April 23 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)

An Eastern Orthodox cross

April 22 - Eastern Orthodox liturgical calendar - April 24

All fixed commemorations below are observed on May 6 by Eastern Orthodox Churches on the Old Calendar.[note 1]

For April 23, Orthodox Churches on the Old Calendar commemorate the saints listed on April 10.

Saints

• Martyrs Donatus and Therinus of Bothrotus, in Epirus (c. 250)[1][2]
• Holy Glorious Great-martyr and Victory-bearer and Wonderworker George (303)[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][note 2][note 3][note 4]
• Martyr Polychronia, mother of Great-martyr Saint George, a Greek native of Lydda (Diospolis) (303)[11]
• Martyrs Anatolius and Protoleon,[12][13] soldiers converted by witnessing the martyrdom of St. George; and martyrs Glycerius[14] and Athanasius the Magician,[15] at Nicomedia (303)[2]
• Martyr Valerius, by the sword.[16][17]
• Martyr Alexandra the Empress, wife of Diocletian (303)[2][6][18] (see also: April 21)

Pre-Schism Western saints

• Martyrs Felix, Fortunatus, and Achilleus, at Valence in France (212)[19][20][note 5] (see also: April 24)
• Saint Marolus, a Syrian by origin, he became Bishop of Milan in Italy in 408 (423)[7][19]
• Saint Ibar of Beggerin (Iberius, Ivor), an enlightener in Ireland, who mainly preached in Leinster and Meath (5th century)[19][21][22]
• Saint Pusinna, a holy virgin in Champagne in France who had six sisters, all widely honoured as saints (5th-6th centuries)[19]
• Saint Gerard of Toul, Bishop of Toul in France (994)[7][19][note 6]
• Saint Adalbert of Prague (Voitech), Bishop of Prague (997)[2][19][23][note 7][note 8]

Post-Schism Orthodox saints

• Blessed George of Shenkursk, Fool-for-Christ (1462)[2][24][25]
• New Martyr George of Cyprus, at Ptolemais (1752)[2][17][26]
• King Solomon I of Imeretia, Georgia (1784)[2]
• New Martyr Lazarus of Bulgaria, who suffered at Pergamus (1802)[2][17][27]
• Blessed Sophia of Kleisoura (Myrtidiotissa in Schema), the ascetic of Kleisoura, Fool-for-Christ (1974)[2] (see also: May 6 - ns)

New martyrs and confessors

• New Hieromartyr Priest Igor (George) of Spas Chekriak village, Russia (1918)[24][28]
• New Hieromartyr John Anserov, Priest of Alma-Ata (1940)[6][24][28]
• New Hieromartyr Sergius Zacharczuk, priest, of Nabroz, Chełm and Podlasie, Poland (1943)[2][24]

Other commemorations

• Repose of Bishop Barnabas (Belyaev) of Nizhny Novgorod (1963)[2][note 9]

Icon gallery

• 
  Holy Glorious Great-martyr and Victory-bearer and Wonderworker George.
• 
  Altar with sarcophagus containing the relics of Saint Venerius, Marolus, Glycerius, Lazarus, Bishops of Milan.
• 
  Saint Ibar of Beggerin
• 
  Tomb of Saint Gerard of Toul in the cathedral of Toul.
• 
  Saint Adalbert of Prague (15th century)
• 
  Bishop Barnabas (Belyaev) of Nizhni-Novgorod.

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. Name days celebrated today include:

   • George (Γεώργιος);
   • Georgia (Γεωργία).

   Saint George is the Patron Saint of the following places in Greece:

   • Eratyra, Kozani regional unit.
   • Vevi, Florina regional unit.
   • Soufli, Evros regional unit.
   • Goumenissa, Kilkis regional unit.
   • Nemea, Corinthia regional unit.

3. "The great Martyr, St. George, suffered with admirable constancy in the persecution of Diocletian. When peace was granted to the Church, on the accession of Constantine, St. George began to be greatly venerated by the Christians of the East; churches were soon erected in his honour, and by common consent he received the title of the Great. The devotion quickly spread to the West, and in an especial manner among our ancestors, who invoked him as the tutelar Saint of their wars, and ascribed many great victories to his intercession. Pope Benedict XIV declared St. George Protector of England, and his festival is kept as a double of the first class throughout the country."[8]
4. "One of the most celebrated martyrs, St George was the patron, along with St Michael and St Nicholas, of the Kozak Host and of the armies of Kyivan Rus’...The Ukrainian agricultural years begins with blessings of the fields on this day – and ends on the feast of the consecration of the Cathedral of St George in Kyiv built by St Yaroslav-Yurij the Wise. In Georgia, which is named after St George, there are 365 shrines to him so he is honoured liturgically there each day of the year."[10]
5. "At Valence, in France, the holy martyrs Felix, priest, Fortunatus and Achilleus, deacons, who were sent there to preach the word of God by blessed Irenseus, bishop of Lyons, and converted the greater portion of that city to the faith of Christ. These martyrs were cast into prison by the commander Cornelius, were a long time scourged, had their legs crushed, were bound to wheels in motion, and stifled with smoke whilst stretched on the rack, and finally died by the sword.[7]
6. Born in Cologne in Germany, he became Bishop of Toul in France in 963. He rebuilt the Cathedral and established monasteries with both Greek and Irish monks for the furtherance of the Orthodox Faith.
7. Born in Bohemia, he became Bishop of Prague (983). Disheartened, he went to Rome and became a monk. Twice he returned to his former mission and twice he had to abandon it. On each occasion he preached in Poland, Prussia and Hungary. He was martyred by the Prussians near Danzig.
8. "In Prussia, the birthday of St. Adalbert, bishop of Prague, and martyr, who preached the Gospel to the Poles and Hungarians."[7]
9. See: (in Russian) Варнава (Беляев). Википедии. (Russian Wikipedia).

