AUGUST:
August 5th Cantidus, Cantidian, and Sibelius (4th century) Martyrs of Egypt.
August 7th Or (390) A hermit of the Thebaid (Upper Egypt), said to have supernatural radiance due to his years of strict asceticism. “For a monk, this is the celebration of the Resurrection of Christ to elevate his mind and unite it with God.”
Potamia (4th century) Virgin saint of Alexandria.
Hyperechius (4th century) Desert Father of Egypt. Six lessons in the Sayings of the Desert Fathers are attributed to him.
August 8th Gregory (1346) Known as the “Sinaite” as he received his monastic tonsure on Mt. Sinai in Egypt. Gregory was very influential on Mt. Athos. His teachings on mental prayer are found in the Philokalia and wrote several hymns, including “It is Meet and Right” to the Holy Trinity.
August 9th Apostle Matthias (1st century) A follower of Jesus Christ during his earthly ministry and selected to replace Judas Iscariot (Acts 1:23-26). After Pentecost, Matthias evangelized in Ethiopia as well as Macedonia and Judea where he was stoned and beheaded.
Anthony (1st century) A citizen of Alexandria who was tortured by a pagan prince for not denying Christ. He gave his soul to God while burning in a fire.
Psoes (4th century) Egyptian monk
August 12th Pallamon (ca. 325) Egyptian instructor of St. Pachomius
August 16th Chaeremon (4th century) Monk of Nitra, Egypt. One lesson is attributed to him in the Sayings of the Desert Fathers
August 26th Tithoes (5th century) A disciple of Abba Pachomius and became the Abbot of Tabennisi Monastery. Seven lessons in the Sayings of the Desert Fathers are attributed to him.
Zer-Jacob (?) Missionary in Ethiopia
Ibestion the Confessor (ca. 450)
August 27th Poemen the Great (450) Also known as “The Shepherd.” A natiive Egyptian who sought out wise ascetics as a boy. As he was tonsured a monk, two of his brothers joined him. Two hundred nine lessons in the Sayings of the Desert Fathers are attributed to him.
Djan Darada (1st century) The Ethiopian Eunuch is also commemorated on January 4th. Djan’s story is found in Acts 8:26-39.
August 28th Moses the Black (ca. 375) A very dark skinned man (ethiopian = “burn faced”) once a slave and then a robber. While attempting to rob a monastery, he was so moved by the hospitality of the monks, he repented, converted, and became a monk greatly known for his humility and spiritual life. He was killed by barbarians that he sought to be hospitable to. Twenty lessons from the Sayings of the Desert Fathers and lessons from Abba John Cassian’s Of the Holy Fathers of Sketis (Philokalia Vol. 1) are attributed to him.
August 30th Samarta (ca. 362) Egyptian saint
August 31st Cyprian (258) Bishop of Carthage. Born a pagan, he devoted himself to studying the scriptures and greatly criticized Roman society’s immorality. Cyprian led the Church against heretics, sometimes in hiding. As he was about to be martyred, the bishop gave 25 gold coins to his executioner.
SEPTEMBER:
September 3rd Aristion (Kelladion) (ca. 167) Bishop of Alexandria. Born in Cilicia (Asia Minor). Martyred.
September 4th Moses the God-seer The great holy prophet and law giver. Born an Israelite but raised in the Egyptian Pharaoh’s court. Led his people to the very border of the Promised Land and died. He and Elijah appeared with Jesus at the Lord’s Transfiguration. It is said that Moses has appeared to monks on Mt. Sinai.
Abba Petronius (346) A disciple of Abba Pachomius in Egypt.
September 5th Rhais (308) Martyred in Alexandria.
September 6th David (6th century) He was the leader of thieves near Hermopolis, Egypt before repenting and being tonsured a monk.
September 11th Theodora of Alexandria (490) She was a married young woman who committed adultery. Mourning what she had done, Theodora cut off her hair, dressed as a man, and gained entrance to a men’s monastery where she was heralded for her ascetic disciplines under the name Theodore. A wicked woman accused this monk of getting her pregnant. Rather than reveal his secret as a defense, Theodora accepted the accusation as punishment for her earlier sin. She was banished from the monastery for seven years and endured harsh temptations as she took care of the child that was not hers. She was allowed back in the monastery where she lived another two years before her death. The other monks saw that Theodore was really Theodora. Her husband came to her burial and lived in her cell.
Euphrosymus the Cook (9th century) He was a cook in an Amorean monastery. His spiritual father once dreamed that he was in heaven and saw Euphrosymus there as well. The cook picked and gave him three apples. When he woke up, there were three very nice apples by his pillow. He ran to the cook and asked, “Where were you last night?” “Where you were,” Euphrosymus replied. The father told the other monks. But Euphrosymus feared the praise of men and lived in the wilderness instead.
September 12th Theodore (1st century) Martyred in Alexandria.
September 13th Serapion, Cronides, and Leontius (237) Martyred in Alexandria
Eulogius I (608) Patriarch of Alexandria
September 16th Dorotheus of Egypt (4th century) Lived in a cell in the Thebaid. He built cells for new monks and would pray and recite the Psalms while weaving mats.
Cyprian (258) Bishop and hieromartyr of Carthage. Unlike the other bishop of the same name, this Cyprian was a former socerer and was asked to cast a love spell on a lovely virgin, Justina. As he confronted her, she responded with the sign of the cross. The simple motion shamed the socerer. Cyprian gave up his magic, became a Christian. (from Wade in the River: the Story of the African Christian Faith)
September 17th Joachim I (1567) Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa. He was known for his virtue and wisdom. Joachim was elected at the age of 38. Joachim was became very influential among the Orthodox patriarchs and lived to be 119. (from Orthodoxy in Africa)
September 18th Sophia and Irene (3rd century) Martyrs of Egypt
Castor (3rd century) Martyr of Alexandria
September 20th John the Confessor (310) he lived in Egypt, but was beheaded with 40 others in Palestine.
