Orthodox Saints Calendar

Orthodox Saints Calendar

The Orthodox Saints Calendar commemorates thousands of Apostles, martyrs, bishops, monastics, missionaries, healers, rulers, and other holy men and women throughout the year.

Almost every day contains several commemorations.

Some saints are known throughout the Orthodox world.

Others are especially important within a particular country, monastery, diocese, or local Church.

A saint may also have more than one feast day because the Church can commemorate different events connected with that saint.

This guide explains how the Orthodox calendar of saints works, how to find a Patron Saint or Name Day, why calendar dates sometimes differ, and which widely venerated saints appear throughout the year.

The Orthodox Saints Calendar is not simply a list of historical people. It connects the daily life of the Church with generations of Christians remembered for faithfulness to Christ.

Orthodox Saints Calendar at a Glance

What Is the Orthodox Saints Calendar?

The Orthodox Saints Calendar is the annual cycle of commemorations dedicated to holy people recognized within the Orthodox Church.

It includes saints from:

• The Old Testament
• The Apostolic age
• The early Christian centuries
• The Byzantine period
• Medieval Orthodox cultures
• The modern era

New saints continue to be formally recognized by Orthodox Churches.

Does Every Day Have an Orthodox Saint?

Most days of the Orthodox calendar commemorate several saints rather than only one.

A daily calendar entry may include:

• Apostles
• Martyrs
• Hierarchs
• Monastics
• Prophets
• Missionaries
• Local saints
• Groups of martyrs

Why Are Several Saints Celebrated on the Same Day?

Orthodox Christianity remembers thousands of saints across many centuries and cultures.

There are therefore far more saints than days in a year.

Several commemorations naturally share the same date.

What Is a Saint's Feast Day?

A saint's feast day is the principal liturgical date on which that saint is commemorated.

Church services may include:

• Special hymns
• Troparia
• Kontakia
• Scripture readings
• References to the saint's life

Why Is a Saint's Death Often the Feast Day?

Christian tradition often understands the death of a saint as the completion of earthly life and entrance into eternal life with Christ.

For this reason, the date of repose or martyrdom frequently becomes the saint's principal feast.

Can a Saint Have More Than One Feast Day?

Yes.

A saint may be commemorated on several dates connected with events such as:

• Repose
• Martyrdom
• Glorification or canonization
• Translation of relics
• Discovery of relics
• A major miracle
• A collective Synaxis

For example, some major saints appear individually on one date and again within a collective feast.

What Is a Patron Saint?

A Patron Saint is a saint with whom an Orthodox Christian has a particular personal relationship.

This relationship is often connected with the Christian name received at Baptism or Chrismation.

How Do I Find My Patron Saint?

If you were baptized Orthodox, first check:

• Your Baptismal certificate
• Your family tradition
• Your parish records
• The priest who received or baptized you

Do not automatically assume that the most famous saint sharing your first name is necessarily your specific Patron Saint.

Why Can Several Saints Have the Same Name?

Christian names such as John, Nicholas, George, Mary, Anna, Peter, Paul, Demetrius, and Basil have been carried by many saints.

A person named John, for example, might be named for:

• Saint John the Baptist
• Saint John the Theologian
• Saint John Chrysostom
• Saint John Climacus
• Another Saint John

The specific saint matters when identifying a Name Day.

What Is an Orthodox Name Day?

A Name Day is the feast of a person's Patron Saint or namesake saint.

Is a Name Day the Same as a Birthday?

No.

A birthday celebrates physical birth.

A Name Day celebrates the saint whose Christian name the person bears.

Are Name Days Important?

They are especially important in many traditionally Orthodox cultures.

A Name Day may include:

• Church attendance
• Prayer
• Family gatherings
• Congratulations
• Meals
• Gifts

What Is a Good Orthodox Name Day Gift?

A Patron Saint Icon is one of the most directly connected gifts.

Other possibilities include:

• An Orthodox cross
• A prayer book
• A book about the saint
• A small devotional item

How Do I Find My Orthodox Name Day?

Use this sequence:

1. Identify your specific Patron Saint.
2. Find the saint's principal feast day.
3. Check which calendar your parish follows.
4. Use the corresponding civil date.

