March 20 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)

The Eastern Orthodox cross

March 19 - Eastern Orthodox Church calendar - March 21

All fixed commemorations below are observed on April 2 by Orthodox Churches on the Old Calendar.^{[note 1]}

For March 20th, Orthodox Churches on the Old Calendar commemorate the Saints listed on March 7.

Saints

• Righteous Abel, first martyr in the history of mankind.^[1][2]
• Martyrs Photina (Fatima, Svetlana), the Samaritan woman, martyred under Nero (66),^[1][3][4] together with:

• her sisters Phota, Photis, Parasceva, and Cyriaca (Kyriake);
• her sons Victor (or Photinus) and Joses (Joseph);
• Sebastian the Duke;
• the officer Anatolius; and
• Theoclitus, the former sorcerer.

• Martyr Akula the Eparch, by the sword.^{[2][5][note 2]}
• Seven Virgin-martyrs of Amisus (Samsun):

• Alexandra, Claudia, Euphrasia, Matrona, Juliana, Euphemia, and Theodosia (c. 303-305)^{[1][7][note 3]}

• Martyr Emmanuel, by the sword.^[2][9]
• Martyr Rodian, by the sword.^[2][10]
• Martyr Lollian the Elder.^[2][11]
• Hieromartyr Tadros, Bishop of Edessa, at Jerusalem (691)^[1]
• Martyr Michael the Sabbaite, at Jerusalem (691)^[1]
• Martyr Archil II (Archilios II), king of Georgia (744)^[1] (see also: June 21^[12][13])
• The Venerable Fathers martyred at the Monastery of St. Sabbas:^[6][14]

• Saints John, Sergius, Patrick, and others (796)^{[1][2][15][note 4]}

• Saint Nicetas the Confessor, Bishop of Apollonias in Bithynia (813)^{[1][16][note 5]}

Pre-Schism Western saints

• Saint Urbitius, Bishop of Metz in the east of France (c. 420)^[18]
• Saint Tertricus, Bishop of Langres and uncle of St Gregory of Tours (572)^[18]
• Saint Martin of Braga in Iberia (580)^[1][18]
• Venerable Cuthbert of Lindisfarne, Bishop (687)^{[1][18][19][20][note 6]}
• Saint Herbert of Derwentwater, an Anglo-Saxon priest and friend of St Cuthbert, who lived as a hermit on St Herbert's Island (687)^[18]
• Saint Wulfram of Sens, missionary, Bishop of Sens (703)^{[1][note 7]}
• Saint Benignus, a monk and Abbot of Fontenelle Abbey (725)^[18]
• Saint Remigius von Straßburg, a noble, became Abbot of Münster near Colmar in France and in 776 Bishop of Strasbourg (783)^[18]
• Saint William of Peñacorada, monk at the monastery of Satagún in León in Spain (c. 1042)^{[2][18][note 8]}

Post-Schism Orthodox saints

• Hieromartyr Euphrosynus of Blue-Jay Lake (Valaam, Novgorod Republic) (1612)^[1][21][22]
• New Martyr Myron of Mega Castro (Heraklion) in Crete (1793)^{[1][23][note 9]}

New martyrs and confessors

• New Hieromartyr Basil Sokolov, Deacon (1938)^[25][26]
• New Hieromartyr Nicholas Holz, priest of Novosiolki (Chełm and Podlasie, Poland) (1944)^{[1][25][note 10]}

Other commemorations

• Martyr Luarsab II of Kartli, King of Kartli-Kakheti, eastern Georgia (1622)^{[28][note 11]}

Icon gallery

• 

  St. Martin of Braga (10th-century manuscript).

• 

  Venerable Cuthbert of Lindisfarne (11th-century fresco).

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. In the Synaxarion of the Church of Greece, it lists: "Martyr Akula the Eparch, of Alexandria, and with him the Seven Virgin-martyrs of Amisus: Euphemia, Euphrasia, Theodosia, Theodora, Juliana, Claudia and Matrona".

