December 31 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)

December 30 - Eastern Orthodox liturgical calendar - January 1

All fixed commemorations below are observed on January 13 by Eastern Orthodox Churches on the Old Calendar.

For December 31st, Orthodox Churches on the Old Calendar commemorate the Saints listed on December 18.

Feasts Apodosis of the Nativity of ChristGreat Synaxaristes: : Ἀπόδοσις ἑορτῆς τῆς τοῦ Κυρίου μας Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ Γεννήσεως. 31 Δεκεμβρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.December 31/January 13. Orthodox Calendar (PRAVOSLAVIE.RU).

Saints Righteous Abgar V, King of Osroene (c. 50)Archpriest John Whiteford (General Editor) and Aleksandr Andreev (Contributing Editor). "St. Innocent Liturgical Calendar 2021". St. Innocent Press, Milford, Ohio, 2021. p. 331. АВГАРЬ V УККАМА. Открытая православная энциклопедия "Древо" (Open Orthodox Encyclopedia "The Tree"). Retrieved: September 17, 2026. Holy Ten Virgin Martyrs of Nicomedia, who had their eyes put out and their sides run through (c. 286 – 305)Great Synaxaristes: : Οἱ Ἁγίες Δέκα Παρθένες. 31 Δεκεμβρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.Hieromonk Makarios of Simonos Petra (Ed.). THE SYNAXARION: The Lives of the Saints of the Orthodox Church: VOLUME TWO - November, December. Transl. from the French by Christopher Hookway. Holy Convent of the Annunciation of Our Lady, Ormylia (Chalkidike), 1999. pp. 610-612. Martyr Olympiodora, who was burned alive.Great Synaxaristes: : Ἡ Ἁγία Ὀλυμπιοδώρα ἡ Μάρτυς. 31 Δεκεμβρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ. Martyr Busiris, martyred by women with knitting needles.Great Synaxaristes: : Ὁ Ἅγιος Βούσιρις ὁ Μάρτυρας. 31 Δεκεμβρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ. Martyr Nemes (Nemo), by the sword.Great Synaxaristes: : Ἡ Ἁγία Νέμη ἡ Μάρτυς. 31 Δεκεμβρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ. Martyr Gaudentius.Great Synaxaristes: : Ὁ Ἅγιος Γαυδέντιος. 31 Δεκεμβρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ. Saint Hermes of Dunonia, exorcist (4th century) Sfantul Mucenic Hermes, exorcistul. CrestinOrtodox.ro. Retrieved: September 17, 2026. Hieromartyr Zoticus (Zotikos) the Priest of Constantinople, Feeder and Guardian of Orphans, Cherisher of the Poor and Servant of Lepers (c. 340)Great Synaxaristes: : Ὁ Ἅγιος Ζωτικὸς ὁ Ὀρφανοτρόφος. 31 Δεκεμβρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.Hieromonk Makarios of Simonos Petra (Ed.). THE SYNAXARION: The Lives of the Saints of the Orthodox Church: VOLUME TWO - November, December. Transl. from the French by Christopher Hookway. Holy Convent of the Annunciation of Our Lady, Ormylia (Chalkidike), 1999. pp. 607-608. (see also December 30 - Russian) Saint Anysius, Bishop of Thessaloniki (c. 407)Hieromonk Makarios of Simonos Petra (Ed.). THE SYNAXARION: The Lives of the Saints of the Orthodox Church: VOLUME TWO - November, December. Transl. from the French by Christopher Hookway. Holy Convent of the Annunciation of Our Lady, Ormylia (Chalkidike), 1999. p. 609. (see also December 30 - Roman) Venerable Melania the Younger, Nun of Rome (439)Great Synaxaristes: : Ἡ Ὁσία Μελάνη ἡ Ρωμαία. 31 Δεκεμβρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.Venerable Melania the Younger of Rome. OCA - Feasts and Saints.Hieromonk Makarios of Simonos Petra (Ed.). THE SYNAXARION: The Lives of the Saints of the Orthodox Church: VOLUME TWO - November, December. Transl. from the French by Christopher Hookway. Holy Convent of the Annunciation of Our Lady, Ormylia (Chalkidike), 1999. pp. 601-606.Rev. Sabine Baring-Gould (M.A.). "S. MELANIA THE YOUNGER. (ABOUT A.D. 439.)." In: The Lives of the Saints. Volume the Fifteenth: December. London: John C. Nimmo, 1898. pp. 417-424. Venerable Gelasius, Monk (Abba) of Palestine, who reposed in peace.Great Synaxaristes: : Ὁ Ὅσιος Γελάσιος. 31 Δεκεμβρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.Hieromonk Makarios of Simonos Petra (Ed.). THE SYNAXARION: The Lives of the Saints of the Orthodox Church: VOLUME TWO - November, December. Transl. from the French by Christopher Hookway. Holy Convent of the Annunciation of Our Lady, Ormylia (Chalkidike), 1999. pp. 609-610. Venerable Gaius, Monk, who died in peace.Great Synaxaristes: : Ὁ Ὅσιος Γάϊος. 31 Δεκεμβρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ. Venerable Sabiana, Abbess of Samtskhe Convent (11th century)Venerable Sabiana, Abbess of the Samtskhe Monastery. OCA - Feasts and Saints.Zakaria Machitadze (Archpriest). Lives of the Georgian Saints. First English Edition. St. Herman of Alaska Brotherhood, 2006. pp. 451-452.