Old Calendar vs New Calendar Saint Feast Days

One of the most common sources of confusion is that the same Orthodox saint can appear to have two feast dates.

Usually the saint does not actually have two different liturgical feast days.

The difference may come from two calendar systems.

What Is the Old Calendar?

Old Calendar usually refers to continued use of the Julian calendar for fixed liturgical dates.

What Is the New Calendar?

In Orthodox usage, New Calendar usually refers to the Revised Julian calendar for fixed celebrations.

Why Are Old Calendar Dates 13 Days Later?

During the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, Julian calendar dates fall 13 civil days later than the corresponding Gregorian dates.

For example:

A saint commemorated on December 6 Julian is currently commemorated on December 19 Gregorian by communities following the Julian calendar.

Does Saint Nicholas Have Two Feast Days in December?

Not because of the calendar difference.

Saint Nicholas' principal liturgical feast is December 6.

New Calendar communities observe December 6 on the civil calendar.

Julian-calendar communities currently observe Julian December 6 on Gregorian December 19.

It is the same liturgical feast under two calendar systems.

Does Every Orthodox Church Use the Same Saints Calendar?

Orthodox Churches share a very large common body of saints.

However, calendars may differ because of:

• Local saints
• Regional saints
• Recently glorified saints
• Different jurisdictions
• Calendar systems

What Is a Local Saint?

A local saint is especially associated with a particular:

• Country
• Region
• City
• Diocese
• Monastery
• Orthodox jurisdiction

Local veneration can later spread throughout the wider Orthodox world.

Can Orthodox Christians Venerate Saints From Other Countries?

Yes.

A Greek Orthodox Christian can venerate a Russian saint.

A Russian Orthodox Christian can venerate a Serbian, Georgian, Romanian, Arab, Greek, or American Orthodox saint.

Saints are not limited to one ethnicity.

Orthodox Saint Categories

Orthodox calendars often use titles describing the saint's life, ministry, or type of witness.

Apostles

Apostles were foundational witnesses and missionaries of the earliest Church.

Examples include:

• Saint Peter
• Saint Paul
• Saint Andrew
• Saint John the Theologian
• Saint Thomas

Equal-to-the-Apostles

The title Equal-to-the-Apostles is given to saints whose missionary work had extraordinary importance in spreading Christianity.

Examples include:

• Saints Constantine and Helen
• Saint Nina of Georgia
• Saints Cyril and Methodius

Martyrs

A martyr is a Christian who died because of faithfulness to Christ.

Great Martyrs

Great Martyr is an honorific title traditionally given to certain especially prominent martyrs.

Examples include:

• Saint George
• Saint Demetrius
• Saint Panteleimon
• Saint Barbara

Hieromartyrs

A Hieromartyr is a bishop or priest who suffered martyrdom.

Venerable Martyrs

A Venerable Martyr is a monastic saint who was martyred.

Confessors

Confessors suffered persecution for Christ without necessarily being killed.

Hierarchs

Holy Hierarchs are bishops remembered especially for:

• Teaching
• Pastoral care
• Defense of the faith
• Missionary work

Examples include:

• Saint Basil the Great
• Saint Gregory the Theologian
• Saint John Chrysostom
• Saint Nicholas

Venerable Saints

The title Venerable is commonly associated with monks, nuns, hermits, and major ascetic saints.

Examples include:

• Saint Anthony the Great
• Saint John Climacus
• Saint Mary of Egypt
• Saint Seraphim of Sarov

Unmercenary Healers

Holy Unmercenaries are saints especially associated with healing without demanding payment.

Examples include:

• Saints Cosmas and Damian
• Saint Panteleimon

Fools-for-Christ

Fools-for-Christ are saints associated with an unusual ascetic path involving radical humility and rejection of ordinary social status.

New Martyrs

The term New Martyr generally refers to martyrs from later Christian history.

The exact historical period meant by “new” varies among Orthodox traditions.

Prophets and Old Testament Saints

The Orthodox calendar also commemorates prophets and righteous people from the Old Testament.

