May 21 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)

The Eastern Orthodox cross

May 20 - Eastern Orthodox Church calendar - May 22

All fixed commemorations below celebrated on June 3 by Orthodox Churches on the Old Calendar.[note 1]

For May 21st, Orthodox Churches on the Old Calendar commemorate the Saints listed on May 8.

Saints

• Holy Equals-to-the-Apostles Emperor Constantine (337), and Empress Helena, his mother (327)[1][2][3][note 2]
• Martyrs Polyeuctus, Victorinus, and Donatus, at Caesarea in Cappadocia.[5][6]
• Hieromartyr Secundus and those with him, in Alexandria (356)[2][3][5]
• Saint Adelphios, Bishop of Onouphis, in Byzantine Egypt (c. 362, or c. 431)[7][note 3]
• Saint Boros, monk.[8][note 4]
• Saint Christopher I, Patriarch of Antioch (967)[9]

Pre-Schism Western saints

• Hieromartyrs Timothy, Polius and Eutychius, deacons, in Mauretania Caesariensis (Morocco).[5][10][11]
• Hieromartyr Valens and Companions, Bishop who was martyred in Auxerre in France along with three children.[5][11]
• Martyr Secundinus, in Cordoba in Spain under Diocletian (c. 306)[5][11]
• Saint Hospitius the Hermit of Nice, Wonderworker (581)[2][3][5][11][12]
• Saint Barrfoin (Bairrfhionn, Barrindus) of Killbarron (6th century)[11][note 5]
• Saint Gollen (Collen, Colan) of Denbighshire, a saint who has given his name to Llangollen in Wales (7th century)[11]
• Saint Isberga (Itisberga) of Aire, reputed sister of Charlemagne, nun at Aire (Aria) in the Artois, of which she is the patroness (c. 800)[11]
• Saint Ageranus (Ayran, Ayrman) of Beze, a monk at Bèze in France, martyred by the Vikings (888)[11]
• Saint Theobald (Thibaud), Archbishop of Vienne (970-1001)[11]

Post-Schism Orthodox saints

• Blessed Constantine (Yaroslav), prince, and his children Michael and Theodore, Wonderworkers of Murom (1129)[2][3][13]
• Saint Cyril II (Kirill), Bishop of Rostov (1262)[2][14][15]
• Saint Basil of Ryazan, Bishop (1295)[2][3][16][note 6]
• Saint Helen of Decani, Serbia, Princess (c. 1350)[2][3][17]
• Venerable Cassian the Greek, monk of Uglich, Wonderworker (1504)[2][3][18][19]
• Saint Agapitus of Markushev (Vologda) the Hieromartyr, Abbot (1584)[2][3][20]
• Saint Constantine the Fool-for-Christ, of Novotorzanin, Russia (c. 16th century)[21][note 7]
• New Martyrs King Constantine Brancoveanu of Wallachia and his four sons Constantine, Stephen, Radu, and Matthew, and his counsellor Ianache (1714)[22][note 8]
• Martyr Pachomios of Patmos (1730)[3][23]

New martyrs and confessors

• Synaxis of Hieromartyrs of Karelia.[2][3][19]
• Synaxis of Hieromartyrs of Ufa.[3][19][24]

Other commemorations

• Uncovering of the relics (1998) of St. Andrew Ogorodnikov, fool-for-Christ of Simbirsk (1841)[2]
• Repose of Elena Pavlova of Chepel, Kharkiv (1885)[2]
• Repose of Elder Isaac of Dionysiou Monastery of Mount Athos (1932)[2]
• The Anastenaria fire-walking ritual is performed from May 21–23 in some villages in Northern Greece and Southern Bulgaria, coinciding with the feast of Constantine and Helen.[25][note 9]
• Synaxis of all saints of Karelia,[26]

Icons

• Synaxis of the "Vladimir" Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos (1521)[2][3][19][27][28][29][note 10]
• Synaxis of the "Virgin of Tenderness" Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos from Pskov-Pechersk (1524)[19][30][31][32][note 11]

