December 31 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)

December 30 - Eastern Orthodox liturgical calendar - January 1

The Eastern Orthodox cross

All fixed commemorations below are observed on January 13 by Eastern Orthodox Churches on the Old Calendar.[note 1]

For December 31st, Orthodox Churches on the Old Calendar commemorate the Saints listed on December 18.

Feasts

• Apodosis of the Nativity of Christ.[1][2][note 2]

Saints

• Holy Ten Virgin-martyrs of Nicomedia (c. 286 - 305)[2][4]
• Martyr Olympiodora, by fire.[5]
• Martyr Busiris, martyred by women with knitting needles.[6]
• Martyr Nemi (Nemo), by the sword.[7]
• Saint Gaudentius.[8]
• Hieromartyr Zoticus the Priest, of Constantinople, Guardian of Orphans (c. 340)[2][9][note 3] (see also December 30 )
• Saint Anysius, Bishop of Thessaloniki (c. 407)[2] (see also December 30 )
• Venerable Melania the Younger, Nun of Rome (439)[2][11][12][note 4]
• Venerable Gelasius, Monk (Abba), of Palestine.[2][14]
• Venerable Gaius.[15]
• Saint George the Wonderworker, "the stabbed".[16][note 5]
• Venerable Sabiana, Abbess of Samtskhe (11th century)[2][17]

Pre-Schism Western saints

• Saint Columba of Sens (273)[13][note 6]
• Martyrs of Catania:
  • Stephen, Pontian, Attalus, Fabian, Cornelius, Sextus, Flos, Quintian, Minervinus and Simplician, early martyrs in Catania in Sicily.[10][13]
• Martyrs Donata, Paulina, Rustica, Nominanda, Serotina, Hilaria and Companions.[13][note 7]
• Hieromartyrs Sabinian and Potentian (c. 303)[13][note 8]
• Saint Silvester I, Pope of Rome (335)[13][note 9]
• Saint Barbatian, Priest and Confessor, at Ravenna (5th century)[10][13][note 10]
• Saint Peter of Subiaco (1003)[13][note 11]

Post-Schism Orthodox saints

• Blessed Theophylactus of Ohrid, Archbishop of Ochrid (c. 1126)[2][18]
• Saint Peter (Mogila), Metropolitan of Kiev, Defender of the Orthodox faithful against subjugation to the Roman Papacy ('Unia') (1646)[2][19][20][21][22][23][note 12] (see also: December 15 - Glorification)
• Venerable Cyriacus of Bisericani monastery, Romania (1660)[25]
• Venerable Cyriacus of Tazlu, Romania (1660)[26]

New martyrs and confessors

• New Hieromartyr Michael Berezin, Priest (1937)[19][22][23]
• Martyr Peter Troitsky (1938)[19][22][23]
• New Hiero-Confessor Dositheus (Vasich), Metropolitan of Zagreb (1945)[2][19][27][note 13]

Icon gallery

• 
  Venerable Melania the Younger, Nun of Rome
  (Menologion of Basil II, 10th century)
• 
  Pope St. Sylvester I and Emperor Constantine.
• 
  Adoration of the Cross by Pope St. Sylvester I, Empress Helena and Emperor Constantine.
• 
  Saint Theophylactus of Ohrid.
• 
  St. Peter (Mogila) of Kiev, Defender of the Orthodox faithful against subjugation to the Roman Papacy ('Unia').
• 
  New Hiero-Confessor Dositheus (Vasich), Metropolitan of Zagreb (1945).

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. Materials for the Leavetaking of the Nativity are taken from the service of the Feast day itself in the Menaion. The Scripture readings at Liturgy, however, are of the day, not of the Feast. The Prokeimenon, Alleluia verses, and Communion hymn are all of the Feast.[3]
3. "St. Zoticus, Roman priest, who went to Constantinople, and took upon himself the care of orphans."[10]
4. Melania the Younger and Pinian: Melania was the granddaughter of St Melania the Elder. Born in Rome, she married a man called Pinian (Valerius Pinianus). They had two children who died young. About the year 410 they left Rome, the former entering a monastery and the latter a convent in Jerusalem.[13]
5. He is unknown in the Synaxaria, however he is venerated as a local Saint of the Church of Cyprus (Patmos Codex 266).
6. Born in Spain, she left her country to avoid being denounced as a Christian. She went to France with other Spanish Christians, but all of them were martyred near Meaux under Aurelian. Her shrine was in Sens.
7. A group of Roman women martyred in one of the early persecutions. Their relics were enshrined in the catacombs of the Via Salaria.
8. Sabinian is honoured as the first Bishop of Sens in France. Potentian was perhaps his successor. Both were martyred.
9. Silvester came from Rome and served the Church as Pope from 314 to 335, helping convert St Constantine. Most of his relics are enshrined in San Silvestro in Capite in Rome.
10. A priest from Antioch who went to Rome and there attracted the attention of the Empress, Placidia Augusta, through his wise counsel. She encouraged him to live in Ravenna in Italy near the imperial court, where a monastery was built.
11. The twenty-second Abbot of Subiaco in Italy. For defending his monastery, he was blinded and died in prison.
12. KONDAK TO ST. PETRO MOHYLA, TONE 8:
    "Your were shown to be the beacon of the Kyivan Metropolia, a zealot of piety and patristic teachings, O father and hierarch Petro. Fellow struggler of venerable Job in defense of the Orthodox Church, you fearlessly armed yourself against the devil's wiles. Therefore, be not silent now in your prayers to the Lord for us, so that our souls may be saved."[24]
13. See also: (in Russian): Досифей (Васич).