Examples include:

• Prophet Elijah
• Prophet Isaiah
• Prophet Daniel
• King David
• Righteous Abraham

Selected Orthodox Saints by Month

The list below is not a complete Orthodox saints calendar.

It highlights widely known commemorations that can help beginners understand the annual cycle.

January Orthodox Saints

January 1 — Saint Basil the Great

Saint Basil was a fourth-century bishop, theologian, and one of the great teachers of the Church.

January 2 — Saint Seraphim of Sarov

Saint Seraphim is one of the best-known Russian monastic saints and spiritual elders.

January 17 — Saint Anthony the Great

Saint Anthony is one of the foundational figures of Christian monasticism.

January 25 — Saint Gregory the Theologian

Saint Gregory was one of the Cappadocian Fathers and an important theologian of the fourth century.

January 30 — Three Holy Hierarchs

The Church commemorates together:

• Saint Basil the Great
• Saint Gregory the Theologian
• Saint John Chrysostom

February Orthodox Saints

February 3 — Saint Nicholas of Japan

Saint Nicholas is remembered as a major Orthodox missionary to Japan.

February 10 — Hieromartyr Charalambos

Saint Charalambos is an early Christian martyr widely venerated in several Orthodox traditions.

March Orthodox Saints

March 17 — Saint Patrick of Ireland

Saint Patrick belongs to the early Christian heritage of the British Isles and is also commemorated in Orthodox calendars.

March 31 — Saint Innocent of Alaska

Saint Innocent of Moscow is remembered as an Apostle to America and Siberia and an important Orthodox missionary.

April Orthodox Saints

April 23 — Saint George the Great Martyr

Saint George is one of the most widely venerated military martyrs in Christianity.

His iconography often shows him:

• In military armor
• Holding a martyr cross
• Mounted on a horse
• Defeating the dragon

April 25 — Apostle and Evangelist Mark

Saint Mark is traditionally associated with the Gospel of Mark and the early Church of Alexandria.

May Orthodox Saints

May 8 — Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian

Saint John is one of the Twelve Apostles and one of the four Evangelists.

May 11 — Saints Cyril and Methodius

Cyril and Methodius are honored as Equals-to-the-Apostles and teachers of the Slavs.

May 21 — Saints Constantine and Helen

Emperor Constantine and his mother Helen are honored as Equals-to-the-Apostles.

June Orthodox Saints

June 29 — Saints Peter and Paul

The Apostles Peter and Paul are among the most important missionary and apostolic figures of the early Church.

Their feast also marks the end of the Apostles' Fast.

July Orthodox Saints

July 11 — Saint Olga

Saint Olga is remembered among the early Christian rulers associated with the Christianization of Rus.

July 20 — Prophet Elijah

The Prophet Elijah is one of the most prominent Old Testament prophets in Orthodox tradition.

July 22 — Saint Mary Magdalene

Saint Mary Magdalene is remembered as one of Christ's disciples and a witness of the Resurrection.

July 27 — Saint Panteleimon

Saint Panteleimon is a Great Martyr and one of the most widely venerated Orthodox healing saints.

In icons he is often shown holding medical instruments or a medicine container.

August Orthodox Saints

August 26 — Saints Adrian and Natalia

Saints Adrian and Natalia are especially associated with Christian marriage, faithfulness, and martyrdom tradition.

September Orthodox Saints

September 1 — Saint Simeon Stylites

Saint Simeon is one of the best-known stylite ascetics of the early Church.

September 24 — Saint Thekla

Saint Thekla is traditionally honored as the Protomartyr among women and Equal-to-the-Apostles.

September 26 — Saint John the Theologian

This is the principal feast of the Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian.

October Orthodox Saints

October 6 — Apostle Thomas

Saint Thomas is one of the Twelve Apostles and is especially associated with the Gospel account of encountering the risen Christ.

October 18 — Apostle and Evangelist Luke

Saint Luke is traditionally associated with the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles.

November Orthodox Saints

November 13 — Saint John Chrysostom

Saint John Chrysostom was Archbishop of Constantinople and one of the greatest preachers and teachers of the Church.

