April 18 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)

April 17 - Eastern Orthodox liturgical calendar - April 19

An Eastern Orthodox cross

All fixed commemorations below are observed on May 1 by Orthodox Churches on the Old Calendar.[note 1]

For April 18th, Orthodox Churches on the Old Calendar commemorate the Saints listed on April 5.

Saints

• Martyrs Victor, Zoticus, Zeno, Acindynus, and Severian, of Nicomedia (c. 303)[1][2][3] (see also: April 20 - Greek)
• Martyr Sabbas the Goth (Sabbas Stratelates), at Buzau in Wallachia (372)[1][4][5] (see also: April 12 and April 15)
• Saint Acacius II, Bishop of Melitene (445)[5][6][note 2] (see also: April 17)
• Saint Cosmas, Bishop of Chalcedon, and his fellow-ascetic St. Auxentius (815-820)[1][5][7][8]
• Venerable John the Righteous (John the Hesychast), disciple of St. Gregory of Decapolis (c. 820-850)[1][5][9][10]
• Venerable Naucratius, Abbot of the Studion (848)[1][5][11]
• Venerable Athanasia the Wonderworker, Abbess, of Aegina (850)[1][5][12] (see also: April 12 - Slavic)
• Venerable Matthew (Matthias), acquaintance of St. Athanasia the Wonderworker (c. 850)[13]
• Venerable Euthymius the Wonderworker.[5][14]

Pre-Schism Western saints

• Saint Eleutherius, Bishop of Illyria, his mother Anthia, and eleven others, martyred in Illyria under Hadrian (c. 117-138)[15][16][note 3] (see also: December 15 - East)
• Martyr Corebus, a prefect of Messina in Sicily, converted to Christ by St Eleutherius and martyred under the Emperor Hadrian (c. 117-138)[15][note 4]
• Martyr Calocerus, an officer of the Emperor Hadrian martyred in Brescia in Italy (c. 117-138)[15][note 5]
• Saint Apollonius the Apologist, a Roman senator, denounced as a Christian by one of his own slaves and condemned to be beheaded (c. 190)[15][18][note 6][note 7]
• Saints Bitheus and Genocus, two monks from Britain who accompanied St Finian of Clonard to Ireland (6th century)[15][19]
• Saint Laserian (Molaisse), founder of the monastery and bishopric of Leighlin in Ireland (639)[15][20][21]
• Saint Deicola (Dicul), born in Ireland, he preached Christ in England in Norfolk and in Sussex (late 7th century)[15][note 8]
• Saint Agia (Aia, Austregildis, Aye), wife of St Hidulf of Hainault in Belgium, monastic at the convent of Mons (c. 714)[15][22]
• Saint Wicterp (Wiho, Wicho), Abbot of Ellwangen Abbey in Germany, later became the tenth Bishop of Augsburg (749)[15][note 9]
• Saint Cogitosus, a monk at Kildare in Ireland who probably wrote the Life of St Brigid (8th century)[15][23]
• Saint Perfectus, a priest in Cordoba in Spain, martyred by Muslims on Easter Sunday (851)[1][15][note 10]

Post-Schism Orthodox saints

• Venerable Basil (Ratishvili) the Georgian, Wonderworker, of Iveron Monastery, Mt. Athos (13th century)[1][24][25]
• Venerable Euthymius the Enlightener of Karelia (1435),[26] and righteous laymen Anthony and Felix of Karelia.[1][27][28]
• New Martyr John the Tailor, of Ioannina, at Constantinople (1526)[1][5][29][30]
• Venerable new martyr John (Koulikas) (1564)[31] (see also: April 8)
• Martyr Tunom, Arab Emir who confessed Christ on seeing the Holy Fire in Jerusalem (1579)[1][note 11]
• Hieromartyr Cyril VI of Constantinople, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople (1821)[33]

New martyrs and confessors

• New Hieromartyr Bessarion Selinin, Priest (1918)[2][34]
• New Hieromartyr Alexis Krontenkov, Priest, of Ekaterinburg (1930)[1]
• New Hieromartyrs Nicholas (1937) and Basil Derzhavin (1930), Priests, and martyred lay people of the city of Gorodets, Nizhni-Novgorod.[1][2]
• New Martyr Tamara (Satsi), Abbess, of Cheboksara (Chuvashia) (1942)[1][2][34]

Other commemorations

• Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos "Glykophilousa" ("Sweet-kissing").[1][35] (see also: March 27)
• Icon of the Mother of God of St Maximus (Maximovsk Icon) (1299)[1][2][34][36][37]

Icon gallery

• 
  Saint Apollonius of Rome, drawn by Jacques Callot, ca. 1630.
• 
  St. Cyril VI, Patriarch of Constantinople.
• 
  St. Cyril VI, Patriarch of Constantinople.
• 
  An icon of the Most Holy Theotokos "Glykophilousa"
  ("Sweet-kissing").