September 22 Peter the Merciful of Constantinople (6th Century) Served as a tax collector in Africa under Justinian. Peter was once a cruel man who rarely gave alms to the poor. In a vision, he saw the demons heaping his sins against him on a scale. To his defense, an angel placed his one good deed, a piece of bread thrown to a beggar, on the other side of the scale. Peter woke up and saw the dream as a call to be compassionate and humble to others.
September 23 Iradia (Rhais) (308) A native Egyptian from Batan, she was drawing water in a well by the sea when she saw a boat full of Christians headed for martyrdom. Iradia was moved by their witness and joined them and was tortured and beheaded in Antinopolis.
September 25 Euphrosyne & Paphnutius (5th century) Daughter (Euphrosyne) and father monastics. Papnutius was a wealthy man in Alexandria. His daughter disguised herself as a man and entered a monastery rather than become married. Her father was grieved over the loss of his daughter and unknowingly went to her for spiritual counsel. Euphrosyne revealed her identity to him on her death bed. After her burial, Papnutius entered the same monastery and lived in his daughter’s cell until his death.
Paphnutius and 546 companions (ca. 303) Martyred in Egypt
September 27 Callistratus and 49 companions (304) He was the grandson of Neokorus, a soldier from Carthage who witnessed the Crucifixion, Resurrection, and miracles of Jesus Christ and believed. Callistratus also became a Christian and refused to bow down to idols as ordered by his army commander. As others saw him endure great torture for his faith, they also became Christians. They were slain in 304.
OCTOBER:
October 4 Ammon (350) He and his wife decided to live separately. She organized a convent while Ammon led a community of monks in the Nitria desert. Three lessons in the Sayings of the Desert Fathers are attributed to him.
Paul the Simple (339) He caught his wife in sin and joined St. Anthony in the Egyptian desert. Despite being illiterate, he was well respected for his spiritual perception and miracle working.
Gaius, Faustus, Eusebius, and Chaeremon (3rd century) martyred in Alexandria.
October 5 Dionysius (265) Born into a pagan family in Alexandria and a student of Origen. Dionysius became the Bishop of Alexandria in 247 during a time of great persecution having to encourage his flock to hold firm against false teaching.
October 8 Thais(Taisia) (340) She was a constant fornicator until she met Paphnutius the Sindonite. He gave her a gold coin and she thought he wanted a sexual favor. Once in her room, the Abba denounced her sins and she repented in deep sincerity and much tears. Thais sold her goods and moved to a convent. After three years of ascetic living, her soul rested in paradise. Abba Paul the Simple had a vision of her there.
October 9 Andronicus & Athanasia (5th century) Andronicus was a goldsmith who lived in Antioch with his wife, Athanasia. They would live off of one third of their income with One third going to the poor and another to the Church. After the death of their two sons and a vision confirming they were in the kingdom of God, the couple decided to live as monastics in Egypt, Andronicus to Sketis and Athanasia to Tabennisi.
Demetrius (231) He served as the Bishop of Alexandria, the eleventh after St. Mark the Evangelist.
October 19 Varus and the Seven (ca. 307) Varus was a Roman officer living in Egypt and a secret Christian. He took care of imprisoned Christian teachers who encouraged him to join them as they were tortured and martyred.
Cleopatra (327) & John (320) Not the Egyptian queen. This Cleopatra was a Palestinian woman and widow of a Roman officer. She and her son, John, were in Egypt when Varus was martyred. She took the saint’s relics and buried them at a village near Mt. Tabor. Later, she built a church their in his honor where Varus would appear as an angel.
October 22 Lot & Rufus (5th century) Both were among the great Desert Fathers of Egypt and had two lessons in the Sayings of the Desert Fathers attributed to them. Abba Lot lived in a monastery near Arsinoe and was advised by Abba Joseph of Panephysis who challenged him to become all flame.
October 23 Petronius (346) A disciple of Abba Pachomius the Great in Egypt.
October 24 Elesbaan (553) This King of Ethiopia was devout in the faith and raised an army to fight against a governor in an Arabian city that was oppressing Christians. Elesbaan wept as his army was being defeated and promised God that if he were victorious, he would leave the throne to become a monk. The Ethiopians won and he made good on his promise. Elesbaan lived in strict asceticism for 15 years and was known to work miracles.
October 28th Terence, Africanus, Maximus, Pompeius, and the 36 (250) Martyrs in Carthage.
October 30 Eutropia, Alexander, Cronion, Julian, Macarius, and 12 Companions (250) Martyrs in Alexandria.
NOVEMBER:
November 3 Elias of Egypt (4th/5th century) Perhaps the same Abba Elias with 8 lessons in the Sayings of the Desert Fathers. He lived among the rocks near Antinoe, a city in Upper Egypt (Lower Nubia). He was hearaled for his asceticism and healing. Abba Elias reposed at 110 years old.
November 5 Gregory (9th century) Patriarch of Alexandria
November 9 John the Dwarf (ca. 407) This well loved monk was a disciple of Paisius the Great and Pambo. Under Pambo’s direction, John watered a dry stick for 3 years until it suddenly bore leaves and fruit. This is how he learned the benefits of obedience. John would later be the teacher of Arsenius. Forty-seven lessons in the Sayings of the Desert Fathers are attributed to this short spiritual giant.
November 11 Menas (304) He was an Egyptian and a Roman soldier. As a Christian, he refused to participate in pagan idol worship and fled to the wilderness. He declared his faith in a nearby town where the officials arrested and tortured him. He was beheaded and burned. It is said that Greek and other Allied soldiers fighting the Nazis at the battle of El-Alemein, Egypt saw Saint Menas fighting alongside them.
November 12 John the Merciful (620) He was the son of a Cypriot prince and lost his wife and children as a young man. Because of his great compassion and piety, John was chosen to serve as the Patriarch of Alexandria. While serving the Liturgy, John remembered the Lord’s commandment to settle a disagreement with a brother before taking a gift to the altar (Matthew 5:23, 24). Knowing there was a priest who had a grievance against him, John left the Holy Gifts to go to him and beg for forgiveness. Only when they made peace did John return to the altar and continue the service.