November 30 — Apostle Andrew

Saint Andrew is traditionally called the First-Called Apostle.

December Orthodox Saints

December 4 — Saint Barbara

Saint Barbara is one of the widely venerated early Christian Great Martyrs.

December 5 — Saint Sabbas the Sanctified

Saint Sabbas was one of the great monastic fathers of Palestine.

December 6 — Saint Nicholas

Saint Nicholas was a bishop of Myra whose veneration spread throughout the Christian world.

He is especially associated with:

• Generosity
• Pastoral care
• Travelers
• Children

December 12 — Saint Spyridon

Saint Spyridon was a bishop known in Orthodox tradition for simplicity, faith, and miracles.

December 13 — Saint Herman of Alaska

Saint Herman is one of the foundational saints of Orthodoxy in North America.

Is This a Complete Orthodox Saints Calendar?

No.

A complete calendar contains many commemorations for every day of the year.

The selected saints above are intended as an introduction to the larger Orthodox calendar.

Why Would a Complete Saints Calendar Be Much Larger?

A single day can include:

• Several individual saints
• A group of martyrs
• A local saint
• A Synaxis
• A feast or afterfeast

A complete annual calendar therefore contains thousands of names and commemorations.

How to Read an Orthodox Saints Calendar Entry

A typical calendar entry may include several parts.

The Saint's Title

Examples include:

• Apostle
• Great Martyr
• Hieromartyr
• Venerable
• Hierarch
• Equal-to-the-Apostles

The Saint's Name

The name identifies the individual being commemorated.

Historical Date

Some calendars include the approximate year of the saint's repose or martyrdom.

Additional Commemorations

Several saints may follow in the same daily entry.

Scripture Readings

Major saints may have special appointed readings associated with their feast.

What Is a Synaxis of Saints?

A Synaxis brings together saints connected by:

• A place
• A historical event
• A feast
• A shared ministry
• A local Church

Examples of Collective Saint Commemorations

Orthodox calendars contain collective feasts such as:

• Three Holy Hierarchs
• All Saints
• Local Synaxes of saints
• New Martyrs and Confessors
• Groups of Apostles

What Is All Saints Sunday?

In the Byzantine Orthodox tradition, All Saints Sunday is celebrated on the first Sunday after Pentecost.

It commemorates all saints rather than one individual saint.

Why Is All Saints a Movable Feast?

Its date depends on Pentecost, which itself depends on Pascha.

It therefore changes civil date every year.

Saint Icons and the Saints Calendar

The calendar and Orthodox iconography are closely connected.

A saint's feast is an especially appropriate time to place the saint's icon prominently in a prayer corner.

How Can I Identify a Saint Icon?

Use this sequence:

1. Read the inscription.
2. Look at the saint's clothing.
3. Identify objects being held.
4. Look at hair, beard, and age.
5. Check the saint's traditional attributes.

What Does a Small Cross Mean in a Saint Icon?

A handheld cross commonly identifies a martyr.

It does not necessarily mean that the saint died by crucifixion.

Why Does a Saint Hold a Gospel Book?

A Gospel Book may identify:

• A bishop
• An Apostle
• An Evangelist
• A teacher of the Church

Why Does a Saint Hold a Scroll?

A scroll may contain or symbolize:

• Teaching
• Prayer
• Prophecy
• Monastic wisdom

Why Do Some Saints Wear Armor?

Armor generally identifies saints associated historically or traditionally with military service.

Examples include:

• Saint George
• Saint Demetrius
• Saint Theodore

Why Does Saint Panteleimon Hold Medicine?

Saint Panteleimon is traditionally remembered as a physician and healer.

Medical objects therefore function as recognizable attributes in his icons.

Why Does Saint Nicholas Wear Bishop Vestments?

Saint Nicholas was a bishop.

His episcopal garments help identify his historical ministry.

How to Use the Saints Calendar at Home

Mark Family Name Days

Begin with the Patron Saints of family members.

Keep Patron Saint Icons in the Prayer Corner

These icons can remain permanently displayed.

Feature a Saint on the Feast Day

If you own the saint's icon, you may give it a more prominent place for the feast.