   • (Greek) "Μαρτύρων Ακύλα του επάρχου, Αλεξανδρίας και των συν αυτή εν Αμινσώ Επτά γυναικών: Ευφημίας, Ευφρασίας, Θεοδοσίας, Θεοδώρας, Ιουλιανής, Κλαυδίας και Ματρώνης."^[6]

3. The Holy Virgin Martyrs Alexandra, Claudia, Euphrasia, Matrona, Juliania, Euphemia and Theodosia were arrested in the city of Amisa (on the coastal region of the Black Sea) during the persecution against Christians under the emperor Maximian Galerius (305-311). Under interrogation they confessed their faith and were subjected to cruel tortures for this. The malefactors scourged and beat them with rods, and cut off their breasts. After this, they were suspended and torn with sharp hooks. Finally, the holy virgins were burned alive in a red-hot oven (+ 310).^[8]
4. See also another group of Sabaite Fathers commemorated on May 16 († 614).
5. "Saint Nicetas the Confessor, Archbishop of Apollonias in Bithynia, was noted for his profound knowledge of Holy Scripture, and was a pious and kindly man. During the reign of the Iconoclast emperor Leo the Armenian (813-820), the saint championed the veneration of holy icons, and so was exiled and died in prison."^[17]
6. He was a shepherd boy until he became a monk at Melrose in Scotland. After the Council of Whitby, he went to Lindisfarne where he became Abbot. In March 685, he was consecrated Bishop of Lindisfarne. After his repose his relics were found to be incorrupt and eventually they were taken to Durham. One of the most famous English saints, he is the called the Wonderworker of England. His relics are revered in Durham to this day.
7. Bishop of Sens, he worked to enlighten the Frisians, helped by monks from the monastery of Fontenelle. After many years among the Frisians, he returned to Fontenelle where he reposed. His relics are still in Abbeville in the north of France.^[18]
8. In 988 he fled with the other monks from the Saracens and settled at Peñacorada, where he built the monastery of Santa Maria de los Valles, later named after him San Guillermo de Peñacorada.
9. The Martyr Myron of Crete suffered under the Turks for his refusal to accept Islam in the year 1793.^[24]
10. Priest of Novoselski of Cholm and Pidlassia.^[27]
11. His feast day is on June 21.^[29] It is unclear why the Synaxaristes include him here on March 20th.