Pre-Schism Western saints Saint Columba of Sens (273)Rev. Sabine Baring-Gould (M.A.). "S. COLUMBA, V.M. (A.D. 274.)." In: The Lives of the Saints. Volume the Fifteenth: December. London: John C. Nimmo, 1898. pp. 411-412. Martyrs of Catania, in Sicily: Stephen, Pontian, Attalus, Fabian, Cornelius, Sextus, Flos, Quintian, Minervinus and Simplician, early martyrs in Catania in Sicily. Martyrs Donata, Paulina, Rustica (Rogata), Nominanda (Dominanda), Serotina, Hilaria and Companions Hieromartyrs Sabinian and Potentian (c. 303) Saint Silvester I, Pope of Rome (335)Rev. Sabine Baring-Gould (M.A.). "S. SYLVESTER, POPE. (A.D. 335.)." In: The Lives of the Saints. Volume the Fifteenth: December. London: John C. Nimmo, 1898. pp. 412-417. (see also January 2 - in the East) Saint Valerius Pinianus (Apinianus), husband of Saint Melania the Younger (432) Saint Barbatianus (Barbatian), Priest and Confessor, at Ravenna (5th century) Saint Marius Aventicensis, Bishop of Aventicum (596)Rev. Sabine Baring-Gould (M.A.). "S. MARIUS, B. OF AVENCHES. (ABOUT A.D. 593.)." In: The Lives of the Saints. Volume the Fifteenth: December. London: John C. Nimmo, 1898. p. 425. Saint Fránquila (Frankila, Franklin), first abbot of the Monastery of San Salvador de Celanova, following the Rule of Saint Benedict (959) Saint Peter of Subiaco (1003)

Post-Schism Orthodox saints Blessed Theophylact, Archbishop of Ochrid (c. 1126)Saint Theophylactus of Ochrid. OCA - Feasts and Saints. Saint George Macheromenos the Wonderworker, "the stabbed" (c. 14th century)Great Synaxaristes: : Ὁ Ἅγιος Γεώργιος ὁ Θαυματουργός ὁ λεγόμενος μαχαιρωμένος. 31 Δεκεμβρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ. Saint Petro Mohyla (Peter Mogila), Metropolitan of Kiev, Galicia and all Rus, Exarch of the Ecumenical Patriarchate (1646) ПЕТР (МОГИЛА). Открытая православная энциклопедия "Древо" (Open Orthodox Encyclopedia "The Tree"). Retrieved: September 2, 2026. 31 декабря (ст.ст.) 13 января 2015 (нов. ст.). Русская Православная Церковь Отдел внешних церковных связей. (DECR). 13 января (31 декабря). Православная Энциклопедия под редакцией Патриарха Московского и всея Руси Кирилла (электронная версия). (Orthodox Encyclopedia - Pravenc.ru). (see also: December 6 - Glorification) Venerable Cyriacus of Bisericani Monastery, Romania (1660)Venerable Cyriacus of Bisericani, Romania. OCA - Feasts and Saints. Venerable Cyriacus of Tazlau Monastery, Romania (1660)Venerable Cyriacus of Tazlau, Romania. OCA - Feasts and Saints.

New martyrs and confessors New Hieromartyr Michael Berezin, Priest (1937)January 13 / December 31. HOLY TRINITY RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH (A parish of the Patriarchate of Moscow). БЕРЕЗИН МИХАИЛ АЛЕКСАНДРОВИЧ. Открытая православная энциклопедия "Древо" (Open Orthodox Encyclopedia "The Tree"). Retrieved: September 17, 2026. New Martyr Peter Troitsky, Reader (1938) ТРОИЦКИЙ ПЕТР ВАСИЛЬЕВИЧ. Открытая православная энциклопедия "Древо" (Open Orthodox Encyclopedia "The Tree"). Retrieved: September 17, 2026. New Hieroconfessor Dositheus Vasich, Metropolitan of Zagreb (1945)Saint Dositheus the Confessor, Bishop of Serbia. OCA - Feasts and Saints.

Other commemorations Unfading Flower Icon of the Mother of God at Ardatov"Unfading Flower" Icon of the Mother of God at Ardatov. OCA - Feasts and Saints. (see also April 3) Glorification (2015) of Saint Paisios of Mount Athos (1994) ПАИСИЙ СВЯТОГОРЕЦ. Открытая православная энциклопедия "Древо" (Open Orthodox Encyclopedia "The Tree"). Retrieved: September 1, 2026. (O.S.)

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Notes

References

Sources December 31/January 13. Orthodox Calendar (PRAVOSLAVIE.RU). January 13 / December 31. HOLY TRINITY RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH (A parish of the Patriarchate of Moscow). December 31. 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. 4. December 31. 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. 402–403.

Greek Sources Great Synaxaristes: 31 ΔΕΚΕΜΒΡΙΟΥ. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ. Συναξαριστής. 31 Δεκεμβρίου. ECCLESIA.GR. (H ΕΚΚΛΗΣΙΑ ΤΗΣ ΕΛΛΑΔΟΣ).

Russian Sources 13 января (31 декабря). Православная Энциклопедия под редакцией Патриарха Московского и всея Руси Кирилла (электронная версия). (Orthodox Encyclopedia - Pravenc.ru). 31 декабря (ст.ст.) 13 января 2015 (нов. ст.). Русская Православная Церковь Отдел внешних церковных связей. (DECR).