February 3 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)

The Eastern Orthodox cross

Feb. 2 - Eastern Orthodox Church calendar - Feb. 4

All fixed commemorations below are observed on February 16 by Orthodox Churches on the Old Calendar.^{[note 1]}

For February 3rd, Orthodox Churches on the Old Calendar commemorate the Saints listed on January 21.

Feasts

• Afterfeast of the Meeting of Our Lord.^[1][2]

Saints

• Prophet Azariah (10th century B.C.)^{[1][3][4][note 2]}
• Holy and Righteous Symeon the God-receiver^[6][7] and Anna the Prophetess^[8][9] (1st century)^[1][4]
• Martyrs Papias, Diodorus, and Claudianus, at Perge in Pamphylia (250)^[1][10][11]
• Martyr Blaise of Caesarea in Cappadocia (3rd century)^{[1][4][12][13]}
• Martyrs Paul and Simon, by the sword.^[4][14]
• Martyr Paul the Syrian (284-305)^[1][10]
• Martyrs Adrian^[15] and Eubulus,^[16] at Caesarea in Cappadocia (c. 308-309)^[1][4][17]
• Venerable Claudius.^[4][18]
• Saint Laurence of Canterbury, the second Archbishop of Canterbury (619)^[1][10][19] ( see also: February 2 - West )

Pre-Schism Western saints

• Saint Celerinus the Martyr (c.250)^{[20][21][note 3][note 4]}
• Martyrs Laurentinus, Ignatius and Celerina, martyrs in North Africa (3rd century)^{[21][note 5][note 6]}
• Martyrs Felix, Symphronius (Sempronius), Hippolytus and Companions, a group of martyrs in North Africa.^[21][22]
• Saints Tigides (4th century) and Remedius (419), two bishops who succeeded one another as Bishops of Gap in France.^[21][22]
• Virgin-martyr Ia of Cornwall (Hia, Ives), a Cornish evangelist and martyr (450)^{[10][21][note 7]}
• Saints Lupicinus and Felix, Bishops of Lyons in France (5th century)^[21][22]
• Saint Laurence the Illuminator (Lawrence of Spoleto), Bishop of Spoleto, then founder of Farfa Abbey (576)^{[21][note 8]}
• Saint Philip of Vienne, Bishop of Vienne in France (c. 578)^[21]
• Saint Caellainn (Caoilfionn), a church in Roscommon in Ireland is dedicated to her (6th century?)^[21]
• Saint Hadelin of Dinant, founder of the monastery of Chelles, in Belgium (690)^{[21][note 9]}
• Saint Werburga of Chester, Abbess (c. 700)^{[1][10][21][23][note 10]}
• Saint Berlinda of Meerbeke (Berlindis, Bellaude), a niece of St Amandus, she became a nun at Moorsel near Alost in Belgium, and later an anchoress in Meerbeke (702)^[21]
• Saint Werburgh, a widow who became a nun, probably at Bardney Abbey in England, where she later became Abbess (c. 785)^{[21][note 11]}
• Saint Deodatus, a monk at Lagny Abbey in France (8th century)^[21]
• Saint Ansgar of Hamburg, Bishop of Hamburg, Enlightener of Denmark and Sweden, "Apostle of the North" (865)^{[1][10][21][24][note 12][note 13]}
• Saint Anatolius, a bishop in Scotland, who went to Rome on pilgrimage and settled as a hermit in Salins in the Jura in France (9th century)^[21]
• Saint Liafdag, Bishop in Jutland in Denmark, martyred by pagans (c. 980)^{[21][note 14]}
• Saint Oliver of Ancona (Oliverius, Liberius), a monk at Santa Maria di Portonuovo in Ancona in Italy (c. 1050)^[21]