References

1. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek): Ἀπόδοσις ἑορτῆς τῆς τοῦ Κυρίου μας Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ Γεννήσεως. 31 Δεκεμβρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
2. December 31/January 13. Orthodox Calendar (PRAVOSLAVIE.RU).
3. Leavetaking of the Nativity of our Lord. OCA - Feasts and Saints.
4. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek): Οἱ Ἁγίες Δέκα Παρθένες. 31 Δεκεμβρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
5. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek): Ἡ Ἁγία Ὀλυμπιοδώρα ἡ Μάρτυς. 31 Δεκεμβρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
6. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek): Ὁ Ἅγιος Βούσιρις ὁ Μάρτυρας. 31 Δεκεμβρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
7. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek): Ἡ Ἁγία Νέμη ἡ Μάρτυς. 31 Δεκεμβρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
8. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek): Ὁ Ἅγιος Γαυδέντιος. 31 Δεκεμβρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
9. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek): Ὁ Ἅγιος Ζωτικὸς ὁ Ὀρφανοτρόφος. 31 Δεκεμβρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
10. 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.402-403.
11. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek): Ἡ Ὁσία Μελάνη ἡ Ρωμαία. 31 Δεκεμβρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
12. Venerable Melania the Younger of Rome. OCA - Feasts and Saints.
13. December 31. Latin Saints of the Orthodox Patriarchate of Rome.
14. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek): Ὁ Ὅσιος Γελάσιος. 31 Δεκεμβρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
15. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek): Ὁ Ὅσιος Γάϊος. 31 Δεκεμβρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
16. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek): [ Ὁ Ἅγιος Γεώργιος ὁ Θαυματουργός ὁ λεγόμενος μαχαιρωμένος]. 31 Δεκεμβρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
17. Venerable Sabiana, Abbess of the Samtskhe Monastery. OCA - Feasts and Saints.
18. St Theophylactus of Ochrid. OCA - Feasts and Saints.
19. January 13 / December 31. HOLY TRINITY RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH (A parish of the Patriarchate of Moscow).
20. 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.4.
21. (in Russian) 31 декабря по старому стилю / 13 января по новому стилю. Русская Православная Церковь - Православный церковный календарь на 2018 год.
22. (in Russian) 31 декабря (ст.ст.) 13 января 2013 (нов. ст.). Русская Православная Церковь Отдел внешних церковных связей. (DECR).
23. (in Russian) 13 января (31 декабря). Православная Энциклопедия под редакцией Патриарха Московского и всея Руси Кирилла (электронная версия). (Orthodox Encyclopedia - Pravenc.ru).
24. Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada. The Good Shepherd Prayer Book. 2nd Edition. Ecclesia Publishing Corporation, Winnipeg, 2013 A.D. p. 599.
25. Venerable Cyriacus of Bisericani, Romania. OCA - Feasts and Saints.
26. Venerable Cyriacus of Tazlu, Romania. OCA - Feasts and Saints.
27. St Dositheus the Bishop and Confessor of Serbia. OCA - Feasts and Saints.

Sources

• December 31/January 13. Orthodox Calendar (PRAVOSLAVIE.RU).
• January 13 / December 31. HOLY TRINITY RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH (A parish of the Patriarchate of Moscow).
• December 31. 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. 4.
• December 31. 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. 402–403.

Greek Sources

• Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) 31 ΔΕΚΕΜΒΡΙΟΥ. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
• (in Greek) Συναξαριστής. 31 Δεκεμβρίου. ECCLESIA.GR. (H ΕΚΚΛΗΣΙΑ ΤΗΣ ΕΛΛΑΔΟΣ).

Russian Sources

• (in Russian) 13 января (31 декабря). Православная Энциклопедия под редакцией Патриарха Московского и всея Руси Кирилла (электронная версия). (Orthodox Encyclopedia - Pravenc.ru).
• (in Russian) 31 декабря (ст.ст.) 13 января 2013 (нов. ст.). Русская Православная Церковь Отдел внешних церковных связей. (DECR).