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:
   • Akakios (Ἀκάκιος).
3. "At Messina, the birthday of the holy martyrs, Eleutherius, bishop of Illyricum, and Anthia, his mother. Illustrious by his holiness of life and his power of working miracles, he was, in the reign of Adrian, laid on a bed of red-hot iron, on a gridiron, in a pan filled with boiling oil, pitch and rosin; he was cast to the lions, but, remaining unhurt, he finally had his throat pierced with a sword. His mother suffered a similar punishment."[17]
4. "In the same place, St. Corebus, prefect, who was converted to the faith by St. Eleutherius, and died by the sword."[17]
5. "At Brescia, St. Calocerus, a martyr, who was converted to Christ by Saints Faustinus and Jovita, and under the same Adrian terminated his glorious combat for the confession of the faith."[17]
6. His eloquent defence of Orthodoxy, delivered before the Senate at his trial is a priceless document of the Faith.
7. "AT Rome, St. Apollonius, a senator under the emperor Commodus and the prefect Perennius. Having been denounced as a Christian by one of his slaves, and being commanded to give an account of his faith, he composed an able work which he read in the Senate. He was nevertheless decapitated for Christ by the sentence of that body."[17]
8. Dickleburgh in Norfolk may be named after him.
9. He helped found monasteries at Fussen, Wessobrunn and Kempten, all of which became famous.
10. "At Cordova, St. Saint Perfect, priest and martyr, killed by the Moors for inveighing against the followers of Mahomet."[17]
11. "...The oldest edition of these pilgrimage guides, entitled Proskynitarion of the Holy City of Jerusalem, was published in Vienna in 1749 and was written by Symeon, archimandrite and warden of the Holy Sepulchre...The Vienna edition also mentions another incident related to an Arab emir named Tunom, who at the time of the miracle was in the church courtyard. When he saw the igniting of the column he realized the truth of the miracle of the Holy Fire and confessed to his co-religionists the power of Jesus Christ. After he quarreled with them, his confession became the cause of the order for his execution, and subsequently for his body to be burnt. Today he is venerated as an official holy martyr of the Orthodox Church. His memory is celebrated on 18 April and his relics are kept at the monastery of the Virgin Mary, the Megali Panagia, in Jerusalem."[32]