Icon gallery

• 
  Sts Constantine and Helena, Holy Equals-to-the-Apostles.
• 
  Sts Constantine and Helena, Holy Equals-to-the-Apostles (Mosaic in Saint Isaac's Cathedral, St. Petersburg, Russia).
• 
  Stained glass window ( 1986 ) showing St Collen (Llangollen, Wales - St.Collen parish church)
• 
  Icon of the Saints of Murom.
• 
  King Constantin Brâncoveanu of Wallachia, and his sons (Church mural in Hurezi Monastery).
• 
  “Vladimir” Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos.
• 
  Mosaic icon of the Virgin of Tenderness, with the eponym "Episkepisis"("The Visitation"). From Triglia in Asia Minor, Church of Saint Basil (late 13th century)

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. These royal saints are invoked at Crownings (Wedding ceremonies) and are otherwise very popular saints in Ukraine, especially in connection to the Finding of the True Cross. St Olga of Kiev took the name “Helen” or “Olena” as her baptismal name after St Helen.[4]
3. Onouphis: also Onouphitai, Mehallet Menuf, Mahallat Minuf. The date for this Saint corresponds to either c. 362 (Adelphios I); or c. 431 (Adelphios II). See:

   • K. A. Worp. "A Checklist of Bishops in Byzantine Egypt (A.D. 325 - c. 750)". Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik, Bd. 100 (1994), pp.283-318. Page 303.

4. His memory is recalled in the "Jerusalemitic Canonarion", in conjunction with Isidore and Theodore.
5. By tradition he was in charge of the church founded by St Columba in Drum Cullen in Offaly, Ireland and later he lived in Killbarron near Ballyshannon in Donegal. It is said that he reached America on one of his missions by sea and informed St Brendan the Navigator of his discovery. He is also said to have been a bishop.[11]
6. Also commemorated on April 12.
7. St Constantine is mentioned by Archbishop Dmitri Sambikin (1905-1908), in the Menologion and Paterikon of Tver.
8. Commemorated on August 16 in the Slavonic Menaion. (May 21 may refer to the Translation of his relics, in 1720.)
9. "According to local legend, the Anastenaria fire-walking tradition began when a fire broke out in the Church of Constantine and Helen in the village of Kosti in Thrace. The villagers defied the danger and entered the blazing church to save the icons, emerging unscathed. The miracle is now celebrated each year when the ‘Anastenarides’ walk barefoot on burning coals."[25]
10. The Celebration of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God was established in memory of the saving of Moscow in the year 1521 from an invasion of Tatars led by Khan Makhmet-Girei. It is commemorated on May 21, as well as June 23 and August 26.
11. Commemorated on May 21, August 26, June 23, October 7 and on the 7th Sunday of Pascha.