Nilus (ca. 450) He was an official in Constantinople with a wife, daughter, and son. Weary of the sinful ways of the city, the wife and daughter went to a convent in Egypt while Nilus and their son, Theodulus, went to Mount Sinai. He was known for his great asceticism and writings on spiritual living.
November 16 Apostle & Evangelist Matthew (1st century) He was Levi the tax collector in Capernaum when Jesus told him, “Follow Me” (Matthew 9:9). His account of the Gospel was first written in Aramaic. After Pentecost, Matthew preached the faith among the Parthians, Medes, and Ethiopians. He was tortured and martyred in Ethiopia.
Fulvanius (Matthew) (1st century) As a pagan prince, he ordered the torture and death of the Apostle & Evangelist Matthew. Seeing miracles and visions of the holy man, Fulvanius repented of his sins, and became a Christian. Giving up his worldly life and throne, he became a priest and bishop of Ethiopia taking on the name of the one he had martyred.
November 17 150 Philosophers converted by St. Catherine and martyred in Alexandria (305) They were gathered by the Roman officials to try to convince Catherine to abandoned the Christian faith. She out debated them and they converted, which angered the emperor.
Longinus of Egypt (4th century) Not Longinus the Centurion who was at the Lord’s Crucifixion. This may have been the monk who was a disciple of Abba Lucius at the Enaton Monastery. Five lessons from the Sayings of the Desert Fathers are attributed to him.
November 23 Ischyrion (5th century) a hermit in the Sketis desert and Bishop in Egypt. This may be the Ischyrion with one lesson in the Sayings of the Desert Fathers
November 24 Katherine (310) She was the daughter of a king who lived in Alexandria and was known for her great beauty and wisdom. By visions, Katherine became a Christian and considered herself betrothed to Jesus. Refusing to worship pagan idols, she outwitted 50 philosophers and convinced them to become Christians. She also persuaded the emperor’s wife and his commander and 200 soldiers to accept the faith. All were tortured and put to death with Katherine beheaded at only 18 years old. One of the great monasteries in Christianity is named for her on Mt. Sinai.
Emperess Augusta (Faustina),Porphyrius Stratelates, and 200 soldiers (505-313) All were martyred for declaring themselves to be Christians seeing the faith of Katherine in Alexandria.
November 25 Peter of Alexandria (311) For a time, this Peter studied under the philosopher Origen. He became Archbishop of Alexandria in 299. During his leadership, 670 Christians were martyred including himself. Peter also anathematized the priest Arius for his false doctrine of the Son being a created being of the Father and not one in essence with Him.
November 27 Pinuphrius (4th century) A contemporary of Abba John Cassian and known to be a great teacher by example among the Egyptian monks.
Nathaniel (6th century) A monk of Nitra, Egypt who is said not to have left his cell for 38 years.
November 29 Acacius (7th century) From Abba John Climacus in The Ladder Acacius was a young novice monk who was abused by an evil elder. He endured the torture for nine years before he died. The tormentor and another elder visited his grave and asked, “Acacius, did you die?” “No,” came the reply from the grave, “it is impossible for the obedient to die.” The evil elder shut himself up in his cell near the grave and spent the rest of his life in prayer and repentance.
November 30 Frumentius (370) He and his brother, Edesius, were traveling with Meropius to India from Tyre. The ship was wrecked in a storm off the coast of Ethiopia. The Ethiopians killed everyone on the boat except these two brothers who, in time, served in the imperial court. Frumentius began to preach the Gospel to the Ethiopians before he and his brother left the country. He went to Alexandria where Patriarch Athanasius sent Frumentius back to Ethiopia as the consecrated Bishop. Ethiopia converted to the Christian faith and he reposed there in 370.
DECEMBER:
December 2 Andrew, Heraclemon, John, and Theophilus (4th century) Hermits in Egypt.
December 3 Theodore I (609) Served two years as the Archbishop of Alexandria. Among his tortures by the pagans, Theodore was made to wear a crown of thorns before being beheaded.
December 5 Karion (Carion, or Cyron) and Zacharias (4th century) They were father and son living as monks in Egypt. Zacharias even surpassed his father in ascetic discipline. Three lessons of Karion (Carion) and five of Zacharias are listed in the Sayings of the Desert Fathers.
December 8 Patapius (7th century) He was raised by pious parents in the Egyptian city of Thebes. Patapius first tried to flee worldly vanity in the wilderness areas of his homeland. But, he fled to a hut in Constantinople when too many people began to praise him. Even there, he was well known for miraculous healings.
Holy Martyrs of Africa (477) Vandals under King Gunerik (Genzerik) allowed Arian heritics to persecute Orthodox Christians in the Roman province of Africa. Two priest were burned to death. Sixty had their tounges cut out. Three hundred laypersons were beheaded.
December 10 Menas the Most Eloquent, Hermongenes, and Eugraphus (313) Menas and Hermogenes were Athenians who lived in Byzantium. Menas was a secret Christian and was sent to Alexandria to root out believers from the city. Rather than root them out, he confessed his faith and led many pagans to convert. Hermongenes was sent to torture Menas. But he also converted seeing Menas healed from his wounds and became the Bishopm of Alexandria. Emperor Maxim himself went to the city to have them both tortured and executed along with Eugraphus, a friend and secretary to Menas who loudly confessed the Christian faith.
December 11 Mirax (640) He was an Egyptian who was tricked by a Muslim Emir to convert to Islam. But, he repented and entered a mosque with a cross and called on the Muslims to convert. He was tortured and beheaded.
December 14 Apollonius, Philemon, Arianus, Theoctychus, and four guards converted by Arianus (305) Arianus was a crule judge who persecuted Christians in Egypt. Threatened by this judge, Apollonius bribed the pagan musician Philiemon to dress like him and offer sacrifices to idols in his place. However, Philemon saw the light of Christ and loudly declared himself a Christian in the pagan temple. Rain came down from heaven and baptized him as he was being tortured. Arianus executed both men. But, he also became a Christian after his injured eye was miraculously healed. He and four soldiers were condemned to death by Emperor Diocletian.
December 15 Bacchus (787) A monk at Mirs al-Fustat, Egypt who was martyred.