Read a Short Life of the Saint

A brief biography can help connect the calendar date with an actual person and Christian life.

Attend the Divine Liturgy When Possible

Major Patron Saint and parish feast days are naturally connected with the liturgical life of the Church.

Orthodox Saints Calendar for Children

The saints calendar can help children experience Church history through real people rather than abstract dates.

Start With Family Patron Saints

Children can learn:

• The saint's name
• The saint's feast day
• What the saint is known for
• How to recognize the saint's icon

Add One Saint Each Month

A family does not need to study hundreds of saints immediately.

One saint each month can create a manageable introduction to the Orthodox calendar.

Connect Saints With Icons

Ask children to identify:

• The name inscription
• The halo
• The clothing
• The object the saint is holding

Choosing a Patron Saint Icon

Should My Patron Saint Be in My Prayer Corner?

It is a natural choice.

What if I Cannot Find My Saint's Icon?

Some saints have fewer commercial reproductions than others.

You can begin with Christ and the Theotokos while looking for an appropriate Patron Saint Icon.

Can I Have Icons of Saints Who Are Not My Patron Saint?

Yes.

Orthodox Christians can develop devotion to many saints.

Can Every Family Member Have a Different Patron Saint Icon?

Yes.

A family prayer corner can gradually include the Patron Saints of parents and children.

Saint Icons as Gifts

Is a Patron Saint Icon a Good Baptism Gift?

Yes.

It is one of the most personal Orthodox Baptism gifts.

Is a Patron Saint Icon a Good Name Day Gift?

Yes.

Can a Saint Icon Be a Wedding Gift?

Yes.

You may choose:

• The bride's Patron Saint
• The groom's Patron Saint
• Both Patron Saints

What Is a Good Saint Icon for a Child?

The child's Patron Saint is usually the strongest personal choice.

A Guardian Angel Icon is another common option.

Saints and Particular Needs

Orthodox tradition sometimes associates certain saints with particular areas of life.

Examples include:

• Healing saints
• Missionary saints
• Military saints
• Saints associated with travelers
• Saints associated with particular professions

However, saints should not be treated like narrowly specialized magical service providers.

Can I Ask a Saint to Pray for Me?

Yes.

Orthodox Christians ask saints for their intercession.

Does This Mean Orthodox Christians Worship Saints?

No.

Orthodox Christianity distinguishes between:

• Worship offered to God
• Veneration shown to saints

Does a Saint's Icon Have Magical Power?

No.

An icon should not be treated as a charm or independent supernatural device.

Why Is the Saints Calendar Important for Liturgy?

The saint commemorated on a particular day can influence:

• Hymns
• Readings
• Liturgical texts
• Icon placement
• The rank of the day's celebration

What Liturgical Book Contains Saints' Services?

The fixed cycle of saints and feasts is closely associated with the Menaion.

What Is the Menaion?

The Menaion is a collection of Orthodox liturgical texts organized by month.

It contains services for:

• Saints
• Fixed feast days
• Other fixed commemorations

Saints Calendar vs Orthodox Calendar

The two are closely related but not identical.

The Orthodox Calendar includes:

• Pascha
• Great Feasts
• Fasting seasons
• Liturgical cycles
• Saints

The Orthodox Saints Calendar focuses specifically on the saints commemorated throughout that larger liturgical year.

Saints Calendar vs Name Day Calendar

A Name Day calendar uses saint feast dates to identify the celebrations associated with people's Christian names.

The full saints calendar is much broader because many saints are not commonly used as names in a particular culture.

Saints Calendar vs Liturgical Year

The saints calendar forms one layer of the Orthodox liturgical year.

Other layers include:

• The Paschal cycle
• The Great Feasts
• Fasting seasons
• The weekly cycle

Common Misconceptions About the Orthodox Saints Calendar

Myth: There Is Only One Saint for Every Day.

No.

Many days contain several commemorations.

Myth: Every Saint Has Only One Feast Day.

No.

Myth: A Saint With My Name Is Automatically My Patron Saint.

Not necessarily.

Several saints may share the same name.

Myth: Every Orthodox Church Has an Identical Saints Calendar.