References

1. Οἱ Ἅγιοι Κωνσταντίνος καὶ Ἑλένη οἱ Ἱσαπόστολοι. 21 Μαΐου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
2. May 21/June 3. Orthodox Calendar (ORTHOCHRISTIAN.COM).
3. June 3 / May 21. HOLY TRINITY RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH (A parish of the Patriarchate of Moscow).
4. Dr. Alexander Roman. May. Calendar of Ukrainian Orthodox Saints (Ukrainian Orthodoxy - Українське Православ'я).
5. May 21. The Roman Martyrology.
6. Οἱ Ἅγιοι Πολύευκτος, Βίκτωρ καὶ Δονάτος οἱ Μάρτυρες. 21 Μαΐου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
7. Ὁ Ἅγιος Ἀδέλφιος. 21 Μαΐου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
8. Ὁ Ὅσιος Βόρος. 21 Μαΐου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
9. Ὁ Ἅγιος Χριστόφορος Α’ Πατριάρχης Ἀντιοχείας. 21 Μαΐου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
10. Οἱ Ἅγιοι Τιμόθεος, Πόλιος καὶ Εὐτύχιος οἱ Ἱερομάρτυρες. 21 Μαΐου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
11. May 21. Latin Saints of the Orthodox Patriarchate of Rome.
12. Ὁ Ὅσιος Ὁσπίτιος ὁ Ἐρημίτης. 21 Μαΐου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
13. Οἱ Ἅγιοι Κωνσταντίνος, Μιχαὴλ καὶ Θεόδωρος οἱ Πρίγκιπες καὶ Θαυματουργοί. 21 Μαΐου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
14. Ὁ Ἅγιος Κύριλλος Β’ Ἐπίσκοπος Ροστώβ. 21 Μαΐου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
15. Fr. S. Janos (Transl.). Sainted Kirill (Cyril), Bishop of Rostov. HOLY TRINITY RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH (A parish of the Patriarchate of Moscow).
16. Ὁ Ἅγιος Βασίλειος Ἐπίσκοπος Ριαζὰν καὶ Μουρώμ. 21 Μαΐου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
17. Ἡ Ἁγία Ἑλένη ἡ πριγκίπισσα. 21 Μαΐου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
18. Ὁ Ὅσιος Κασσιανὸς ὁ Θαυματουργός ὁ Ἕλληνας. 21 Μαΐου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
19. (in Russian) 21 мая (ст.ст.) 3 июня 2013 (нов. ст.). Русская Православная Церковь Отдел внешних церковных связей. (DECR).
20. Ὁ Ἅγιος Ἀγαπητὸς ὁ Ὁσιομάρτυρας. 21 Μαΐου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
21. Ὁ Ἅγιος Κωνστανίνος ὁ διὰ Χριστὸν Σαλός. 21 Μαΐου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
22. Ὁ Ἅγιος Κωνσταντίνος ὁ Νεομάρτυρας καὶ οἱ σὺν αὐτῷ μαρτυρήσαντες. 21 Μαΐου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
23. Ὁ Ἅγιος Παχώμιος ὁ Ὁσιομάρτυρας ὁ Νέος. 21 Μαΐου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
24. Hieromartyrs And Martyrs Of Ufa And Orenburg. St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church, McKinney (Dallas area) Texas.
25. Kerry Kolasa-Sikiaridi. 'Anastenaria' Fire-Walking Festival in Lagada, Thessaloniki From May 21-23. Greek Reporter: Greece. May 19, 2017.
26. "СОБОР КАРЕЛЬСКИХ СВЯТЫХ - Древо". drevo-info.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 2023-09-24.
27. Σύναξις Ὑπεραγίας Θεοτόκου τοῦ Βλαδιμήρου. 21 Μαΐου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
28. Fr. S. Janos (Transl.). The Celebration of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God. HOLY TRINITY RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH (A parish of the Patriarchate of Moscow).
29. Meeting of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God. OCA - Feasts and Saints.
30. Σύναξις Ὑπεραγίας Θεοτόκου τῆς Τρυφερῆς. 21 Μαΐου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
31. The "Umilenie-Tenderness" Pskovo-Pechersk Icon of the Mother of God. HOLY TRINITY RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH (A parish of the Patriarchate of Moscow).
32. Icon of the Mother of God "Virgin of Tenderness" from the Pskov Caves. OCA - Feasts and Saints.

Sources

• May 21/June 3. Orthodox Calendar (ORTHOCHRISTIAN.COM).
• June 3 / May 21. HOLY TRINITY RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH (A parish of the Patriarchate of Moscow).
• Dr. Alexander Roman. May. Calendar of Ukrainian Orthodox Saints (Ukrainian Orthodoxy - Українське Православ'я).
• May 21. Latin Saints of the Orthodox Patriarchate of Rome.
• May 21. The Roman Martyrology.

Greek Sources

• Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) 21 ΜΑΪΟΥ. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
• (in Greek) Συναξαριστής. 21 Μαΐου. ECCLESIA.GR. (H ΕΚΚΛΗΣΙΑ ΤΗΣ ΕΛΛΑΔΟΣ).

Russian Sources

• (in Russian) 3 июня (21 мая). Православная Энциклопедия под редакцией Патриарха Московского и всея Руси Кирилла (электронная версия). (Orthodox Encyclopedia - Pravenc.ru).
• (in Russian) 21 мая (ст.ст.) 3 июня 2013 (нов. ст.). Русская Православная Церковь Отдел внешних церковных связей. (DECR).