References

1. April 18 / May 1. Orthodox Calendar (PRAVOSLAVIE.RU).
2. May 1 / April 18. HOLY TRINITY RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH (A parish of the Patriarchate of Moscow).
3. Martyr Victor of Nicomedia. OCA - Lives of the Saints.
4. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ἅγιος Σάββας ὁ Στρατηλάτης. 18 Απριλίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
5. (in Greek) Συναξαριστής. 18 Απριλίου. ECCLESIA.GR. (H ΕΚΚΛΗΣΙΑ ΤΗΣ ΕΛΛΑΔΟΣ).
6. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ἅγιος Ἀκάκιος Β’ Ἐπίσκοπος Μελιτηνὴς. 18 Απριλίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
7. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ἅγιος Κοσμᾶς ὁ Ὁμολογητής Ἐπίσκοπος Χαλκηδόνος. 18 Απριλίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
8. St Cosmas the Bishop of Chalcedon. OCA - Lives of the Saints.
9. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ὅσιος Ἰωάννης ὁ Ἡσυχαστής. 18 Απριλίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
10. Venerable John the Disciple of the Venerable Gregory of Decapolis. OCA - Lives of the Saints.
11. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ὅσιος Ναυκράτιος ὁ Ὁμολογητής ὁ Στουδίτης. 18 Απριλίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
12. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ἡ Ὁσία Ἀθανασία ἡ Θαυματουργός ἐξ Αἰγίνης. 18 Απριλίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
13. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ὅσιος Ματθαῖος (ἢ Ματθίας). 18 Απριλίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
14. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ὅσιος Εὐθύμιος ὁ Θαυματουργός. 18 Απριλίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
15. April 18. Latin Saints of the Orthodox Patriarchate of Rome.
16. Rev. Sabine Baring-Gould (M.A.). "SS. ELEUTHERIUS B. AND ANTIA, MATR., MM. (CIRC. A.D. 135.)." In: The Lives of the Saints. Volume the Fourth: April. London: John C. Nimmo, 1897. p. 223.
17. 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. 108-109.
18. Rev. Sabine Baring-Gould (M.A.). "S. APOLLONIUS THE APOLOGIST, M. (ABOUT A.D. 185.)." In: The Lives of the Saints. Volume the Fourth: April. London: John C. Nimmo, 1897. p. 224.
19. 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. 164.
20. Very Rev. John O'Hanlon. "ARTICLE I.—LIFE OF ST. LASERIAN, BISHOP AND PATRON OF LEIGHLIN DIOCESE. [SIXTH AND SEVENTH CENTURIES]." In: Lives of the Irish Saints: With Special Festivals, and the Commemorations of Holy Persons. VOL. IV. Dublin, 1875. pp. 203-230.
21. Rev. Sabine Baring-Gould (M.A.). "S. LASERIAN, B. AND AB. OF LEIGHLIN. (A.D. 639.)." In: The Lives of the Saints. Volume the Fourth: April. London: John C. Nimmo, 1897. pp. 224-226.
22. Rev. Sabine Baring-Gould (M.A.). "S. AYA, COUNTESS OF HAINAULT. (7TH CENT.)." In: The Lives of the Saints. Volume the Fourth: April. London: John C. Nimmo, 1897. p. 226.
23. Very Rev. John O'Hanlon. "Article II.—St. Cogitosus, Sapiens, or the Wise." In: Lives of the Irish Saints: With Special Festivals, and the Commemorations of Holy Persons. VOL. IV. Dublin, 1875. pp. 230-235.
24. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ὅσιος Βασίλειος ὁ Θαυματουργός ἐκ Γεωργίας. 18 Απριλίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
25. St Basil Ratishvili of Georgia. OCA - Lives of the Saints.
26. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ὅσιος Εὐθύμιος ὁ Φωτιστὴς τῆς Καρελίας. 18 Απριλίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
27. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Οἱ Ὅσιοι Ἀντώνιος καὶ Φήλικος. 18 Απριλίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
28. Venerable Euthymius the Enlightener of Karelia and Finland. OCA - Lives of the Saints.
29. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ἅγιος Ἰωάννης ὁ Νεομάρτυρας ὁ Ράπτης ἐξ Ἰωαννίνων. 18 Απριλίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
30. New Martyr John the New of Epirus. OCA - Lives of the Saints.
31. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ἅγιος Ἰωάννης ὁ Ὁσιομάρτυρας ὁ Κουλικᾶς. 18 Απριλίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
32. Charalambos K. Skarlakidis. HOLY FIRE: The Miracle of Holy Saturday At The Tomb of Christ: Forty-five Historical Accounts (9th – 16th c.). Elaia Editions, 2011. Retrieved: 31 March 2014.
33. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ἅγιος Κύριλλος ὁ ΣΤ’ ὁ Ἱερομάρτυρας. 18 Απριλίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
34. (in Russian) 18 апреля (ст.ст.) 1 мая 2013 (нов. ст.). Русская Православная Церковь Отдел внешних церковных связей. (DECR).
35. 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. 29.
36. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Σύναξις Ὑπεραγίας Θεοτόκου τοῦ Μαξίμου. 18 Απριλίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
37. Icon of the Mother of God of St Maximus. OCA - Lives of the Saints.

Sources

• April 18 / May 1. Orthodox Calendar (PRAVOSLAVIE.RU).
• May 1 / April 18. HOLY TRINITY RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH (A parish of the Patriarchate of Moscow).
• April 18. 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. 29.
• April 18. 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. 108–109.
• 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. 164.

Greek Sources

• Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) 18 ΑΠΡΙΛΙΟΥ. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
• (in Greek) Συναξαριστής. 18 Απριλίου. ECCLESIA.GR. (H ΕΚΚΛΗΣΙΑ ΤΗΣ ΕΛΛΑΔΟΣ).

Russian Sources

• (in Russian) 1 мая (18 апреля). Православная Энциклопедия под редакцией Патриарха Московского и всея Руси Кирилла (электронная версия). (Orthodox Encyclopedia - Pravenc.ru).
• (in Russian) 18 апреля (ст.ст.) 1 мая 2013 (нов. ст.). Русская Православная Церковь Отдел внешних церковных связей. (DECR).