No.

Local and jurisdictional commemorations vary.

Myth: December 6 and December 19 Are Two Different Saint Nicholas Feasts.

Not when the difference is simply Julian versus Revised Julian calendar observance.

Myth: Only Ancient Saints Appear in Orthodox Calendars.

No.

The Church continues to recognize saints from more recent history.

Myth: All Orthodox Saints Were Monks.

No.

Saints include married people, parents, physicians, soldiers, rulers, missionaries, clergy, and lay Christians.

Myth: Saints Are Worshiped.

No.

Saints are venerated while worship belongs to God alone.

Myth: A Saint Icon Is a Protective Charm.

No.

Orthodox Saints Calendar FAQ

What is the Orthodox Saints Calendar?

It is the annual cycle of Orthodox commemorations dedicated to saints throughout the year.

Does every day have a saint?

Most days include several saint commemorations.

How do I find today's Orthodox saint?

Use the daily calendar published by your Orthodox jurisdiction or parish, because local commemorations and calendar systems can differ.

How do I find my Patron Saint?

Check your Baptismal name, parish records, family tradition, or ask your priest.

What is an Orthodox Name Day?

It is the feast associated with a person's Patron Saint or namesake saint.

Can one person have more than one Name Day?

A person normally has a principal Patron Saint feast, although the same saint may have additional commemorations during the year.

Can one saint have several feast days?

Yes.

Why are Orthodox saint dates sometimes different?

Julian and Revised Julian calendar use can cause the same fixed liturgical feast to appear on different civil dates.

Why are several saints listed on one day?

The Church commemorates thousands of saints, so many share the same calendar date.

What is a Synaxis?

A Synaxis is a collective commemoration of saints connected by a feast, region, historical event, or common theme.

What does Great Martyr mean?

It is an honorific title used for certain especially prominent Christian martyrs.

What does Equal-to-the-Apostles mean?

It is a title for saints whose missionary work had extraordinary importance in spreading Christianity.

What is an Unmercenary saint?

An Unmercenary is especially associated with healing without demanding payment.

Can I celebrate a saint from another Orthodox country?

Yes.

Can I keep a Patron Saint Icon in my prayer corner?

Yes. It is one of the most natural personal additions to a home prayer space.

What is a good Name Day gift?

A Patron Saint Icon, Orthodox cross, prayer book, or book about the saint can all be meaningful choices.

Which saints calendar should I follow?

If you belong to an Orthodox parish, use the calendar followed by your parish and jurisdiction.

Orthodox Saints Calendar: The Short Answer

The Orthodox Saints Calendar commemorates thousands of holy men and women throughout the year.

Most days include several saints.

A saint's principal feast is often associated with the date of:

• Martyrdom
• Repose

Additional feast days can commemorate:

• Relics
• Glorification
• Miracles
• Collective Synaxes

A Christian's Patron Saint is often connected with the name received at Baptism, and the saint's feast becomes the person's Name Day.

Calendar differences can cause the same fixed commemoration to appear on different civil dates.

The best way to use an Orthodox Saints Calendar is to begin with your Patron Saint and family Name Days, then gradually learn the Apostles, martyrs, hierarchs, monastics, healers, missionaries, and local saints commemorated throughout the Church year.

Explore Orthodox Saints at Mercy Fold

Continue with Mercy Fold's related guides:

• Orthodox Saints FAQ
• Orthodox Calendar
• Orthodox Calendar 2027
• Orthodox Liturgical Year Explained
• Orthodox Feast Days
• The Twelve Great Feasts of the Orthodox Church
• Orthodox Saint Icons
• Orthodox Apostle Icons
• Orthodox Prophet Icons
• Orthodox Archangel Icons
• Orthodox Guardian Angel Icons
• Choosing an Orthodox Icon as a Gift
• Best Icons for Baptism Gifts
• Which Icons Should Be in a Prayer Corner?

Use this page as an introduction to the Orthodox calendar of saints, then explore individual Mercy Fold saint pages for each saint's life, feast day, Patron Saint traditions, iconographic attributes, inscriptions, and related Orthodox icons.