Post-Schism Orthodox saints

• Saint Svyatoslav-Gabriel and his son Saint Dimitry, of Yuriev (1253)^[1][10][25]
• Saint Romanus of Uglich, Prince of Uglich (1285)^{[1][10][25][26][27][note 15]}
• Saint Symeon of Tver, Bishop of Polotsk and Tver, first bishop there (1289)^{[1][10][25][28][29][note 16]}
• Saint James (Jakov I), Archbishop of Serbia (1292)^[1][10][30]
• Venerable Sabbas of Ioannina (15th century)^{[1][10][31][note 17]}
• Saint Ignatius of Mariupol in the Crimea, Metropolitan of Gothia and Kafa (1786)^{[1][10][25][note 18][note 19]}
• New Martyrs Stamatius and John, brothers, and their companion Nicholas, of Spetses, at Chios (1822)^{[1][10][4][34]}
• Saint Nicholas of Japan, Equal-to-the-Apostles, Enlightener of Japan (1912)^[1][10][35]

New martyrs and confessors

• New Hieromartyr Vladimir (Zagreba), Hieromonk of Borisoglebsk Monastery, Novotorzhok (1938)^[1][36][37]
• New Hieromartyrs John Tomilov, Timothy Izotov, Adrian Troitsky, Basil Zalessky, Priests (1938)^[10][37]
• Martyrs Vladimir, Michael Agayev (1938)^[10][37]

Other commemorations

• Icons of the Theotokos 'Softener of Hardened Hearts' and 'Simeon's Prophecy'.^[38]
• Repose of Schemamonk Paul of Simonov Monastery (1825), disciple of St. Paisius (Velichkovsky).^[1][39]
• Repose of Hieromonk Isidore of Gethsemane Skete in Moscow (1908)^[1]

Icon gallery

• 

  Illustration in the Bible Historiale of King Asa of Judah destroying the idols, at Azariah's instigation.

• 

  Righteous Symeon the God-receiver.

• 

  Saint Werburga of Chester.

• 

  Saint Ansgar.

• 

  Saints of Uglich, including St. Romanus of Uglich (second from right).

• 

  Saint Ignatius of Mariupol in the Crimea, Metropolitan of Gothia and Kafa.

• 

  Saint Nicholas of Japan, Equal-to-the-Apostles, Enlightener of Japan.

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 name Azariah means “whom God helps.” The holy prophet lived during King Asa’s reign (2 Chron. 15:1).^[5]
3. Born in North Africa, he earned the title of martyr on account of the sufferings he endured under Decius during a visit to Rome. Freed, he returned to Carthage, where he was ordained deacon and later a church was dedicated to him.
4. "In Africa, St. Celerinus, deacon, who was kept nineteen days in prison loaded with fetters, and confessed Christ gloriously in the midst of afflictions. By overcoming the enemy with invincible constancy, he showed to others the road to victory."^[22]
5. Sts Laurentinus and Ignatius were uncles and St Celerina was an aunt of the deacon St Celerinus.
6. "Also, the holy martyrs, Laurentinus, and Ignatius, his uncles, and Celerina, his grandmother, who had been previously crowned with martyrdom. They are highly praised in an epistle of St. Cyprian."^[22]
7. Born in Ireland and the sister of St Ercus, she went to Cornwall with Sts Fingar, Piala and others and was martyred at the mouth of the River Hayle. The town of St Ives is called after her.
8. A Syrian driven by the Monophysite persecution to Italy, there he was ordained and founded a monastery near Spoleto. He was bishop for twenty years, but then founded the monastery of Farfa in the Sabine hills near Rome. St Laurence was renowned as a peacemaker. His title derives from his gift of healing blindness, both spiritual and physical.
9. Born in Gascony in France, he followed St Remaclus to Solignac, Maastricht and Stavelot and founded the monastery of Chelles, also in Belgium. He lived as a hermit near Dinant on the Meuse.
10. Daughter of St Ermenhild and King Wulfhere of Mercia. She became a nun at Ely under St Etheldred (Audrey) and later founded three convents. She reposed at Trentham but her body was transferred to Chester, of which she is the patron saint.
11. "WERBURG was the widow of Ceolred, the powerful King of Mercia, who died in the year 716. She afterwards retired to a monastery, of which she became the Abbess. Her life was prolonged many years, which she spent with such holiness, that the chronicler says it may well be believed that she went to live with Christ for ever. The day of her death is not known, but in a modern martyrology the 3rd of February is noted as her festival."^[23]
12. Born near Amiens in France, as a child he became a monk at Old Corbie in Picardy. He then went to New Corbie in Saxony, from where he was taken by King Harold of Denmark to enlighten the heathen Danes. He toiled there as Archbishop of Hamburg for thirteen years and his mission extended to Sweden, Norway and the north of Germany.
13. "The same day, St. Anscharius, bishop of Bremen, who converted the Swedes and the Danes to the faith of Christ."^[22]
14. He became Bishop in Jutland in Denmark and met the needs of the growing number of Orthodox there but was martyred by pagans.
15. See: (Russian) Роман Владимирович (князь углицкий). Википедии. (Russian Wikipedia).
16. See: (Russian) Симеон (епископ Тверской). Википедии. (Russian Wikipedia).
17. His sacred relics are reverently kept at the Holy Holy Monastery of Rousanou (dedicated to the Transfiguration), at Meteora.
18. This Greek bishop emigrated with his entire eparchy to Crimea to escape the relentless persecution of the Ottoman empire and was glorified a saint by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate).^[25] (i.e. In 1778, on the orders of Catherine II, 18,000 Crimean Greeks, tired of living under Ottoman rule, successfully petitioned the empress for permission to move to Russia, and were allowed to settle on the shores of the Sea of Azov, where they founded the city of Mariupol (Marianopolis).^[32][33])
19. See: (Ukrainian) Ігнатій Маріупольський Готфейсько-Кафайський. Вікіпедії. (Ukrainian Wikipedia).