December 17 Patermuthius, Coprius, and Alexander (361-363) Patermuthius and Coprius were monks who were martyred. Alexander was a soldier who was also killed for the faith in Egypt.
December 19 Elias, Probus, and Ares (308) Egyptian Christians who were martyred in Cilicia.
December 24 Eugenia and those with her (262) Born in Rome, she was the daughter of Philip the Eparch of Egypt. She visited the Christians who were driven out of Alexandria and accepted the faith. After baptism, she disguised herself as a man and entered a monastery. A woman had Eugenia arrested and sent to the Eparch having failed to lure the “monk” into adultery. Eugenia revealed her true identity to her father who was so glad to see his daughter alive that he and the rest of the family became baptized Christians. The emperor had Philip secretly killed. Eugenia and the remaining family moved to Rome where she was later arrested. After enduring much torture, the Lord Himself appeared to her to inform her that she would be martyred on the Feast of His Nativity.
December 25 JESUS CHRIST (1st century) Born in Bethlehem of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary. Joseph took Him as a child and his mother to Egypt to protect Him from the jealous King Herod (Matthew 2:13~15, 19~21). The Holy Family traveled through Egypt for three to four years going as far south as Assiut in the middle of the country.
December 27 Maximus (282) Bishop of Alexandria
December 29 Benjamin (392) Monk of Nitria, Egypt. Perhaps the same Benjamin with five lessons from the Sayings of the Desert Fathers attributed to him.
Athenodorus (4th century) A disciple of Pachomius the Great
JANUARY:
January 1 Basil the Great (330-379 AD), Although not an African, this Cappedocian is listed among the Sayings of the Desert Fathers as he spent time in Egypt. He patterned his life after the monastics and was known for his generosity as well as his theological contributions in the Second Ecumenical Council. His books, On the Holy Spirit and On Social Justice are well worth reading. His version of the Divine Liturgy is used in certain periods of the Orthodox Church.
Fulgentius (533 AD), Bishop of Ruspe in Tunisia.
January 2 Venerable Ammon (5th Century), Abbot of the Tabennisiot Monastery in Upper Egypt. Three thousand monks lived under his direction.
January 4 Martyr Djan Darada (1st Century), the Ethiopian Eunuch baptized in Acts 8:26-40. This first Apostle to Ethiopia was killed for preaching faith in Jesus Christ.
January 8 Elias the Wonder-worker of Egypt (5th Century),
Agatho (5th Century), Egyptian monk
January 10 Venerable Ammon (5th Century), A monk in Nitra, Egypt. He was known for overcoming his anger and knowledge of Holy Scripture.
January 12 Venerable Mother Theodora of Alexandria (4th Century), One of the most highly regarded nuns and teacher of nuns. One of only a few women featured in the Sayings of the Desert Fathers. Much of her wisdom can be found in the Matericon as translated by the Russian monk, Theophan the Recluse.
Eupraxia (4th Century), a nun in Tabenna, Egypt.
January 14 Theodulus (5th Century), Son of Nilus of Sinai
January 15 Paul of Thebes (3rd & 4th Century), Lived in the deserts of Upper Egypt surrendering his part of an earthly inheritance for the sake of Christ. His asceticism made a heavy impression on Anthony the Great. Paul reposed in 342 after living 113 years.
January 17 Anthony the Great (250-356 AD), The father of Christian monasticism. Upon hearing the Gospel reading, Go sell all you have and follow me, Anthony gave away his inheritance and lived as a hermit in prayer and fasting. Athanasius’s book, The Life of St. Anthony the Great, influenced many men and women to either come to the deserts of Egypt, or live as monks and nuns where they were.
Achillies the Confessor (5th Century), hermit of Egypt
January 18 Athanasius the Great & Cyrill Archbishops of Alexandria (296-373) As a deacon, Athanasius helped to defeat the Arian heritics at the First Ecumenical Council at Nicea in 325 and wrote the original Creed of the Church. He succeeded Alexander as the Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa and was persecuted for not giving into false doctrine. He was a friend to Anthony and other Desert Fathers. In 367, Bishop Athanasius gave a list of 27 books for all of his clergy to preach and teach from. These books were canonized as the New Testament by a Council in Carthage in 398. Cyril is also celebrated on June 9th.
January 19 Macarius the Great (390), Withdrew to the wilderness of Egypt after the death of his wife. In the Sayings of the Desert Fathers, Macarius was known to have a level of humility that confounded demons. Because of his virtuous life, a cherubim showed him the Kingdom of Heaven. He was visited by Anthony and Pachomius nine days before his death.
Macarius of Alexandria (393), A former fruit vendor was baptized at the age of 40. Along with Macarius the Great, the Alexandrian was one of the first disciples of Anthony. Macarius became the Abbot of “The Cells” Monastery between Nitra and Sketis.
January 24 Paul, Pausirius, and Theodotian (3rd Century), martyrs in Egypt
Zosimas of Cilicia (6th Century), Bishop of Babylon in Egypt
January 26 Ammon of Egypt (4th century) a disciple of Anthony the Great (Jan. 17)
January 27 Peter of Egypt (5th Century)
January 30 Synaxis of the Three Hierarchs: Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom, Basil the Great (Jan. 1) spent time in Egypt and is listed in the Sayings of the Desert Fathers. Gregory and John would have known of these and other monastic writings from Africa.
January 31 Cyrus and John, Unmercenaries and Miracle-workers and the Holy Martyrs Athanasia and her daughters Theodota, Theoctista and Eudoxia (311) Cyrus was a doctor who healed many people with the power of Christ and his learning. As an unmercenary, he often healed people without charge. Cyrus began this practice in Alexandria before becoming a monk in Arabia. John, his spiritual brother, encouraged Athanasia and her daughters to endure their tortures for the faith as they would also suffer in Canopus, Egypt. All five were beheaded in 311.
FEBRUARY:
February 6 John of Thebes (6th century) monk of Palestine, founder of the Choziba Monastery which is still in use today.
