January 21 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)

January 20 - Eastern Orthodox liturgical calendar - January 22

The Eastern Orthodox cross

All fixed commemorations below are observed on February 3 by Eastern Orthodox Churches on the Old Calendar.[note 1]

For January 21st, Orthodox Churches on the Old Calendar commemorate the Saints listed on January 8.

Saints

• Martyrs Eugenios, Candidus, Valerianus, and Aquilas, at Trebizond (303)[1][2][3][4]
• Virgin-martyr Agnes of Rome (ca. 304)[1][3][5][6][note 2]
• Martyr Neophytus of Nicaea (305)[1][3][8][9]
• The Holy Four Martyrs of Tyre, by the sword.[10]
• Venerable Apollonios of the Thebaid, ascetic (4th century)[11] (see also: March 31)
• Venerable Maximus the Confessor (662)[1][3][12][13]
• Martyr Anastasius (662), disciple of St. Maximus the Confessor.[1][14][15]
• Saint Zosimas, Bishop of Syracuse (662)[1][3][16]
• Martyrs Gabriel and Zionios, and companions, under the Bulgarian ruler Omurtag (ca. 814-831)[17]

Pre-Schism Western saints

• Saint Publius, first Bishop of Malta and later Bishop of Athens, martyred under Trajan (ca. 112,[18] or, ca. 161-180[19])[18][note 3] (see also: March 13 in the East)
• Saint Fructuosus, Bishop of Tarragoña in Spain, and Deacons Augurius and Eulogius (259)[7][18][20][note 4]
• Martyr Patroclus of Troyes, under Aurelian (ca. 270-275)[3][7][18][21][note 5]
• Saint Epiphanius of Pavia, Bishop of Pavia (496)[7][18]
• Saint Brigid (Briga), known as St Brigid of Kilbride, venerated around Lismore in Ireland (6th century)[18]
• Saint Lawdog (6th century)[18][note 6]
• Saint Vimin (Wynnin, Gwynnin), a Bishop in Scotland, said to have founded the monastery of Holywood (6th century)[18]
• Saint Meinrad of Einsiedeln, hermit, martyred by robbers (861)[7][18][note 7]
• Saint Maccallin (Macallan), Abbot of Saint-Michel-en-Thiérache Abbey and Waulsort (978)[18][note 8]

Post-Schism Orthodox saints

• Saint Neophytus of Vatopedi monastery, Mt. Athos (14th century)[3][23][24](see also: January 20).
• Venerable Maximus the Greek of Russia (1556)[1][3][25][26][27]
• Venerable Timon, monk (desert-dweller) of Nadeyev and Kostroma (1840)[1][28][29]
• Saint George-John (Mkheidze) of Georgia (1960)[30][note 9]

New martyrs and confessors

• New Hieromartyr Elias Berezovsky, Priest of Alma-Ata (1938)[26][29][32]

Other commemorations

• Synaxis of All the Martyred Saints, from Protomartyr Stephen up to the present.[3][33][note 10][note 11]
• Synaxis of the Church of Holy Peace (Saint Irene), by the Sea in Constantinople.[1][34]

Icons

• "Paramythia" Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos (Vatopedi Mother of Consolation, Mother of God of Vatopedi), at Vatopedi monastery, Mt. Athos (807)[1][26][29][35][36]
• Icon of the Mother of God "Stabbed" (Greek: "Esphagmeni." Slavonic: "Zaklannaya"), at Vatopedi monastery (14th century)[29][37]
• Icon of the Mother of God "Xenophon Hodigitria" (1730)[29][38]

Icon gallery

• 
  Aquila, Valerian, Eugene and Candidus of Trebizond (Menologion of Basil II)
• 
  St. Agnes of Rome with a white lamb and a crucifix.
• 
  Venerable Maximus the Confessor.
• 
  Detail of a Romanesque mural of Saint Fructuosus.
• 
  Apse of St Patroclus' Cathedral in Soest.
• 
  Venerable Maximus the Greek of Russia.

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. "AT Rome, the passion of St. Agnes, virgin, who under Symphronius, governor of the city, was thrown into the fire, but as it was extinguished by her prayers, she was struck with the sword. Of her, St. Jerome writes: "Agnes is praised in the writings and by the tongues of all nations, especially in the churches. She overcame the weakness of her age, conquered the cruelty of the tyrant, and consecrated her chastity by martyrdom."[7]
3. "At Athens, the birthday of St. Publius, bishop, who, as successor of St. Denis the Areopagite, nobly governed the Church of Athens. No less celebrated for the lustre of his virtues than for the brilliancy of his learning, he was gloriously crowned for having borne testimony to Christ."[7]
4. Fructuosus, Bishop of Tarragoña in Spain, and his two deacons, Augurius and Eulogius, were burnt at the stake under Valerian. When the fire had burnt through their bonds, they stretched out their arms in the form of a cross and died.
5. A very wealthy and exceedingly charitable Orthodox in Troyes in France, who was martyred there. His relics were translated to Soest in Germany in 960.
6. "In South Wales, the festival of ST. LAWDOG, to whom are dedicated several churches in the diocese of ST. DAVID'S, and whose memory is marked on this day in an ancient Welsh Calendar."[22] Four churches are dedicated to him near St David's in Wales.
7. Of the noble family of Hohenzollern, he became a monk at the monastery of Reichenau on the Rhine in Germany. Later he became a hermit in Switzerland, and this later became the monastery of Einsiedeln, meaning in German 'the Hermitage'. He lived as a hermit for twenty-five years, was murdered by robbers and is venerated as a martyr.
8. Born in Ireland, he went to St Fursey's shrine in Péronne in France and entered the monastery of Gorze. Later he became a hermit and then Abbot of St Michael's monastery at Thiérache and Waulsort near Dinant in Belgium.
9. See September 21 for Archimandrite John (Basil Maisuradze) († 1957).[31]
10. This commemoration is celebrated today according to the Typikon of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem. The Synaxis takes place at the Church of Saint Stephen in Jerusalem, which was founded by Empress Aelia Eudocia circa 460 AD, wife of Theodosius II.
11. (in Greek) "Πάντων των αγίων Μαρτύρων, «οίτινες εμαρτύρησαν από του χρόνου του Στεφάνου μέχρι της παρούσης ημέρας»."

