December 23 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)

The Eastern Orthodox cross

Dec. 22 - Eastern Orthodox Church calendar - Dec. 24

All fixed commemorations below celebrated on January 5 by Orthodox Churches on the Old Calendar.^{[note 1]}

For December 23rd, Orthodox Churches on the Old Calendar commemorate the Saints listed on December 10.

Feasts

• Forefeast of the Nativity of Christ.^{[1][note 2]}

Saints

• Holy Ten Martyrs of Crete (250):^{[1][3][4][note 3]}
  • Theodulus, Saturninus, Euporus, Gelasius, Eunician, Zoticus, Pompeius,^[6] Agathopus, Basilides, and Evaristus.
• Martyr Schinon (Skinus), by the sword.^[7]
• Saint Paul, Bishop of Neo-Caesarea, a father of the First Ecumenical Council (4th century)^[1][8][9]
• Saint Niphon, Bishop of Constantia on Cyprus (4th century)^[1][10][11]
• Saint Chrysogonos (Chrysogonus).^{[12][note 4]}
• Venerable David of Echmiadzin in Armenia (693)^[1]
• Saint Naum of Ochrid, Enlightener of Bulgaria (910)^[1][13] (see also May 11 - Greek; and July 27 - Slavonic)

Pre-Schism Western Saints

• Virgin-Martyrs Victoria and Anatolia, two sisters martyred in Rome for refusing to marry pagans (250)^{[14][note 5]}
• Martyrs Migdonius and Mardonius, high officials at the imperial court in Rome, under Diocletian (303)^{[14][note 6]}
• Saint Servulus, a righteous man who was a cripple, used to beg for alms at the door of the church of St Clement in Rome, sharing what he received with other beggars (c. 590)^{[14][note 7]}
• Saint Dagobert II, King of Austrasia in the east of France, was exiled to a monastery in 656, recalled in 675 and martyred by the tyrant Ebroin (679)^[14]
• Saint Egbert of Rathmelsigi Abbey (Ecgberht of Ripon), who organised the mission to Frisia (Neth.) (729)^[1] (see also April 24 - Latin calendar)
• Saint Frithbert, successor of St Acca as Bishop of Hexham, where he served for thirty-four years (766)^{[14][note 8]}
• Saint Mazota, leader of a group of nineteen holy virgins who went from Ireland to Scotland and founded a monastery at Abernethy on the Tay (8th century?)^[14]
• Saint Vintila, a monk who reposed as a hermit in Pugino in Galicia in Spain (890)^[14]

Post-Schism Orthodox Saints

• Saint Theoctistus, Archbishop of Novgorod (1310)^{[1][17][18][19]}
• Venerable Father Saint Theophan (Rikhlovsky), of the Nizhyn Eparchy (1977)^[18]

New Martyrs and Confessors

• New Hieromartyrs John Piankov and Nicholas Yakhontov, Priests (1918)^[20]
• New Hieromartyr Basil Spassky, Priest, at Tver (1938)^[17][21]
• New Hieromartyr Macarius (Mironov), Hieromonk of Zavidovskaya Gorka (Tver) (1938)^[1][17][21]
• New Hieromartyr John (Smirnov), Hieromonk of Bolshoye Mikhailovskoye (Tver) (1938)^[1][17][21]
• New Hieromartyr Paul (Kratirov), Bishop of Starobelsk.^[20]

Other Commemorations

• Commemoration of the consecration and re-dedication of the Holy and Great Church of Christ, the Hagia Sophia, by Patriarch Eutychius (562)^[22]
• Repose of Eldress Eudocia Rodionova of Leushino Monastery, Fool-for-Christ (1886)^{[1][note 9]}

Icon Gallery

• 

  St. Naum of Ochrid.

• 

  Victoria and Anatolia are portrayed amongst the mosaic Procession of Virgins in the Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna.

• 

  Bronze medallion of King Dagobert II, c. 1720.

• 

  Hexham Abbey, where St. Frithubeorht was Bishop from 734-766.

• 

  Hagia Sophia.