February 8 Conitus of Alexandria martyred in 249
Mary & Martha of Tanis [Hermopolis, Egypt] virgin-martyrs
February 12 Eugene & Mary [Marius] of Alexandria (508) This father and daughter became monks with the girl disguised and named as a boy. An innkeeper’s daughter was infatuated with the young monk and when she became pregnant by another man, she claimed Marius as the father. Rather than reveal her true identity, Mary was banished to a grove outside of the monastery and raised the child for three years as it’s mother went insane. Mary died in 508 and only then did the other monks discover Marius was really a woman. The innkeeper’s daughter was restored to her senses when she admitted her sin.
February 13 Timothy , Archbishop of Alexandria. Died in 385
Peter (Feb. 14), Patriarch of Alexandria. Died in 380
February 15 Paphnuntius & Euphrosyne, Father and daughter monk and nun of Alexandria in the 5th century
Uncovering the relics of Menas the Most Eloquent Martyr of Alexandria (Feb. 17)
February 20 Bessarion the Great, wonderworker of Egypt. Died in 466
February 22 Abilius Bishop of Alexandria. Died in 98.
Februrary 24 Montanus, Lucias, Julian, Victoricus, Flavian, and their companions, Martyred in Carthage in 259
February 27 Julian and Chronium (Feb 27), Julian was crippled with gout. He was taken on a pallet and condemned as a Christian. He and his disciple Chromion were burned at the stake in Alexandria in 250 and 252.
Simon of Cyrene, Carried the cross for our Lord and raised two sons, Lucius and Rufus, in the faith. Died in the first century. [Simon’s commemoration is found only in the Lectionary Paris BN gr 282 (9th century) and the Ormylia Synaxarion]
February 28 Proterius and his six companions, Proterius was elected Patriarch of Alexandria after the Fourth Ecumenical Council of 451. Dioscorus, the previous Patriarch, was removed for supporting the Monophysite (Jesus having one nature) doctrine and his supporters ran the new head of the African Church. Proterius had a vision of Isaiah telling him, “Return to the city, I am waiting for you.” He returned to Alexandria where he and six of his supporters were killed by the heretics in 457.
{Commemorated on Feb 28 on non-leap years}
February 29 John Cassian the Roman, spent years among the African Desert Fathers. By their wisdom, he wrote the Conferences and Institutes. On the Holy Fathers of Sketis in the Philokalia, Vol. 1 is dedicated to his conversations with Moses the Black. Cassian brought monasticism to Marseilles and other parts of present day France and had a large following of monks and nuns. He died in 435.
John called Barsanuphius, born in Palestine and became a monk. John was elected Archbishop of Damascus. But, he secretly left the city and became a water carrier for other monks in Nitra, Egypt known for humility and meekness. He died in 457.
MARCH:
March 2nd: Venerable Agathon of Egypt (5th century) – According to The Sayings of the Desert Fathers, Agathon was trained as a young monk by Poemen in the Thebaid region of Egypt. Thirty passages of that volume are attributed to him.
March 3rd: Alexandra of Alexandria (4th century), Piama the Virgin (337), Unknown Maiden in Alexandria (?) – Piama chose to wed her soul to Christ than herself to a man and spent much of her time in contemplation and prayer.
March 4th: Bishop Julian of Alexandria (189)
March 5th: Venerable Mark the Ascetic of Egypt (5th century), Virgin-martyr Irais (Rhais) of Antinoe of Egypt (3rd century), Martyr Arcelaus and 152 Marytrs in Egypt (308), Paul the Simple of Egypt – disciple of Anthony the Great (339) – Mark the Ascetic became a monk at 40 years old by John Chrysostom. According to the Philokalia vol.1, he may have been the head of a monastery in Asia Minor before living in the deserts of Egypt and Palestine. In this book, Mark contributed On Spiritual Law: 200 Text, On Those who Think that They are Made Righteous by Works: 116 Text, and Letter to Nicolas the Solitary.
March 7: Perpetua, Felicity & those with them (203) One of the most widely known accounts of Christian martyrdom. Both young ladies had very young babies at the time of their death. Their faith and sisterly love surpassed their master/slave relationship.
March 10th: Venerable Mother Anastasia the Patrician of Alexandria (567) – A former lady in waiting in Constantinople, Anastasia became a monk in disguise in Egypt.
March 11th: Sophronius, Patriarch of Jerusalem (638), Venerable George the Sinaite (6th century) – Sophronius was born in Damascus and wrote The Spiritual Meadow after visiting and learning from Egyptian ascetics.
March 12th: Righteous Aaron the High Priest and brother of Prophet Moses the God-seer (1530 BC), Monk Cyrus of Alexandria (6th century.
March 13th: Marytrs Africanus, Publius, and Terence at Carthage (250).
March 15th: Martyr Nicander the Egyptian (302) – skinned alive for tending to the bodies of Christian martyrs.
March 16th: Sabinus of Hermopolis, Egypt (303) – A Syrian who lived in the Egyptian city. Sabinus was betrayed by someone he aided and was drowned in the Nile River.
March 17th: Deacon Ambrose of Alexandria (400)
March 20th: Photina the Samaritan Woman – She spoke with Jesus in John 4:4-31. She and her two sons and five sisters evangelized in Carthage after the Lord’s Resurrection. They were arrested and sent to Rome where they were martyred by Nero.
March 21st: Bishop Serapion of Thmuis, Egypt (358) – Serapion was a companion of Anthony the Great and was the Abbot of a monastery with over 11,000 monks. Four lessons are attributed to him in the Sayings of the Desert Fathers.
March 24th: Zacharias the Recluse of Egypt (4th century) – The son of Abba Carion. Though younger than most other Desert Fathers, Zacharias was honored for his wisdom. Five of the Sayings of the Desert Fathers are attributed to him.
March 26th: Subdeacon Eutychius of Alexandria (356)
March 27th: Paphnutius (4th century) – A disciple of Anthony the Great. Paphnutius was known for leading sinners to repentance. Six of the Sayings of the Desert Fathers are attributed to him.
March 29th: John the Hermit (4th century) – The son of a Christian woman, Juliana, in Armenia. He fled to the Egyptian wilderness and was spiritually guided by Abba Pharmutius.
