November 16 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)

November 15 - Eastern Orthodox liturgical calendar - November 17

The Eastern Orthodox cross

All fixed commemorations below are observed on November 29 by Orthodox Churches on the Old Calendar.[note 1]

For November 16, Orthodox Churches on the Old Calendar commemorate the Saints listed on November 3.

Saints

• Holy Apostle and Evangelist Matthew (60)[1][2][3][4][5][6][note 2][note 3]
• Saint Fulvianus (in holy baptism Matthew), prince of Ethiopia, (1st century)[1][2][8][9]
• Virgin-martyr Iphigenia of Pontus (68)[10][11][12][13][note 4][note 5]
• Saint Ephigenia of Ethiopia (1st century)[14][15]
• Hieromartyr Hypatius of Gangra, Bishop of Gangra, Wonderworker (326)[2][8][16] (see also: March 31)

Pre-Schism Western saints

• Saint Fidentius, an early saint in Padua in Italy (2nd century)[17][note 6]
• Martyrs Elpidius, Marcellus, Eustochius and Companions (362)[17][note 7][note 8]
• Saint Eucherius of Lyons (449)[1][2][17][note 9][note 10]
• Saints Rufinus, Mark, Valerius and Companions, martyrs in North Africa.[17][18]
• Saint Afan, a bishop who gave his name to the church of Llanafan in Powys in Wales (6th century)[17]
• Saint Africus, Bishop of Comminges in France, celebrated for his zeal for Orthodoxy (7th century)[17]
• Saint Gobrain, a monk who became Bishop of Vannes in Brittany and at the age of eighty-seven went to live as a hermit (725)[17]
• Saint Otmar, abbot and monastic founder in Switzerland (759)[1][2][17][18][note 11]
• Saint Lubuinus, missionary to Friesland (773)[1][2]
• Saint Ælfric of Abingdon (Aelfric), monk and Abbot of Abingdon, later Bishop of Wilton and twenty-ninth Archbishop of Canterbury in 995 (1005)[17][note 12][note 13]

Post-Schism Orthodox saints

• Venerable Sergius, Priest and missionary, of Malopinega, Vologda (1585)[1][8][20]

New martyrs and confessors

• New Hieromartyrs Theodore Kolierov, Priest, and with him Martyrs Ananius Boikov and Michael Boldakov (1929)[2][8][9][21]
• New Hieromartyrs Michael Abramov, Protopresbyter, and priests Basil Sokolov, Victor Voronov, John Tsvetkov, Makarius Soloviev and Nicholas Troitsky (1937)[2][8][21]
• New Hieromartyr Panteleimon (Arzhanykh), Abbot of Optina Monastery (1937)[1][2][9][21]
• Martyr Demetrius Spiridonov (1938)[2][8][9][21][note 14]
• New Hieromartyr Philoumenos (Hasapis) of Jacob's Well (1979)[1][8][9][21][22][23][24][note 15] (see also: November 29)

Other commemorations

• Repose of Schemamonk John the Fingerless (1843), disciple of St. Paisius Velichkovsky.[1]

Icon gallery

• 
  Holy Apostle and Evangelist Matthew.
• 
  The Martyrdom of St. Matthew, with St. Iphigenia of Ethiopia on the right. (Altarpiece of St. Matthew, c.1367-70).
• 
  Hieromartyr Hypatius of Gangra.
• 
  St. Otmar.
• 
  Martyrdom of St. Philoumenos (Hasapis) of Jacob's Well.

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:
   • Matthew (Ματθαῖος).
3. "Eusebius says that after our Lord's ascension, S. Matthew preached in Judaea, some add for fifteen years, and then went to foreign nations. Socrates says that it fell to the lot of S. Matthew to go into Ethiopia. But S. Ambrose says that God opened to him the country of the Persians; Isidore of Seville says that he went among the Macedonians, the acts by the pseudo-Abdias say Ethiopia. Heracleon, disciple of Valentine, living in the 2nd century, and the earliest and most trustworthy authority, says that S. Matthew died a natural death, and S. Clement, Origen, and Tertullian say the same. The story of his martyrdom originated much later. S. Matthew's original Gospel in Aramaic consisted of the sayings of the Lord. The Acts of His life were added later."[7]
4. Name days celebrated today include:
   • Iphigenia, Ifigenia, Ephigenia (Ἰφιγένεια).
5. Her memory is mentioned briefly only in the "Small Euchologion or Agiasmatarion", published by the Apostoliki Diakonia of the Church of Greece in 1956, without any other information provided therein. She is NOT referenced in the Greek or Russian Synaxaria. Note the following contradiction however:

