and Sozon Reshetilov, Priests (1937)^[6][22]
• Venerable Euphrosyne Timofeeva (1942)^[6][22]

Other commemorations

• Translation of the relics (1544) of Blessed James of Borovichi, Novgorod (1540)^{[1][3][6][22][28][29][30][note 22]}

Icon gallery

•  

  Holy Apostle James, the Brother of the Lord, first Bishop of Jerusalem.

•  

  Holy Apostle James, the Brother of the Lord, first Bishop of Jerusalem.

•  

  St. Ignatios of Constantinople, Patriarch of Constantinople (Hagia Sophia).

•  

  St. Ignatios of Constantinople, Patriarch of Constantinople.

•  

  St. Severinus Boethius, teaching his students.

•  

  St. Romanus of Rouen, Bishop of Rouen.

•  

  Blessed James of Borovichi, Novgorod.

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. Name days celebrated today include:
   • Iakovos, Jacob, Jakob, James (Ἰάκωβος).
3. "At Constantinople, St. Ignatius, bishop, who, for having reproved the emperor Bardas for putting away his wife, was subjected by him to many insults and driven into banishment. Being restored to his See by the Roman Pontiff Nicholas, he finally rested in peace."^[9]
4. "IN the territory of Ossuma, in Spain, near Cadiz, the holy martyrs Servandus and Germanus, in the persecution of Diocletian, under the lieutenant Viator. After being subjected to scourging, imprisonment in a foul dungeon, want of food and drink, and the fatigue of a very long journey, which they had to perform loaded with fetters, they at length reached the term of their martyrdom by having their heads stricken off. Germanus was buried at Merida, and Servandus at Seville."^[9]
5. "At Bordeaux, St. Severin, bishop of Cologne and confessor."^[9]
6. He left Wales and went to Cornwall. He is recalled by several church dedications, for instance St Clear near Liskeard.
7. The statesman and philosopher Anicius Manlius Torquatus Severinus Boethius was the author of De Consolatione Philosophiae. About the year 534 he fell into disfavour with the barbarian king and was martyred at Pavia in Italy. His relics are enshrined at the Cathedral of Pavia.
8. Pope Gregory I had suggested the name of Ioannes, Archdeacon of Catania, after he rejected the first candidate in February 595. In October 595 Bishop Ioannes was granted the pallium.^[14][15]
9. He devoted himself to the care of prisoners, particularly those condemned to death, and he also preached actively against paganism.
10. "BENEDICT, father of S. Romanus, was of noble Frank family, related to Clovis. He was converted and baptized by S. Remigius, probably at the same time as his royal master and kinsman. The wife of Benedict was Felicitas, and Romanus was their only son. He was born about A.D. 561, and as soon as he had attained a suitable age was summoned by Clothair II to his court, and there he made acquaintance with those earnest-souled, devout men, S. Ouen and S. Eligius. On the death of S. Hildulf, about A.D. 631, he was appointed to fill his place as Bishop of Rouen. His relics were burnt by the Calvinists in 1562. Till the French Revolution the Chapter of Rouen had a right, called the Privilege de S. Romain, or Privilege de la Fierté, to obtain the release of a captive from chains and death, who should bear the shrine of the saint."^[16]
11. "In Poitou, St. Benedict, confessor."^[9]
12. During the persecutions of the era he fled to Gaul and built a hermitage near Poitiers, later transformed into an abbey.^[17]
13. See: (in French) Syre (sainte). Wikipédia. (French Wikipedia).
14. A princess married to the Duke of Aquitaine in France. As a widow she devoted herself to the care of the poor and suffering. Her shrine is in Amay in Belgium.
15. "In Picardy, St. Domitius, priest."^[9]
16. "There are three saints of this name:

    • Elfleda of Whitby, Feb. 8;
    • Elfleda the daughter of Edward the Elder, Oct 29; and
    • Elfleda the Widow, of Glastonbury, given by Alford in his Index of English Saints^[19] on April 13, but in the "British Martyrology" on April 14; but the Auctuarium [sic] of the Martyrology of Usuardus, belonging formerly to the Church of Winchester, inserts:

    • "S. Elfleda, Queen," on Oct. 23.

    Authorities:—The Lives of S. Dunstan, both that which is anonymous and that by Osbern."^[20]
17. Daughter of Earl Ethelwold, founder of Romsey in England, she became a nun there and eventually abbess after St Merewenna.
18. "ST. ELFLEDA was the daughter of the Earl Ethelwold, who founded the Abbey of Rumsey in the reign of Edward the Elder. The King interested himself in the pious undertaking, and induced St. Merwenna to charge herself with the government of the house and the formation of a community of holy women. Elfleda became one of her first disciples, and so greatly profited by the training of her holy mistress, that she was considered worthy to be chosen Abbess in due time, and acquired the reputation of eminent sanctity. She was buried in the Abbey Church, near her beloved mistress."^[21]
19. See: (in Belarusian) Елісей Лаўрышаўскі. Вікіпедыя. (Belarusian Wikipedia).
20. See: (in Russian) Евсевий (Рождественский). Википе́дия. (Russian Wikipedia).
21. See: (in Russian) Амбарцумов, Владимир Амбарцумович. Википе́дия. (Russian Wikipedia).
22. See: (in Russian) Иаков Боровичский. Википе́дия. (Russian Wikipedia).