March 30th: John Climacus (649) – He is also venerated on the Fourth Sunday of Great Lent. John came to the Sinai Peninsula at the age of 16 and was a recluse for many years. At 80, he became the Abbot of the Sinai Monastery where he wrote The Ladder of Divine Ascent.
March 31st: Apollonius (Apollo) of the Thebaid (4th century) – He became a monk at 15. After years of ascetic discipline, He established a monastery with 500 monks. Sixty-two sayings are attributed to him in The Lives of the Desert Fathers
APRIL:
April 1st: Mary of Egypt (530) – She is also venerated on the Fifth Sunday of Great Lent. Mary lived in debauchery from the age of 12 in Alexandria. She journeyed to Jerusalem where the Holy Spirit confronted her wickedness. She repented and became a recluse in the Jordan wilderness. Zosimas of Palestine (April 4th) discovered Mary during Great Lent and gave her the Eucharist before her blessed repose.
April 2nd: Martyr Polycarp of Alexandria (4th century)
April 5th: Mark the Athenian (400) Born in Athens, Mark gave all of his wealth to the poor and was directed by God to a mountain in Libya (or Ethiopia) called Trache. He was known for great ascetic struggles against his sins for 30 years. Mark reposed at the age of 130 years.
Virgin Martyr Theodora and Martyr Didymus the Soldier of Alexandria (304)
Monk Publius of Egypt (4th century)
Theonas, Symenon, and Phorbinius of Egypt (4th century)
April 7th: Serapion the Sidonite, Egyptian Monk (5th century) – Four lessons in the Sayings of the Desert Fathers are attributed to him.
April 10th: Martyrs Terence, Africanus, Maximus, Pompeius and 36 others in Carthage (250) – Despite horrible tortures, they refused to worship the Roman idols.
April 11th: Pharmuthius, Egyptian Anchorite (4th century)
April 13th: Thomias of Alexandria (476) Murdered by her vile father-in-law that sought to seduce her. He was caught in the room he killed her in. From that time, she assist those who have adulterous temptations.
April 20th: Athanasius of Mount Sinai (685) Succeeded John Climacus as Abbot of the Mt. Sinai Monastery. Known as an instructor against heretical teaching.
April 22nd: Leonidas of Alexandria (202) The father of Origen. His son encouraged him being martyred, “Father, do not concern yourself over us and do not avoid martyrdom because of us.”
April 25th: Mark the Apostle & Evangelist (68) Born into a Jewish family in Egypt. Mark was one of the 70 Apostles in Luke 10:1-24 and accompanied Paul and Peter in the spread of the Gospel. He wrote his account of the Gospel and left Rome for the Babylon of Egypt and Alexandria. He established the Church in Africa ordaining clergy in Egypt and Libya. Both the Coptic and Eastern Patriarchate of Alexandria are descended from this Apostle. He was martyred by being dragged to death by a horse drawn chariot.
Anianus, Second Bishop of Alexandria (86) He was a shoe-maker that painfully wounded himself with a needle. The Apostle Mark healed and preached the Gospel to him. He was very devout and was consecrated bishop of Alexandria.
April 29th: John Tolaius, Patriarch of Alexandria (482) – He was sent to Constantinople to request that the Alexandrian Patriarchate be allowed to elect their own Archbishop. The Emperor Zenon permitted this under the condition that John would not be the elected one. Returning to Alexandria, John broke the promise and was elected Patriarch. He was quickly removed by the Governor of Egypt for perjury. (from Orthodoxy in Africa, by Archimandrite Chrysostom Onyekakeya, Archdiocese of Nigeria)
MAY:
May 1st: Prophet Jeremiah – One of the great prophets of the Old Testament Judah. He was forced to go with a group of Jews to Egypt where he lived for four years before being stoned to death by his own people. Jeremiah prophecied the fall of the Pharonic idols as Christ would come to the land as an infant. Local Egyptians held him in high regard. Alexander the Great had is body translated and burried in Alexandria,
May 2nd: Athanasius the Great (see January 18th) – The commemoration of the translation of his relics and the miracles performed through them.
May 8th: Arsenius the Great (448) – One of the most revered of the Desert Fathers. Arsenius was a Roman born into an aristocratic family and rose to the rank of Senator. He became a deacon and briefly served in a large church in that city. He renounced the world all together and secretly fled to Egypt. Arsenius started his monasticism under Abba John the Dwarf, then became a hermit known to take in very few visitors and maintaining great humility and silence. Forty-four of the Sayings of the Desert Fathers are attributed to him.
Hierax of Egypt (5th century) – Perhaps this is the same Hierax with one lesson in the Sayings of the Desert Fathers is attributed to him.
Victor of Milan (303) – Born in Mauretania (modern Morocco) to a Amazigh (Berber) family of the Mauri tribe (from which the English word “Moor” comes from. Served as a Roman soldier in the Praetorian Guard. Martyred for not abandoning his faith in Christ.
May 9th: Martyr Epimachus of Pelusium, at Alexandria (250) – Some sources has his feast day on October 14th. As Epimachus was being tortured, some of his blood splashed on the eyes of a blind young maiden and she began to see. She and her family converted to Christianity and were quickly martyred as well.
May 10th: Apostle Simon the Zealot (1st century) – One of the original Twelve Disciples of Jesus Christ. Simon was born in Cana of Galilee where the Lord did his first miracle at the wedding feast (John 2:1-11). Known for his fiery zeal for Christ and the Gospel, Simon preached and converted many to the faith in Mauritania in north west Africa. He was tortured and crucified.
Isidora, Fool for Christ, of Tabennisi (365) – In a convent, she was the most lowly of the nuns wearing ragged clothes and eating only the leftover scraps from the others. She was considered insane and endured some mistreatment. Abba Pitirim came to visit the convent and fell down before Isidora. When the other nuns protested, he replied, “All of you are insane. This one is greater before the Lord than any of us. May God grant me what He has in store for her on Judgement Day.” Rather than remain and receive apologies and honor from her sisters, Isidora fled to a lonely place where she died.