References

1. March 20/April 2. Orthodox Calendar (PRAVOSLAVIE.RU).
2. 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.23.
3. Martyr Photina (Svetlana), the Samaritan Woman, and Her Sons. OCA - Lives of the Saints.
4. Bishop Nikolai Velimirovic. The Holy Martyr Photina (March 20). The Prologue from Ochrid. Lazarica Press - Birmingham 1985.
5. Great Synaxaristes: (Greek) Ὁ Ἅγιος Ἀκύλας ὁ Μάρτυρας ὁ Ἔπαρχος. 20 ΜΑΡΤΙΟΥ. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
6. (Greek) Συναξαριστής. 20 Μαρτίου. ECCLESIA.GR. (H ΕΚΚΛΗΣΙΑ ΤΗΣ ΕΛΛΑΔΟΣ).
7. Great Synaxaristes: (Greek) Οἱ Ἁγίες Ἀλεξανδρία, Εὐφημία, Εὐφρασία, Ἰουλιανή, Θεοδοσία, Κλαυδία καὶ Ματρώνη οἱ Μάρτυρες ἐν Ἀμινσῷ. 20 ΜΑΡΤΙΟΥ. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
8. Virginmartyr Alexandra of Amisus. OCA - Lives of the Saints.
9. Great Synaxaristes: (Greek) Ὁ Ἅγιος Ἐμμανουὴλ ὁ Μάρτυρας. 20 ΜΑΡΤΙΟΥ. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
10. Great Synaxaristes: (Greek) Ὁ Ἅγιος Ροδιανὸς ὁ Μάρτυρας. 20 ΜΑΡΤΙΟΥ. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
11. Great Synaxaristes: (Greek) Ὁ Ἅγιος Λολλίων ὁ Μάρτυρας. 20 ΜΑΡΤΙΟΥ. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
12. Great Synaxaristes: (Greek) Ὁ Ἅγιος Ἀρχίλιος Β’ ὁ Μάρτυρας βασιλέας τῆς Γεωργίας. 21 Ιουνίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
13. Bishop Nikolai Velimirovic. The Holy Martyr Archil II, King of Georgia (June 21). The Prologue from Ochrid. Lazarica Press - Birmingham 1985.
14. Great Synaxaristes: (Greek) Οἱ Ἅγιοι Ἀββάδες Μαῦροι οἱ ἐν τῇ μονῇ Ἁγίου Σάββα ἀναιρεθέντες. 20 ΜΑΡΤΙΟΥ. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
15. Martyred Holy Fathers who were slain at the Monastery of St Sava. OCA - Lives of the Saints.
16. Great Synaxaristes: (Greek) Ὁ Ἅγιος Νικήτας ὁ Ὁμολογητής Ἐπίσκοπος Ἀπολλωνιάδος. 20 ΜΑΡΤΙΟΥ. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
17. St Nicetas the Confessor the Archbishop of Apollonias in Bithynia. OCA - Lives of Saints.
18. March 20. Latin Saints of the Orthodox Patriarchate of Rome.
19. Great Synaxaristes: (Greek) Ὁ Ὅσιος Κουθβέρτος ἐκ Βρετανίας. 20 ΜΑΡΤΙΟΥ. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
20. St Cuthbert, wonderworker of Britain. OCA - Lives of the Saints.
21. Great Synaxaristes: (Greek) Ὁ Ἅγιος Εὐφρόσυνος ὁ Ἱερομάρτυρας ἐκ Ρωσίας. 20 ΜΑΡΤΙΟΥ. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
22. Monkmartyr Euphrosynus of Blue Jay Lake, Novgorod. OCA - Lives of the Saints.
23. Great Synaxaristes: (Greek) Ὁ Ἅγιος Μύρων ὁ Νεομάρτυρας ἀπὸ τὸ Ἡράκλειο Κρήτης. 20 ΜΑΡΤΙΟΥ. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
24. Fr. S. Janos (Transl.). The Martyr Myron of Crete. HOLY TRINITY RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH (A parish of the Patriarchate of Moscow).
25. April 2 / March 20. HOLY TRINITY RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH (A parish of the Patriarchate of Moscow).
26. (Russian) 20 марта (ст.ст.) 2 апреля 2013 (нов. ст.). Русская Православная Церковь Отдел внешних церковных связей. (DECR).
27. Dr. Alexander Roman. March. Calendar of Ukrainian Orthodox Saints (Ukrainian Orthodoxy - Українське Православ'я).
28. Great Synaxaristes: (Greek) Ὁ Ἅγιος Λουαρσάβος βασιλέας τῆς Γεωργίας. 20 Μαρτίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
29. Great Synaxaristes: (Greek) Ὁ Ἅγιος Λουαρσάβος ὁ Μάρτυρας βασιλέας τῆς Γεωργίας. 21 Ιουνίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.

Sources

• March 20/April 2. Orthodox Calendar (PRAVOSLAVIE.RU).
• April 2 / March 20. HOLY TRINITY RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH (A parish of the Patriarchate of Moscow).
• Orthodox Calendar. Protection of the Mother of God Church (POMOG).
• March 20. OCA - The Lives of the Saints.
• Dr. Alexander Roman. March. 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. 23.
• March 20. 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. 81–82.
• 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. 125–128.

Greek Sources

• Great Synaxaristes: (Greek) 20 ΜΑΡΤΙΟΥ. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
• (Greek) Συναξαριστής. 20 Μαρτίου. ECCLESIA.GR. (H ΕΚΚΛΗΣΙΑ ΤΗΣ ΕΛΛΑΔΟΣ).

Russian Sources

• (Russian) 2 апреля (20 марта). Православная Энциклопедия под редакцией Патриарха Московского и всея Руси Кирилла (электронная версия). (Orthodox Encyclopedia - Pravenc.ru).
• (Russian) 20 марта (ст.ст.) 2 апреля 2013 (нов. ст.). Русская Православная Церковь Отдел внешних церковных связей. (DECR).