February 23 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)

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February 23 in Eastern Orthodox liturgical calendars is a feast day and a day of commemoration of saints and martyrs. Although some Orthodox churches use the Revised Julian Calendar and others use the traditional Julian calendar, the fixed commemorations for their respective February23 are broadly the same, no matter which calendar is used.

Saints

Hieromartyr Polycarp of Smyrna, Bishop of Smyrna (167)February 23 / March 8. Orthodox Calendar (PRAVOSLAVIE.RU).Great Synaxaristes: Ὁ Ἅγιος Πολύκαρπος ὁ Ἱερομάρτυρας Ἐπίσκοπος Σμύρνης. 23 Φεβρουαρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ. Συναξαριστής. 23 Φεβρουαρίου. ECCLESIA.GR. (H ΕΚΚΛΗΣΙΑ ΤΗΣ ΕΛΛΑΔΟΣ).Hieromartyr Polycarp the Bishop of Smyrna. OCA - Lives of the Saints. Holy 73 Martyrs of Sirmium, under Diocletian (303)Great Synaxaristes: Οἱ Ἅγιοι Ἑβδομήντα Τρεῖς Μάρτυρες. 23 Φεβρουαρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ. Martyr Clement, by the sword.Great Synaxaristes: Ὁ Ἅγιος Κλήμης ὁ Μάρτυρας. 23 Φεβρουαρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ. Martyr Thea, by the sword.Great Synaxaristes: Ἡ Ἁγία Θεὴ ἡ Μάρτυς. 23 Φεβρουαρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ. Venerable Gorgonia the Righteous (370), sister of St. Gregory the Theologian.Great Synaxaristes: Ἡ Ἁγία Γοργονία ἀδελφὴ τοῦ Ἁγίου Γρηγορίου τοῦ Θεολόγου. 23 Φεβρουαρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.St Gorgonia, sister of St Gregory the Theologian. OCA - Lives of the Saints. Saint Alexander, founder of the Monastery of the Unsleeping Ones, Constantinople (430)March 8 / February 23. Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Church (A parish of the Patriarchate of Moscow).Venerable Alexander the founder of the Monastery, of the “Unsleeping Ones”. OCA - Lives of the Saints. 23 февраля (ст.ст.) 8 марта 2014 (нов. ст.) . Русская Православная Церковь Отдел внешних церковных связей. (DECR). (see also: January 15, July 3) Saints John,Venerable John, Ascetic of the Syrian Deserts. OCA - Lives of the Saints. Antioch, Antoninus,Venerable Antiochus, Ascetic of the Syrian Deserts. OCA - Lives of the Saints. Moses,Great Synaxaristes: Οἱ Ὅσιοι Ἰωάννης, Ἀντίοχος, Ἀντωνίνος καὶ Μωϋσῆς. 23 Φεβρουαρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.Venerable Moses, Ascetic of the Syrian Deserts. OCA - Lives of the Saints. Zebinas,Venerable Zebinas, Ascetic of the Syrian Deserts. OCA - Lives of the Saints. Polychronius,Venerable Polychronius, Ascetic of the Syrian Deserts. OCA - Lives of the Saints. Moses (another),Venerable Moses, Ascetic of the Syrian Deserts. OCA - Lives of the Saints. and Damian,Great Synaxaristes: Οἱ Ὅσιοι Ζεβινᾶς, Πολυχρόνιος, Δαμιανὸς καὶ Μωϋσῆς. 23 Φεβρουαρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.Venerable Damian, Ascetic of the Syrian Deserts. OCA - Lives of the Saints. ascetics near Cyrrhus in the Syrian desert (5th century)Rev. Sabine Baring-Gould (M.A.). "SS. ZEBINAS, POLYCHRONIUS, MOSES, AND DAMIAN, HH. (5TH CENT.)." In: The Lives of the Saints. Volume the Second: February. London: John C. Nimmo, 1897. pp. 376-377.