Thais (Taisia) of Egypt (5th century) – She was a wealthy Christian maiden who gave much of her wealth to monks in the desert. When Thais couldn’t support herself, she became a prostitute in Alexandria. Abba John the Dwarf went to the city to see her and she immediately repented in tears and left with him back to the wilderness. On the way back, Thais was sleeping as John was praying. He turned and saw a great light and angels taking the soul of the repentant young woman.
May 12: Polybius of Cyprus (5th century) Bishop of Rinokyr in Egypt.
May 14: Serapion the Sindonite (5th century) This Egyptian monk wore nothing but a linen cloth, or a “sindon.” He had even given this away and his copy of the Gospels to help others in need. Serapion lived in Athens for a time as well. This may not be the same Serapion in the Sayings of the Desert Fathers.
May 15: Pachomius the Great (346) Born a pagan in Egypt and was a soldier with Emperor Constantine. Pachomius became a Christian and retreated to the Thebaid region of Upper Egypt. As an alternative to the solitary hermit style of monasticism, an angel appeared to him in Tabennisi and game him the the rule of cenobitic monasticism where groups of monks would live together under a common rule. Some seven to 10,000 monks lived in the monasteries he established on this rule.
May 16: Theodore the Sanctified (368) A disciple of Pachomius the Great ran away from his parents to become a monk. His mother and sister became nuns and brother a monk. He was entrusted by the Bishop of Panopolis (Akhmim) and Pachomius to build a monastery in that area. He succeeded his master as the head of the first monastic communities.
May 19th: Acoluthus (284-305) Martyred in Hermopolis, Egypt
May 20th: Asclas (287) Martyred in Antinoe, Egypt with Leonides. Their tormentor, Arrian repented later and proclaimed Jesus before his fellow pagans and was executed.
Thalassius the Myrrh-gusher of Libya (ca. 668)
May 21: Hieromartyr Secundus and those with him (356) Martyred in Alexandria
May 22: Bishop Donatus, the Priest Macarius, and the Deacon Theodore (ca. 316) Hieromartyrs of Thmuis, Egypt
May 27th: Theodora and Didymus the Soldier (304) Theodora was a virgin in a noble family. She was found to be a Christian and sent to a brothel to be violated by soldiers. An answer to her fervent prayers to God, Didymus was the first soldier to enter the house. He too was a Christian and dressed her in a uniform while he wore a woman’s garment. He was arrested and admitted his faith. As he was about to be killed, Theodora came up to try to take his place. They were both beheaded and their bodies burned.
May 29th: Commemoration of the First Ecumenical Council (325) The Council was held in Nicaea to settle the debate of Christ being of the same nature as God the Father. Arius, a priest in Alexandria, started the heretical teaching that Jesus was a created being. The council led by the young Deacon Athanasius confirmed Bishop Alexander’s condemnation of the Arianism. Among the clergy present was Cecilianus of Carthage.
Archbishop Alexander of Alexandria (326) condemned the Priest Arius for teaching that Jesus was a created being. Arius appealed and his case was the main item of the First Ecumenical Council in 325. His close assistant, Athanasius, succeeded Alexander.
May 31st: Martyr Philosophus (252) The young man was born near Alexandria and suffered many horrible tortures rather than renounce the Christian faith. His tormenters, learning he was a virgin, tied him to a bed and brought in a prostitute to have sex with him. When she got close and touched him, Philosophus bit his tongue off and spat the blood in her face. The harlot screamed and fled from him. He was soon beheaded.
JUNE:
June 3: Achillies, Bishop of Alexandria (312)
June 4: Zosimas of Cilicia (6th century) – A dedicated ascetic on Mt. Sinai, Zosimas was ordained Bishop of New Babylon in Egypt. After years of service, he returned to Mt. Sinai where he reposed.
Optatus (376) – Bishop of Milevun in Numidia, North Africa.
Alonius (5th century) – Monk in Sketis, Egypt.
June 5: Anoubius (5th century) – A well respected monk of Sketis, Egypt who was known for being clairvoyant.
Martyrs Marcian, Nicander, hyperechius, Apollonius, Leonides, Arius, Gorgias, Selenias, Irenaeus, and Pambo of Egypt (250-252)
Dorotheos (395) – Monk in Thebes, Egypt.
June 6: Bessarion the Great (466) – Born and educated in Egypt and learned monasticism from St. Gerasimus of the Jordan (March 4th) and Isidore of Pelusium (February 4th). A devout ascetic who had once stood in prayer for forty days and nights without eating or drinking. Despite hiding his ascetic practices, he was known to heal the sick and work miracles. (Perhaps the same Bessarion in the Sayings of the Desert Fathers).
Justus (130) – Bishop of Alexandria.
June 7: Daniel of Sketis (420) – A disciple of Arsenius the Great who taught many monks. Daniel buried St. Thomias (April 13th) after she was murdered by her father-in-law. Eight lessons in the Sayings of the Desert Fathers are attributed to him.
Virgin martyr Potamiaena, and the Martyrs Plutarch, Serenus, Heraclides, Heron, Herais, Marcella, and Basilides of Alexandria (193-211)
June 8th: Arte (Arthe) (5th century) of Nitra, Egypt
June 9th: Cyril, Archbishop of Alexandria (444) This great archbishop struggled and succeded against the oppresive Jews in Alexandria and silenced the Novationist heritics that did not accept the repentance of those who had fallen away from the Church. His most well known accomplishment was leading the Third Ecumenical Council’s rejection of the Nestorian heresy of there being a seperate physical and spiritual Jesus Christ. Cyril declared that Jesus had two seperate natures (human and divine) united in the One Person.
June 12th: Onuphrius the Great (400) A precursor to the great Desert Fathers of Egypt. Onuphrius was a hermit who’s hair was his clothing. Paphnutius told his story that the hermit was fed and received the Eucharist by an angel. Onuphrius gave his soul to God with a heavenly light coming from his body and singing from the heavenly host.
