March 23 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)

March 22 - Eastern Orthodox liturgical calendar - March 24

An Eastern Orthodox cross

All fixed commemorations below are observed on April 5 by Orthodox Churches on the Old Calendar.[note 1]

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

Saints

• Martyrs Philetas the Senator, his wife Lydia, their sons Macedon and Theoprepius, the notary Cronides, and Amphilochius the Captain, in Illyria (125)[1][2] (see also: March 27)
• Monk-martyr Nikon and 199 disciples, in Sicily (251)[1][3][4]
• Martyr Dometius in Phrygia (360-361)[1][5] (see also: October 30)

Pre-Schism Western saints

• Saint Victorian, Frumentius and Companions (484)[6][note 2]
• Saint Gwinear of Cornwall (5th century)[8]
• Saint Felix and Companions, a group of twenty-one martyrs in North Africa (5th century)[6][7]
• Saint Fidelis, a martyr in North Africa.[6][7]
• Saint Maidoc (Mo-Mhaedog), Abbot of Fiddown in Kilkenny in Ireland (5th century)[6][9]
• Saint Benedict of Campania (Benedict the Hermit), hermit in the Campagna in Italy, miraculously delivered from death by burning at the hands of Totila the Goth (550)[6][note 3]
• Saint Æthelwold, a monk at Ripon in England, he lived as a hermit on Inner Farne for twelve years (699)[6][10][11]
• Saint Felix of Montecassino (ca. 1000)[6][note 4]

Post-Schism Orthodox saints

• Venerable Nicon, abbot of the Kiev Caves (1088)[1][12][13]
• Venerable Ephraim of the Kiev Caves (13th century)[14]
• Venerable Pachomius, Abbot of Nerekhta (1384)[1][15]
• Saint Bassian, Archbishop of Rostov (1481)[1][16]
• Venerable Theodosius the Wonderworker, Abbot of the Monastery of the Saviour in Totma, Russia (1568)[17] (see also: January 28)
• Righteous Basil of Mangazea in Siberia (1602)[18] (see also: March 22; and June 6, May 10 - Translation of Relics)
• New Monk-martyr Luke the New of Adrianople and Mt. Athos, at Mytilene (1802)[1][19]
• New Martyr Panagiotis at Jerusalem (1820)[1][20][note 5] (see also: April 5)
• Saint Elena (Bakhteiv), Nun of the Florovsk Ascension Convent in Kiev (1834)[1][21][note 6]

New martyrs and confessors

• New Hieromartyr Macarius Kvitkin, Protopresbyter of Orenburg (1931)[1][8][23][24][note 7]
• New Hieromartyr Elijah (Vyatlin), hieromonk of the Lukianov Monastery of the Nativity of the Theotokos, Vladimir (1938)[1][24][note 8]
• New Hieromartyrs Basil Koklyn,[note 9] and Stephen Preobrazhensky, Priests (1938)[8][24][note 10]
• New Martyr James (1938)[8]
• Virgin-martyr Anastasia Bobkova (1938)[8][24][note 11]
• Martyr Alexis Skorobogatov (1938)[8][23][24]
• New Hiero-Confessor Venerable Sergius (Srebriansky), Archimandrite, of Tver (1948)[1][8][23][24][note 12]

Other commemorations

• Repose of Elder Porphyrius of Glinsk Hermitage (1868)[1]

Icon gallery

• 
  New Hieromartyr Macarius (Kvitkin), Protopresbyter of Orenburg (1931).
• 
  New Hiero-Confessor Venerable Sergius (Srebriansky), Archimandrite, of Tver (1948).

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 Africa, the holy martyrs Victorian, proconsul of Carthage, and two brothers, of Aquaregia. Also two merchants, named Frementius, who, bishop Victor Africanus tells us, were subjected to most atrocious torments for their courageous confession of the Catholic faith, and gloriously crowned under the Arian king Hunneric, during the persecution of the Vandals."[7]
3. "In Campania, St. Benedict, a monk, who was shut up by the Goths in a burning furnace, but was the next day found uninjured."[7]
4. On account of the many miracles at his tomb the Bishop of Chieti enshrined his relics for veneration.
5. "Now I will relate a remarkable instance of modern Martyrdom. A young Greek, some years ago, whose name was Panaiotes, was servant to a Turkish Nobleman, called Osman Effendi. He came with his master to Jerusalem, and when Osman Effendi went to worship in the Mosque of Omar, this young Greek accompanied him. Soon after Osman Effendi undertook a journey to Damascus, intending to return to Jerusalem, and left Panaiotes to await his return. When the Pasha of Damascus arrived here, on his annual visit, Panaiotes was accused to him of having profaned the Mosque of Omar, by having entered it; he was summoned to appear before the Pasha, and questioned as to why he did so; he answered that he had followed his master, whom it was his duty to follow. The penalty was death or to turn Muhammedan, which was much pressed upon him. Panaiotes exclaimed, "Christ is risen, who is the Son of the living God. I fear nothing."
   Pasha — "Say God is God, and Muhammed the Prophet of God, and I adopt you as my son."
   Panaiotes — "Christ is risen, I fear nothing."
   They led him out before the Castle of David, and drew up the soldiers around him with their swords drawn; but Panaiotes exclaimed, "I am a Christian! Christ is risen! I fear nothing!" He knelt down and prayed to Jesus Christ the Son of God, and exclaimed, "Christ is risen! I fear nothing." Even Christians advised him to turn Muhammedan. He exclaimed, "Christ is risen! I fear nothing." The executioner lifted up his fine hair which he wore, as many Greeks do, flowing down to the shoulders, and struck him several times with the sword so as to draw blood, in the hope that he might relent, but Panaiotes continued, "Jesus is the Son of the living God"; and crossing himself he exclaimed, "Christ is risen, I fear nothing," and his head fell.
   The Greek Convent paid 5000 piastres for leave to remove his body and bury him."[20]
6. St Elena was a friend of the great Ukrainian St Tikhon of Zadonsk. When the latter insisted on being buried in a humble wooden coffin, the monks found they could not fit his body into it with all his Episcopal robes, and so they buried him in another, larger coffin. St Helen asked for and received St Tikhon’s first coffin in which she herself was buried.[22]
7. See: (in Russian) Квиткин, Макарий Фёдорович. Википедии. Russian Wikipedia.
8. (in Russian): Илия (Вятлин).
9. See: (in Russian) Коклин, Василий Павлович. Википедии. Russian Wikipedia.
10. (in Russian): сщмч. Стефана Преображенского пресвитера (после 1937); сщмч. Василия Коклина пресвитера, прмч.[24]
11. (in Russian): Анастасии Бобковой и Варвары Конкиной, мч.[24]
12. See: (in Russian) Сергий (Сребрянский). Википедии. Russian Wikipedia.