   1. There is a LOCAL Greek account in existence that refers to a Saint Iphigenia from the first century, that is commemorated on November 16th as "Saint Iphigenia the Virgin-Martyr of Pontus", maytyred in 68 AD at the age of 15.[12]
   2. There is a different account in the West of a first century folk saint, "Iphigenia of Ethiopia" (September 21), as recollected in the 13th century Golden Legend, of an Ethiopian princess that was converted by Saint Matthew the Apostle and afterwards was consecrated to God.

   • Therefore, there are two possibilities here:

   1. It is possible that were two distinct Saints named "Iphigenia", both dating from the first century: one from Pontus who was martyred in 68 AD aged 15; and a different one from "Ethiopia" ("Asiatic Ethiopia") — according to the 13th century account.
   2. Otherwise, if in fact she was a single individual, then there has been a confusing conflation of two different traditions regarding this single Saint.

6. "At Padua, St. Fidentius, bishop."[18]
7. An official at the court of the Emperor Constantius, he was demoted by Julian the Apostate. He and others were dragged tied to the tails of wild horses. Finally they were all burnt at the stake.
8. "The same day, the holy martyrs Elpidius, Marcellus, Eustochius, and their companions. Elpidius being a senator, and having perseveringly confessed the Christian faith before Julian the Apostate, was, with his companions, first tied to wild horses and dragged by them, and then being thrown into the fire, ended a glorious martyrdom."[18]
9. He became a monk at Lérins in France in 422 and his wife Galla became a nun. Two of their sons became bishops. In 434 he became Bishop of Lyons and in 441 he presided the Council of Orange with St Hilary and several of his ascetic works still exist.
10. "At Lyons, the birthday of St. Eucherius, bishop and confessor, a man of extraordinary faith and learning. He renounced the senatorial dignity to embrace the religious life, and for a long time voluntarily shut himself up in a cavern, where he served Christ in prayer and fasting. Afterwards, through the revelation of an angel, he was solemnly installed in the episcopal chair of the city of Lyons."[18]
11. Of Germanic origin and already a priest, in 720 he was appointed Abbot of St Gall in Switzerland. Under him a period of prosperity began for the monastery, which soon became the most important in Switzerland. He was persecuted by two lords, unjustly slandered and condemned. He bore his sufferings with great patience, reposing in prison.
12. He governed the Church ably in the critical times of the Danish invasion of Kent.
13. "ST. ALFRICK, or ALRIC, professed the monastic life and was made Abbot of Abingdon. From that office he was promoted to be Bishop of Wilton, and lastly, on the death of Siric, he became Archbishop of Canterbury. He is said to have ruled his church in a most religious manner during eleven years, which the incursions of the Danes contributed to make a most difficult time. After that he was called to the reward of his labours, and buried in his Cathedral Church, being counted as one of the many Saints whom God granted to the Metropolitan See."[19]
14. See: (in Russian) Димитрий Спиридонов. Православная Энциклопедия под редакцией Патриарха Московского и всея Руси Кирилла (электронная версия). (Orthodox Encyclopedia - Pravenc.ru).
15. He was martyred on November 29, 1979. He was canonized on September 11, 2009 by the Patriarchate of Jerusalem,[22] with this canonization being reaffirmed on March 5, 2010 by the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Russia as well:[23]

    (in Russian): 5 марта 2010 года Священный синод Русской православной церкви постановил:

    «включить имя священномученика Филумена (Хасаписа) в месяцеслов Русской Православной Церкви с установлением празднования его памяти 16/29 ноября, как это установлено в Иерусалимской Церкви».

    Both Patriarchates placed his feast day on November 16 (ns) / 29 (os).
    Churches on the New Calendar place his feast day directly on November 29 (ns).