References

1. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Οἱ Ἅγιοι Δονάτος καὶ Θερινὸς οἱ Μάρτυρες. 23 Απριλίου. Μεγασ Συναξαριστησ.
2. April 23 / May 6. Orthodox Calendar (pravoslavie.ru).
3. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ἅγιος Γεώργιος ὁ Μεγαλομάρτυρας ὁ Τροπαιοφόρος. 23 Απριλίου. Μεγασ Συναξαριστησ.
4. Holy Great-Martyr George. Self-Ruled Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America.
5. Greatmartyr, Victory-bearer and Wonderworker George. OCA - Lives of the Saints.
6. (in Russian) 23 апреля (ст.ст.) 6 мая 2013 (нов. ст.) Archived 2013-12-25 at the Wayback Machine. Русская Православная Церковь Отдел внешних церковных связей.
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. p. 114.
8. 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. 177.
9. Rev. Sabine Baring-Gould (M.A.). "S. George, M. (A.D. 285.)." In: The Lives of the Saints. Volume the Fourth: April. London: John C. Nimmo, 1897. pp. 301-310.
10. Dr. Alexander Roman. April. Calendar of Ukrainian Orthodox Saints (Ukrainian Orthodoxy - Українське Православ'я).
11. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ἡ Ἁγία Πολυχρονία ἡ Μάρτυς. 23 Απριλίου. Μεγασ Συναξαριστησ.
12. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Οἱ Ἅγιοι Ἀνατόλιος καὶ Πρωτολέων οἱ στρατηλάτες. 23 Απριλίου. Μεγασ Συναξαριστησ.
13. Martyr Anatolius the Soldier converted by witnessing the martyrdom of St George. OCA - Lives of the Saints.
14. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ἅγιος Γλυκέριος ὁ Μάρτυρας ὁ γεωργός. 23 Απριλίου. Μεγασ Συναξαριστησ.
15. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ἅγιος Ἀθανάσιος ὁ Μάρτυρας ὁ ἀπὸ μάγων. 23 Απριλίου. Μεγασ Συναξαριστησ.
16. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ἅγιος Οὐαλέριος ὁ Μάρτυρας. 23 Απριλίου. Μεγασ Συναξαριστησ.
17. (in Greek) Συναξαριστής. 23 Απριλίου. ecclesia.gr. (H Εκκλησια Τησ Ελλαδοσ).
18. Martyr Alexandra the Empress, wife of Diocletian. OCA - Lives of the Saints.
19. April 23. Latin Saints of the Orthodox Patriarchate of Rome.
20. Rev. Sabine Baring-Gould (M.A.). "SS. Felix, Fortunatus, and Achilles, MM. (A.D. 212.)." In: The Lives of the Saints. Volume the Fourth: April. London: John C. Nimmo, 1897. p. 300.
21. Very Rev. John O'Hanlon. "Article II.—St. Ibar, or Ivor, Bishop of Beg Erin, County of Wexford. [Supposed to have lived in the Fifth and Sixth Centuries.]." In: Lives of the Irish Saints: With Special Festivals, and the Commemorations of Holy Persons. Vol. IV. Dublin, 1875. pp. 456-465.
22. Rev. Sabine Baring-Gould (M.A.). "S. Ibar, B. of Begery. (A.D. 500.)." In: The Lives of the Saints. Volume the Fourth: April. London: John C. Nimmo, 1897. p. 310.
23. Rev. Sabine Baring-Gould (M.A.). "S. Adalbert, B. of Prag, M. (A.D. 997.)." In: The Lives of the Saints. Volume the Fourth: April. London: John C. Nimmo, 1897. pp. 311-312.
24. May 6 / April 23. Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Church (A parish of the Patriarchate of Moscow).
25. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ἅγιος Γεώργιος ὁ ἐκ Ρωσίας. 23 Απριλίου. Μεγασ Συναξαριστησ.
26. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ἅγιος Γεώργιος ὁ Νεομάρτυρας ὁ Κύπριος. 23 Απριλίου. Μεγασ Συναξαριστησ.
27. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ἅγιος Λάζαρος ὁ Νεομάρτυρας. 23 Απριλίου. Μεγασ Συναξαριστησ.
28. The Autonomous Orthodox Metropolia of Western Europe and the Americas. St. Hilarion Calendar of Saints for the year of our Lord 2004. St. Hilarion Press (Austin, TX). p. 31.

Sources

• April 23 / May 6. Orthodox Calendar (pravoslavie.ru).
• May 6 / April 23. Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Church (A parish of the Patriarchate of Moscow).
• April 23. OCA - The Lives of the Saints.
• The Autonomous Orthodox Metropolia of Western Europe and the Americas. St. Hilarion Calendar of Saints for the year of our Lord 2004. St. Hilarion Press (Austin, TX). p. 31.
• April 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. p. 114.
• 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. 177.

Greek Sources

• Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) 23 Απριλίου. Μεγασ Συναξαριστησ.
• (in Greek) Συναξαριστής. 23 Απριλίου. ecclesia.gr. (H Εκκλησια Τησ Ελλαδοσ).

Russian Sources

• (in Russian) 6 мая (23 апреля). Православная Энциклопедия под редакцией Патриарха Московского и всея Руси Кирилла (электронная версия). (Orthodox Encyclopedia - Pravenc.ru).
• (in Russian) 23 апреля (ст.ст.) 6 мая 2013 (нов. ст.) Archived 2013-12-25 at the Wayback Machine. Русская Православная Церковь Отдел внешних церковных связей.