References

1. March 23/April 5. Orthodox Calendar (PRAVOSLAVIE.RU).
2. Martyr Philetus the Senator, his wife and sons in Illyria. OCA - Lives of the Saints.
3. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ἅγιος Νίκων ὁ Ἱερομάρτυρας καὶ οἱ ἑκατὸν ἐνενήκοντα μαθητές του. 23 ΜΑΡΤΙΟΥ. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
4. Martyr Nikon in Sicily. OCA - Lives of the Saints.
5. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ἅγιος Δομέτιος ὁ Μάρτυρας. 23 ΜΑΡΤΙΟΥ. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
6. March 23. Latin Saints of the Orthodox Patriarchate of Rome.
7. 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. 84-85.
8. April 5 / March 23. HOLY TRINITY RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH (A parish of the Patriarchate of Moscow).
9. Very Rev. John O'Hanlon. "ARTICLE I.—ST. MAIDOC, OR MOMHAEDOG, ABBOT OF FIDDOWN, COUNTY OF KILKENNY. [SIXTH CENTURY]." In: Lives of the Irish Saints: With Special Festivals, and the Commemorations of Holy Persons. VOL. III. Dublin, 1875. pp. 929-931.
10. 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. 130.
11. Rev. Sabine Baring-Gould (M.A.). "S. ETHELWOLD, H. (ABOUT A.D. 723.)." In: The Lives of the Saints. Volume the Third: March. London: John C. Nimmo, 1897. pp. 441-443.
12. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ὅσιος Νίκων καθηγούμενος τῆς Λαύρας τῶν Σπηλαίων τοῦ Κιέβου. 23 ΜΑΡΤΙΟΥ. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
13. Venerable Nikon the Abbot of the Kiev Far Caves. OCA - Lives of the Saints.
14. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ὅσιος Ἐφραὶμ ἐκ Ρωσίας. 23 ΜΑΡΤΙΟΥ. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
15. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ὅσιος Παχώμιος ἐκ Ρωσίας. 23 ΜΑΡΤΙΟΥ. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
16. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ἅγιος Βασσιανὸς Ἐπίσκοπος Ροστὼβ τῆς Ρωσίας. 23 ΜΑΡΤΙΟΥ. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
17. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ὅσιος Θεοδόσιος ὁ Θαυματουργός ἐκ Ρωσίας. 23 ΜΑΡΤΙΟΥ. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
18. Righteous Basil of Mangazea in Siberia. OCA - Lives of the Saints.
19. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ἅγιος Λουκᾶς ὁ Ὁσιομάρτυρας ὁ Ἁγιαννανίτης. 23 ΜΑΡΤΙΟΥ. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
20. Rev. Joseph Wolff. LETTER V.: Linthwaite, 2d April, 1839. In: Journal of the Rev. Joseph Wοlff: In a series of letters to Sir Thomas Baring, Bart: Containing an Account of his Missionary Labours from the Years 1827-1831: and from the Years 1835-1838. London: James Burns 1839. pp. 232-33.
21. (in Russian) Sergey Geruk. ПРЕПОДОБНАЯ ЕЛЕНА – ХРАНИТЕЛЬНИЦА КИЕВА. Православие.Ru. October 8, 2009.
22. Dr. Alexander Roman. March. Calendar of Ukrainian Orthodox Saints (Ukrainian Orthodoxy - Українське Православ'я).
23. 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.
24. (in Russian) Пятница, 23 марта (ст.ст.) 5 апреля 2013 (нов. ст.). Русская Православная Церковь Отдел внешних церковных связей. (DECR).

Sources

• March 23/April 5. Orthodox Calendar (PRAVOSLAVIE.RU).
• April 5 / March 23. HOLY TRINITY RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH (A parish of the Patriarchate of Moscow).
• March 23. 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. 23.
• March 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. pp. 84–85.
• 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. 130–131.

Greek Sources

• Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) 23 ΜΑΡΤΙΟΥ. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
• (in Greek) Συναξαριστής. 23 Μαρτίου. ECCLESIA.GR. (H ΕΚΚΛΗΣΙΑ ΤΗΣ ΕΛΛΑΔΟΣ).

Russian Sources

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