References

1. January 21 / February 3. Orthodox Calendar (PRAVOSLAVIE.RU).
2. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Οἱ Ἅγιοι Εὐγένιος, Οὐαλεριανός, Κάνδιδος καὶ Ἀκύλας οἱ Μάρτυρες. 21 Ιανουαρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
3. (in Greek) Συναξαριστής. 21 Ιανουαρίου. ECCLESIA.GR. (H ΕΚΚΛΗΣΙΑ ΤΗΣ ΕΛΛΑΔΟΣ).
4. Martyr Eugene at Trebizond. OCA - Lives of the Saints.
5. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ἡ Ἁγία Ἁγνὴ ἡ Μάρτυς. 21 Ιανουαρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
6. Virginmartyr Agnes of Rome. OCA - Lives of the Saints.
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. 21–22.
8. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ἅγιος Νεόφυτος ὁ Μάρτυρας. 21 Ιανουαρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
9. Martyr Neophytus of Nicea. OCA - Lives of the Saints.
10. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Οἱ Ἅγιοι Τέσσερις Μάρτυρες. 21 Ιανουαρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
11. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ὅσιος Ἀπολλώνιος. 21 Ιανουαρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
12. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ὅσιος Μάξιμος ὁ Ὁμολογητής. 21 Ιανουαρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
13. St Maximus the Confessor. OCA - Lives of the Saints.
14. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ἅγιος Ἀναστάσιος ὁ Μάρτυρας. 21 Ιανουαρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
15. Martyr Anastasius the Disciple of the Venerable Maximus the Confessor. OCA - Lives of the Saints.
16. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ὅσιος Ζώσιμος. 21 Ιανουαρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
17. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Οἱ Ἅγιοι Γαβριὴλ καὶ Σιώνιος οἱ Μάρτυρες. 21 Ιανουαρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
18. January 21. Latin Saints of the Orthodox Patriarchate of Rome.
19. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ἅγιος Πούπλιος ὁ Ἱερομάρτυρας Ἐπίσκοπος Ἀθηνῶν. 13 Μαρτίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
20. St Fructuosis of Tarragona, Spain. OCA - Lives of the Saints.
21. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ἅγιος Πάτροκλος ὁ Μάρτυρας. 21 Ιανουαρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
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. pp. 28-29.
23. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ὅσιος Νεόφυτος. 21 Ιανουαρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
24. Venerable Neophytus of Vatopedi, Mt Athos. OCA - Lives of the Saints.
25. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ὅσιος Μάξιμος ὁ Γραικός. 21 Ιανουαρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
26. (in Russian) 21 января (ст.ст.) 3 февраля 2013 (нов. ст.). Русская Православная Церковь Отдел внешних церковных связей. (DECR).
27. Venerable Maximus the Greek. OCA - Lives of the Saints.
28. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ὅσιος Τίμων ἐκ Ρωσίας. 21 Ιανουαρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
29. February 3 / January 21. HOLY TRINITY RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH (A parish of the Patriarchate of Moscow).
30. St George (John) of Georgia. OCA - Lives of the Saints.
31. St John. OCA - Lives of the Saints.
32. 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. 9.
33. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Οἱ Ἅγιοι Πάντες Μάρτυρες ἀπὸ τοῦ Πρωτομάρτυρα Στέφανου μέχρι σήμερα. 21 Ιανουαρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
34. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Μνήμη Ἐγκαινίων ναοῦ τῆς Ἁγίας Εἰρήνης. 21 Ιανουαρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
35. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Σύναξις Ὑπεραγίας Θεοτόκου τῆς Παραμυθίας. 21 Ιανουαρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
36. Icon of the Mother of God “Comfort” or “Consolation”. OCA - Lives of the Saints.
37. Icon of the Mother of God “Stabbed”. OCA - Lives of the Saints.
38. Icon of the Mother of God “Xenophon Hodigitria”. OCA - Lives of the Saints.

Sources

• January 21 / February 3. Orthodox Calendar (PRAVOSLAVIE.RU).
• February 3 / January 21. HOLY TRINITY RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH (A parish of the Patriarchate of Moscow).
• January 21. 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. 9.
• January 21. 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. 21–22.
• 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. pp. 28–31.

Greek Sources

• Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) 21 ΙΑΝΟΥΑΡΙΟΥ. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
• (in Greek) Συναξαριστής. 21 Ιανουαρίου. ECCLESIA.GR. (H ΕΚΚΛΗΣΙΑ ΤΗΣ ΕΛΛΑΔΟΣ).

Russian Sources

• (in Russian) 3 февраля (21 января). Православная Энциклопедия под редакцией Патриарха Московского и всея Руси Кирилла (электронная версия). (Orthodox Encyclopedia - Pravenc.ru).
• (in Russian) 21 января (ст.ст.) 3 февраля 2013 (нов. ст.). Русская Православная Церковь Отдел внешних церковных связей. (DECR).