References

1. November 16 / December 29. Orthodox Calendar (PRAVOSLAVIE.RU).
2. November 29 / November 16. Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Church (A parish of the Patriarchate of Moscow).
3. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ἅγιος Ματθαῖος ὁ Ἀπόστολος καὶ Εὐαγγελιστής. 16 Νοεμβρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
4. (in Greek) Συναξαριστής. 16 Νοεμβρίου. ECCLESIA.GR. (H ΕΚΚΛΗΣΙΑ ΤΗΣ ΕΛΛΑΔΟΣ).
5. Apostle and Evangelist Matthew. OCA - Lives of the Saints.
6. "THE CHURCH CALENDAR FOR THE YEAR OF SALVATION 2016." Center for Traditionalist Orthodox Studies (C.T.O.S.) - Church of the Genuine Orthodox Church of Greece: Holy Metropolis of Oropos and Phyle. Retrieved: 17 September, 2016. p. 26.
7. Rev. Sabine Baring-Gould (M.A.). "S. MATTHEW, AP. EVANG. M. (1ST CENT.)" In: The Lives of the Saints. Volume the Eleventh: October – Part I. London: John C. Nimmo, 1898. pp. 323-324.
8. 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. 86.
9. (in Russian) 29 ноября (16 ноября). Православная Энциклопедия под редакцией Патриарха Московского и всея Руси Кирилла (электронная версия). (Orthodox Encyclopedia - Pravenc.ru).
10. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ἡ Ἁγία Ἰφιγένεια. 16 Νοεμβρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
11. (in Greek) Αγία Ιφιγένεια η Παρθενομάρτυς. Ορθόδοξος Συναξαριστής. 16/11/2015.
12. (in Greek) Αρχιμανδρίτης Δωρόθεος, Ηγούμενος της εν Άνδρω Ι. Μονής του Αγίου Νικολάου εις τας Ώρας. Η Αγία Παρθενομάρτυς Ιφιγένεια του Πόντου. Διακόνημα (Diakonima.gr). 16 Νοεμβρίου 2013.
13. "GENUINE ORTHODOX CHURCH CALENDAR 2016." The Genuine Orthodox Church (GOC) Synod of Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Thebes and Levadia (Matthewite TOC). Retrieved: 17 September, 2016. p. 30.
14. St. Ephigenia of Ethiopia. The Self-Ruled Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America. Retrieved: 6 September, 2016.
15. Lists of Women Saints Names: September 21st. Ss. Mary and Martha Orthodox Monastery, Wagener, SC. Retrieved: 10 September, 2016.
16. St Hypatius of Gangra. OCA - Lives of the Saints.
17. November 16. Latin Saints of the Orthodox Patriarchate of Rome.
18. 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. p. 353-354.
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. pp. 544-550.
20. St Sergius of Malopinega. OCA - Lives of the Saints.
21. (in Russian) 16 ноября по старому стилю / 29 ноября по новому стилю. Русская Православная Церковь - Православный церковный календарь на 2018 год.
22. CLASSIFICATION TO THE HAGIOLOGION OF THE NEW HIEROMARTYR FILOUMENOS. Synodic Decisions. Jerusalem Patriarchate - Official News Gate. Holy City of Jerusalem, September 11th 2009.
23. (in Russian) Журналы заседания Священного Синода от 5 марта 2010 года на сайте Патриархия.Ru. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
24. (in Greek) Άγιος Φιλούμενος ο Νεοιερομάρτυρας. Ορθόδοξος Συναξαριστής. 16/11/2015.

Sources

• November 16 / December 29. Orthodox Calendar (PRAVOSLAVIE.RU).
• November 29 / November 16. Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Church (A parish of the Patriarchate of Moscow).
• November 16. 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. 86.
• The Sixteenth Day of the Month of November. Orthodoxy in China.
• November 16. 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. p. 353-354.
• 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. 544–550.

Greek Sources

• Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) 16 ΝΟΕΜΒΡΙΟΥ. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
• (in Greek) Συναξαριστής. 16 Νοεμβρίου. ECCLESIA.GR. (H ΕΚΚΛΗΣΙΑ ΤΗΣ ΕΛΛΑΔΟΣ).
• (in Greek) 16/11/2015. Ορθόδοξος Συναξαριστής.

Russian Sources

• (in Russian) 29 ноября (16 ноября). Православная Энциклопедия под редакцией Патриарха Московского и всея Руси Кирилла (электронная версия). (Orthodox Encyclopedia - Pravenc.ru).
• (in Russian) 16 ноября по старому стилю / 29 ноября по новому стилю. Русская Православная Церковь - Православный церковный календарь на 2018 год.