Timothy the Hermit (4th century) A hermit in the Thebaid region of Egypt. It’s uncertain if this is the same Timothy mentioned in the Sayings of the Desert Fathers
John, Angrew, Heraclemon, and Theophilus (4th century) Egyptian Hermits
June 14th: Julitta (Julia) (4th century) Nun in Tabennsi, Egypt
June 15th: Dulas of Cilicia (305-313) Dulas lived in an Egyptian monastery and was accused of stealing items of Church worship. After being tortured, another monk admitted to the crime. Dulas spent 20 years in exile before he was restored to the monastery where he died three days later and his body mysteriously vanished.
Augustine of Hippo (430) A former pagan who was led in the Church by St. Ambrose. One of the great writers who’s works include Confessions and City of God. Hippo was located in northern Algeria
Monica of Tagaste (387) Also known as Monica of Africa. She is the mother of St. Augustine. Tagaste was located in northern Algeria and known today as Souk Ahras.
Cedronus (Kedron*) (107) Patriarch of Alexandria and Africa 96-106 (*from Orthodoxy in Africa, Archimandrite Chrysostom Onyekakeyah)
Orsiesius of Tabennisi (ca. 380) A disciple of Pachomius the Great
Dulas (5th century) Egyptian passion bearer
June 17th: Joseph and Pior of Sketis (4th century) Disciples of Anthony the Great. Pior was known to eat while standing up and working rather than to sit at a table. He, like Moses the Black, carried a leaking bag of sand to represent the sins he left behind and no longer sees rather than to judge a brother.
June 19th: Paisius the Great (400) A native Egyptian who was dedicated to the Lord by his mother. Paisius was a disciple of Abba Pambo and fellow of John the Dwarf. He was known as a clairvoyant healer and to have seen many visions of the Prophet Jeremiah.
Zeno (late 4th century) Lived as a hermit in Egypt. (uncertain if this is the same Zeno in the Sayings of the Desert Fathers)
June 25th: Gallicanus the Patrician (362) Martyred in Egypt
June 28th: The Translation of the relics of Martyrs Cyrus and John froom Canopus to Menuthis (412) Patriarch Cyril of Alexandria prayed for God to destroy the pagan city of Menuthis. However, an angel instructed him to move the remains of Saints Cyrus and John to the city and built a church in their honor. Many miracles took place at this Christian temple, including the healing of the governor’s son. The city was submerged in the 8th century by earthquakes and a flood.
JULY:
July 3rd: Isaiah the Recluse (ca. 429) Lived as an ascetic in Sketis, Egypt and Palestine. While mentioned in the writings of Abba Barsanuphius and John, many of his own instructions for monks were destroyed by Muslims.
July 6th: Sisoes the Great (429) He was a native Egyptian and disciple of Abba Anthony the Great. After the death of the teacher, God had favor on his ascetic efforts and gave him the grace to perform miracles and drive away unclean spirits. Fifty-four lessons in the Sayings of the Desert Fathers are attributed to him.
July 7th: Pantaenus (203) Confessor of Alexandria
July 9th: Martyrs Patermuthius, Copres, and Alexander the Soldier (361) The Egyptian Copres was persuaded to worship idols rather than continue to be tortured by Emperor Julian the Apostate. His elder countryman, Patermuthius, rebuked him and they both declared they belonged to Christ. The emperor’s soldier, Alexander, was moved by their courage and declared himself a Christian as well. All three were beheaded.
Monks Patermuthius & Copres (4th century) This Patermuthius was a robber and was about to pillage a home of a Christian woman. However, he fell asleep and was warned in a dream not to commit the evil and repent. He did so, was baptized, and became a monk. He and Copres were known for working miracles. Thirty-five lessons from the Lives of the Desert Fathers are attributed to them. This may be the same Abba Copres with three lessons attributed to him in the Sayings of the Desert Fathers.
July 10th: 10,000 Fathers of Sketis (Egypt) martyred by Patriarch Theophilus of Alexandria (398) The Patriarch falsely accused them of being heretics. Their only crime was hiding the Priest Isidore.
July 12th: Serapion the New (211) Martyred in Alexandria
July 13th: Sarah of the Nile (370) She became an ascetic as a young woman and struggled against her temptations for sixty years along the Nile River. Many women saw Sarah’s example and also became nuns. Nine lessons in the Sayings of the Desert Fathers and several in the Matericon are attributed to her.
July 14th: Hellius (4th century) An Egyptian monk who was known to perform miracles and look into the hearts of men. Among his struggles, Hellius had to overcome satanic delusions when fasting. The devil sought in vain to tempt him with various sweet foods.
Heraclius (246) Patriarch of Alexandria from 232-248. Former head of the Catechetical School of Alexandria and ordained 20 bishops. Heraclius was the first to be called “Archbishop and Pope.” (this information is from Orthodoxy in Africa by Archimandrite Chrysostom Onyekakeyah)
July 16th: Julia the Virgin (440) Julia was born in Carthage and taken as a slave when the city fell to the Persians. Her Syrian master didn’t make an issue of her Christian faith and found her trustworthy. On a trip to Corsica, she was discovered not celebrating a pagan festival. Despite her master’s objections, angry pagans tortured her, cut off her breast, and crucified her. Julia was buried by monks on the island of Margarita.
Commemoration of the First Six Ecumenical Councils done on the Sunday between July 13th and 19th.
July 18th: Pambo (ca. 386) An Egyptian ascetic on Mt. Nitra and contemporary of Abba Anthony the Great. Pambo was known for not speaking an unnecessary word and eating only the bread he earned by his own labor. It is said that Patriarch Theophilus visited the monks on Nitra. they begged Pambo to say something edifying. He replied, “If he does not benefit from my silence, he will not benefit from my word.” Fourteen lessons in the Sayings of the Desert Fathers are attributed to him.
July 25th: Eupraxia the Virgin (413) She was the daughter of a nobleman in Constantinople and relative of Emperor Theodosius the Great. Eupraxia and her mother moved to Egypt and worshiped at several monasteries. She became a nun at seven years old growing in ascetic disciplines with age. She reposed at the age of 30 in Tabennisi.
St. Djan Darada Fellowship 