References

1. October 23 / November 5. Orthodox Calendar (PRAVOSLAVIE.RU).
2. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ἅγιος Ἰάκωβος ὁ Ἀπόστολος καὶ Ἀδελφόθεος. 23 ΟΚΤΩΒΡΙΟΥ. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
3. (in Greek) Συναξαριστής. 23 Οκτωβρίου. ECCLESIA.GR. (H ΕΚΚΛΗΣΙΑ ΤΗΣ ΕΛΛΑΔΟΣ).
4. Apostle James, the Brother of the Lord. OCA - Lives of the Saints.
5. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ὅσιος Πετρώνιος. 23 ΟΚΤΩΒΡΙΟΥ. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
6. November 5 / October 23. HOLY TRINITY RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH (A parish of the Patriarchate of Moscow).
7. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ἅγιος Ἰγνάτιος. 23 ΟΚΤΩΒΡΙΟΥ. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
8. St. Ignatius the Patriarch of Constantinople. OCA - Lives of the Saints.
9. 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. 326-328.
10. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ὅσιος Μακάριος ὁ Ρωμαῖος. 23 ΟΚΤΩΒΡΙΟΥ. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
11. St. Macarius the Roman of Mesopotamia. OCA - Lives of the Saints.
12. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ὅσιος Νικηφόρος. 23 ΟΚΤΩΒΡΙΟΥ. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
13. October 22. Latin Saints of the Orthodox Patriarchate of Rome.
14. *Lanzoni, Francesco (1927). Le diocesi d'Italia dalle origini al principio del secolo VII (an. 604) (in Italian). Rome: Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana. p. 639.
15. Pirro, Rocco (1733). Mongitore, Antonino (ed.). Sicilia sacra disquisitionibus et notitiis illustrata. Vol. Tomus primus (third ed.). Palermo: haeredes P. Coppulae. pp. 607–608.
16. Rev. Sabine Baring-Gould (M.A.). "S. ROMANUS, B. OF ROUEN. (ABOUT A.D. 639.)" In: The Lives of the Saints. Volume the Twelfth: October – Part II. London: John C. Nimmo, 1898. pp. 577-578.
17. Matthew Bunson and Margaret Bunson. Our Sunday Visitor's Encyclopedia of Saints. Second Edition. Our Sunday Visitor, 2014. p. 160. ISBN 978-1612787169
18. Rev. Sabine Baring-Gould (M.A.). "S. ODA, W. (ABOUT A.D. 723.)" In: The Lives of the Saints. Volume the Twelfth: October – Part II. London: John C. Nimmo, 1898. pp. 578-579.
19. Alfordus, Michael (1663). "Index alphabeticus sanctorum Angliae". Fides regia Anglicana sive Annales Ecclesiae Anglicanae (in Latin). Vol. III. Leodii: ex officina typographica Jo. Mathiae Hovii.
20. Rev. Sabine Baring-Gould (M.A.). "S. ELFLEDA, W. (MIDDLE OF 10TH CENTURY.)" In: The Lives of the Saints. Volume the Twelfth: October – Part II. London: John C. Nimmo, 1898. pp. 580-582.
21. 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. 511-512.
22. (in Russian) 23 октября по старому стилю / 5 ноября по новому стилю. Русская Православная Церковь - Православный церковный календарь на 2016 год.
23. (in Russian) ЕЛИСЕЙ. Православная Энциклопедия под редакцией Патриарха Московского и всея Руси Кирилла (электронная версия). (Orthodox Encyclopedia - Pravenc.ru).
24. Venerable Elisha of Lavreshev. OCA - Lives of the Saints.
25. (in Russian) ВЛАДИМИР. Православная Энциклопедия под редакцией Патриарха Московского и всея Руси Кирилла (электронная версия). (Orthodox Encyclopedia - Pravenc.ru).
26. (in Russian) АЛЕКСАНДР. Православная Энциклопедия под редакцией Патриарха Московского и всея Руси Кирилла (электронная версия). (Orthodox Encyclopedia - Pravenc.ru).
27. (in Russian) ЕМИЛИАН. Православная Энциклопедия под редакцией Патриарха Московского и всея Руси Кирилла (электронная версия). (Orthodox Encyclopedia - Pravenc.ru).
28. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ἀνακομιδὴ Τιμίων Λειψάνων Ἁγίου Ἰακώβου Βοροβίας τοῦ Θαυματουργοῦ (Ρῶσος). 23 ΟΚΤΩΒΡΙΟΥ. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
29. Translation of the relics of Blessed James of Borovichi the Wonderworker of Novgorod. OCA - Lives of the Saints.
30. (in Russian) ИАКОВ. Православная Энциклопедия под редакцией Патриарха Московского и всея Руси Кирилла (электронная версия). (Orthodox Encyclopedia - Pravenc.ru).

Sources

• October 23 / November 5. Orthodox Calendar (PRAVOSLAVIE.RU).
• November 5 / October 23. HOLY TRINITY RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH (A parish of the Patriarchate of Moscow).
• October 23. 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. 79.
• The Twenty-Third Day of the Month of October. Orthodoxy in China.
• October 23. 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. 326–328.
• 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. 511–512.

Greek Sources

• Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) 23 ΟΚΤΩΒΡΙΟΥ. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
• (in Greek) Συναξαριστής. 23 Οκτωβρίου. ECCLESIA.GR. (H ΕΚΚΛΗΣΙΑ ΤΗΣ ΕΛΛΑΔΟΣ).
• (in Greek) 23/10/2017. Ορθόδοξος Συναξαριστής.

Russian Sources

• (in Russian) 5 ноября (23 октября). Православная Энциклопедия под редакцией Патриарха Московского и всея Руси Кирилла (электронная версия). (Orthodox Encyclopedia - Pravenc.ru).
• (in Russian) 23 октября по старому стилю / 5 ноября по новому стилю. Русская Православная Церковь - Православный церковный календарь на 2016 год.