References

1. February 3 / 16. Orthodox Calendar (PRAVOSLAVIE.RU).
2. Afterfeast of the Meeting of our Lord in the Temple. OCA - Lives of the Saints.
3. Great Synaxaristes: (Greek) Ὁ Προφήτης Ἀζαρίας. 3 Φεβρουαρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
4. (Greek) Συναξαριστής. 3 Φεβρουαρίου. ECCLESIA.GR. (H ΕΚΚΛΗΣΙΑ ΤΗΣ ΕΛΛΑΔΟΣ).
5. Prophet Azariah. OCA - Lives of the Saints.
6. Great Synaxaristes: (Greek) Ὁ Ἅγιος Συμεὼν ὁ Δίκαιος ὁ Θεοδόχος. 3 Φεβρουαρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
7. Holy, Righteous Simeon the God-Receiver. OCA - Lives of the Saints.
8. Great Synaxaristes: (Greek) Ἡ Προφήτιδα Ἄννα. 3 Φεβρουαρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
9. Holy, Righteous Anna the Prophetess. OCA - Lives of the Saints.
10. February 16 / 3. Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Church (A parish of the Patriarchate of Moscow).
11. Martyr Papias at Perge in Pamphylia. OCA - Lives of the Saints.
12. Great Synaxaristes: (Greek) Ὁ Ἅγιος Βλάσιος ὁ βουκόλος. 3 Φεβρουαρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
13. Martyr Blaise of Caesarea, in Cappadocia. OCA - Lives of the Saints.
14. Great Synaxaristes: (Greek) Οἱ Ἅγιοι Παῦλος καὶ Σίμων οἱ Μάρτυρες. 3 Φεβρουαρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
15. Martyr Adrian at Caesarea, Cappadocia. OCA - Lives of the Saints.
16. Martyr Eubulus at Caesarea, Cappadocia. OCA - Lives of the Saints.
17. Great Synaxaristes: (Greek) Οἱ Ἅγιοι Ἀδριανὸς καὶ Εὔβουλος οἱ Μάρτυρες. 3 Φεβρουαρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
18. Great Synaxaristes: (Greek) Ὁ Ὅσιος Κλαύδιος. 3 Φεβρουαρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
19. Great Synaxaristes: (Greek) Ὁ Ἅγιος Λαυρέντιος Ἀρχιεπίσκοπος Καντουαρίας. 3 Φεβρουαρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
20. Great Synaxaristes: (Greek) Ὁ Ἅγιος Κελερίνος ὁ Μάρτυρας. 3 Φεβρουαρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
21. February 3. Latin Saints of the Orthodox Patriarchate of Rome.
22. 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. 36–37.
23. 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. 48-50.
24. Great Synaxaristes: (Greek) Ὁ Ὅσιος Ἀνσέριος ὁ Ἀπόστολος τῆς Δανίας καὶ τῆς Σκανδιναβίας. 3 Φεβρουαρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
25. Dr. Alexander Roman. February. Calendar of Ukrainian Orthodox Saints (Ukrainian Orthodoxy - Українське Православ'я).
26. Great Synaxaristes: (Greek) Ὁ Ἅγιος Ρωμανὸς ὁ Πρίγκιπας. 3 Φεβρουαρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