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. The Forefeast of the Nativity of the Lord begins on December 20. From now on, most of the liturgical hymns will be concerned with the birth of the Savior.^[2]
3. The Ten Holy Martyrs of Crete: Theodulus, Satorninus, Euporus, Gelasius, Eunician, Zoticus, Pompius, Agathopus, Basilides and Evarestus suffered for Christ during the 3rd century under the emperor Decius (249-251). The governor of Crete, named Decius just like the emperor, fiercely persecuted the Cretan Church. One time there were brought before him 10 Christians from various cities of Crete, who at the trial steadfastly confessed their faith in Christ and refused to worship idols. Over the course of 30 days they were subjected to cruel tortures, and with the help of God they all persevered, glorifying God. Before their death they prayed, that the Lord would enlighten their torturers with the light of the true faith. All the saints were beheaded.^[5]
4. St. Chrysogonos (Chrysogonus) is not recorded in the Synaxaria or in the bound Menaia. However his memory is preserved in the Sabaitic Codex 635, on this day, as follows:
   • • "Chrysogonus, Eparch of the city of Thessalonika". (Greek: «Χρυσογόνου ἔπαρχου πόλεως Θεσσαλονίκης»)
5. "AT Rome, the holy virgin Victoria, a martyr, in the persecution of the emperor Decius. She had been promised in marriage to a pagan named Eugene, but because she refused to marry him and to offer sacrifice to idols, and because by working many miracles, she brought many virgins to the service of God, she was, at the request of her betrothed, stabbed in the heart with a sword by the executioner."^[15]
6. High officials at the imperial court in Rome. When persecution broke out under Diocletian in 303, they refused to renounce their Faith. Migdonius was burnt at the stake and Mardonius drowned in a well.
7. "At Rome, blessed Servulus, of whom St. Gregory writes, that a paralytic from his early years to the end of his life, he remained lying in a porch near St. Clement's Church, and being invited by the chant of angels, he went to enjoy the glory of Paradise. At his tomb, frequent miracles are wrought by Almighty God."^[15]
8. "ST. FRITHEBERT succeeded St. Acca as Bishop of Hexham, and ruled that diocese in great holiness of life during the long period of thirty-four years. He also administered the Church of Lindisfarne during the imprisonment of Cynewolf, the Bishop. St. Frithebert was called to his heavenly reward on the 23rd December, A.D. 766."^[16]
9. (Russian) Webpage of the Leushino Monastery, now submerged under the waters of the Rybinsk Sea.

References

1. December 23/January 5. Orthodox Calendar (PRAVOSLAVIE.RU).
2. Forefeast of the Nativity of our Lord. OCA - Feasts and Saints.
3. Great Synaxaristes: (Greek): Οἱ Ἅγιοι 10 Μάρτυρες οἱ ἐν Κρήτῃ. 23 Δεκεμβρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
4. 10 Holy Martyrs of Crete. OCA - Feasts and Saints.
5. The Ten Holy Martyrs of Crete: Theodulus, Satorninus, Euporus, Gelasius, Eunician, Zoticus, Pompius, Agathopus, Basilides and Evarestus. HOLY TRINITY RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH (A parish of the Patriarchate of Moscow).
6. Great Synaxaristes: (Greek): Ὁ Ἅγιος Πομπίος. 23 Δεκεμβρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
7. Great Synaxaristes: (Greek): Ὁ Ἅγιος Σχίνων ὁ Μάρτυρας. 23 Δεκεμβρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
8. Great Synaxaristes: (Greek): Ὁ Ὅσιος Παῦλος Ἀρχιεπίσκοπος Νεοκαισαρείας. 23 Δεκεμβρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
9. St Paul the Bishop of Neocaesarea. OCA - Feasts and Saints.
10. Great Synaxaristes: (Greek): Ὁ Ὅσιος Νήφων Ἐπίσκοπος Κωνσταντιανὴς. 23 Δεκεμβρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
11. St Niphon the Bishop of Cyprus. OCA - Feasts and Saints.
12. Great Synaxaristes: (Greek): Ὁ Ἅγιος Χρυσόγονος. 23 Δεκεμβρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
13. St Nahum of Ochrid, the Disciple of St Cyril and Methodius, Equal of the Apostles. OCA - Feasts and Saints.
14. December 23. Latin Saints of the Orthodox Patriarchate of Rome.
15. 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.393.
16. 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.606.
17. 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.2.
18. Dr. Alexander Roman. December. Calendar of Ukrainian Orthodox Saints (Ukrainian Orthodoxy - Українське Православ'я).
19. Repose of St Theoctistus the Archbishop of Novgorod. OCA - Feasts and Saints.
20. January 5 / December 23. HOLY TRINITY RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH (A parish of the Patriarchate of Moscow).
21. (Russian) 23 декабря (ст.ст.) 5 января 2013 (нов. ст.). Русская Православная Церковь Отдел внешних церковных связей. (DECR).
22. Great Synaxaristes: (Greek): Μνήμη Ἐγκαινίων τῆς Ἁγίας Σοφίας (562 μ.Χ.). 23 Δεκεμβρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.

Sources

• December 23/January 5. Orthodox Calendar (PRAVOSLAVIE.RU).
• January 5 / December 23. HOLY TRINITY RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH (A parish of the Patriarchate of Moscow).
• Complete List of Saints. Protection of the Mother of God Church (POMOG).
• December 23. OCA - The Lives of the Saints.
• Dr. Alexander Roman. December. Calendar of Ukrainian Orthodox Saints (Ukrainian Orthodoxy - Українське Православ'я).
• 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. 2.
• December 23. 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.

Greek Sources

• Great Synaxaristes: (Greek) 23 ΔΕΚΕΜΒΡΙΟΥ. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
• (Greek) Συναξαριστής. 23 Δεκεμβρίου. ECCLESIA.GR. (H ΕΚΚΛΗΣΙΑ ΤΗΣ ΕΛΛΑΔΟΣ).

Russian Sources

• (Russian) 5 января (23 декабря). Православная Энциклопедия под редакцией Патриарха Московского и всея Руси Кирилла (электронная версия). (Orthodox Encyclopedia - Pravenc.ru).
• (Russian) 23 декабря (ст.ст.) 5 января 2013 (нов. ст.). Русская Православная Церковь Отдел внешних церковных связей. (DECR).