27. Right-Believing Prince Roman of Uglich. OCA - Lives of the Saints.
28. Great Synaxaristes: (Greek) Ὁ Ἅγιος Συμεὼν ἐκ Ρωσίας. 3 Φεβρουαρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
29. St Simeon the Bishop of Polotsk and Tver. OCA - Lives of the Saints.
30. Great Synaxaristes: (Greek) Ὁ Ἅγιος Ἰάκωβος Ἀρχιεπίσκοπος Σερβίας. 3 Φεβρουαρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
31. Great Synaxaristes: (Greek) Ὁ Ὅσιος Σάββας ὁ Πνευματικὸς. 3 Φεβρουαρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
32. Slav Rubel. History. Blacksea-Crimea.com LLC. Accessed: 19 October 2013.
33. D.A. Zakythinós (Professor). The Making of Modern Greece: From Byzantium to Independence. Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 1976. p. 128. ISBN 9780631153603
34. Great Synaxaristes: (Greek) Οἱ Ἅγιοι Σταμάτιος καὶ Ἰωάννης οἱ Νεομάρτυρες οἱ αὐτάδελφοι καὶ ὁ συνοδίτης αὐτῶν Νικόλαος. 3 Φεβρουαρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
35. Great Synaxaristes: (Greek) Ὁ Ἅγιος Νικόλαος ὁ Ἰσαπόστολος. 3 Φεβρουαρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
36. (Russian) Владимир (Загреба). FOND.RU. Retrieved: 19 May, 2015.
37. (Russian) 16 февраля (3 февраля). Православная Энциклопедия под редакцией Патриарха Московского и всея Руси Кирилла (электронная версия). (Orthodox Encyclopedia - Pravenc.ru).
38. 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. 12.
39. Great Synaxaristes: (Greek) Ὁ Ὅσιος Παῦλος ἐκ Ρωσίας. 3 Φεβρουαρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.

Sources

• February 3 / 16. Orthodox Calendar (PRAVOSLAVIE.RU).
• February 16 / 3. Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Church (A parish of the Patriarchate of Moscow).
• February 3. OCA - The Lives of the Saints.
• Dr. Alexander Roman. February. 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. 12.
• The Third Day of the Month of February. Orthodoxy in China.
• February 3. 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. 36–37.
• 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. 48-50.

Greek Sources

• Great Synaxaristes: (Greek) 3 ΦΕΒΡΟΥΑΡΙΟΥ. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
• (Greek) Συναξαριστής. 3 Φεβρουαρίου. ECCLESIA.GR. (H ΕΚΚΛΗΣΙΑ ΤΗΣ ΕΛΛΑΔΟΣ).

Russian Sources

• (Russian) 16 февраля (3 февраля). Православная Энциклопедия под редакцией Патриарха Московского и всея Руси Кирилла (электронная версия). (Orthodox Encyclopedia - Pravenc.ru).