Pre-Schism Western saints

Saint Martha, a virgin-martyr beheaded in Astorga in Spain under Decius (251)February 23. Latin Saints of the Orthodox Patriarchate of Rome.Rev. Sabine Baring-Gould (M.A.). "S. MARTHA, V. M. (A.D. 251.)." In: The Lives of the Saints. Volume the Second: February. London: John C. Nimmo, 1897. p. 360-361. Saint Polycarp, a priest in Rome noted for ministering to those in prison for their faith (c. 300) Saint Serenus the Gardener, martyr (307) Saint Romana (Romina), a virgin born in Rome who reposed at the age of eighteen while living as an anchoress in a cave on the banks of the Tiber in Italy (324)."Sf. Cuv. Romana, fecioara, nevoitoare la Todi, în Umbria (†324). Sfânta Romana era fiica lui Calfurnio, prefectul Romei. Voind să devină creștină, Sfânta a fugit de acasă pe când avea zece ani, pentru a primi botezul de la Sfântul Silvestru, pe muntele Sorrente. După botez, Sfânta Romana a rămas să trăiască ca și pustnică într-o peșteră, unde de multe ori a primit vizita Sfântului Silvestru care o învăța și o întărea în cele duhovnicești. Apoi Sfânta a plecat spre orașul Todi, în apropierea căruia s-a așezat într-o altă peșteră. În acea peșteră s-a și săvârșit, în rugăciune fiind, în anul 324. Credincioșii din împrejurimi, care deseori o vizitau pentru a lua povățuire și mângâiere, au îngropat-o în peștera în care trăise și se rugase, și au înălțat acolo un altar unde se săvârșea Dumnezeiasca Liturghie. În anul 1301, trupul Sfintei Romana a fost mutat la San Fortunato." // Episcopia Ortodoxă Română a Italiei"Romina, Santa Virgen, 23 de febrero" // Catholic.net (España) Saints Syncrotas, Antigonus, Rutilus, Libius, Senerotas and Rogatianus, martyrs at Sirmium in Pannonia (4th century) Saint Florentius of Seville, Confessor, a saint much venerated in Seville in Spain (c. 485) Saint Felix of Brescia, twentieth Bishop of Brescia (c. 650) Saint Jurmin, an East Anglian prince, son or nephew of King Anna of East Anglia (653)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. 81-82. Saint Boswell (Boisil), Abbot of Melrose Abbey in Scotland (c. 661)Very Rev. John O'Hanlon. "Article X.—St. Boisil, Abbot of Melrose, Scotland. [Seventh Century]." In: Lives of the Irish Saints: With Special Festivals, and the Commemorations of Holy Persons. VOL. II. Dublin, 1875. pp. 686-688. (see also: February 24) Saint Mildburga (Milburgh), Abbess of Wenlock Priory (715)Rev. Sabine Baring-Gould (M.A.). "S. MILBURGH, V. ABSS. (7TH CENT.)." In: The Lives of the Saints. Volume the Second: February. London: John C. Nimmo, 1897. pp. 382-386. Saint Medrald (Mérald, Méraut), a monk at Saint-Evroult (Ebrulfus) of Ouche in France, who later became Abbot of Vendôme (c. 850) Saint Willigis, Archbishop of Mainz (1011) Peter Damian, Bishop, Confessor, and Doctor (d. 1072). Saint John Theristes ("the Harvester") of Stylos in Calabria (d. 1129)Ο ΟΣΙΟΣ ΙΩΑΝΝΗΣ ο θεριστής (+ 11ος αι.). Εορτάζοντες την 23ην του μηνός Φεβρουαρίου. ΗΜΕΡΟΛΟΓΙΑΚΟ ΕΟΡΤΟΛΟΓΙΟ. (see also: February 24 )

Post-Schism Orthodox saints

Venerable Damian of Esphigmenou Monastery, on Mount Athos (1280)Great Synaxaristes: Ὁ Ὅσιος Δαμιανὸς ὁ Ἐσφιγμενίτης. 23 Φεβρουαρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.Venerable Damian of Esphigmenou of Mt Athos. OCA - Lives of the Saints. Saint Cosmas of Zograf Monastery, Mount Athos (1281) Saint Moses of White Lake Monastery, monk (1480)Great Synaxaristes: Ὁ Ὅσιος Μωϋσῆς ἐκ Ρωσίας. 23 Φεβρουαρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ. New Monk-martyr Damian of Philotheou and Kissavos, at Larissa (1586)Monkmartyr Damian of Philotheou. OCA - Lives of the Saints. New Hieromartyr Lazarus of the Peloponnese (c. 1618) Venerable Polycarp of Bryansk, monk of Bryansk (1620-1621)Venerable Polycarp of Briansk. OCA - Lives of the Saints. Saint Nazarius, Abbot of Valaam Monastery (1809) Saint Seraphim (Zenobius), Schema-Metropolitan of Tetritskaro, Georgia, monk of Glinsk Monastery (1985)

New martyrs and confessors

New Hieromartyr Paul Kushnikov, Priest (1918)RUSSIAN SYNOD ADDS FOUR NAMES TO SYNAXIS OF NEW MARTYRS AND CONFESSORS. Orthodox Christianity. Moscow, April 5, 2019. КУШНИКОВ ПАВЕЛ АЛЕКСАНДРОВИЧ. "Древо" открытие Православная энциклопедия. Retrieved: February 16, 2026. ЖУРНАЛЫ заседания Священного Синода от 4 апреля 2019 года. Русская Православная Церковь, Официальный сайт Московского Патриархата (Патриархия.ru). 4 апреля 2019 г. 15:00. New Hieromartyr Michael Edlinsky, Archpriest, of Kiev (1937) (see also: November 17) New Hieromartyr Alexis Nikolsky, Priest (1938) New Hieromartyr Nicholas Dimitrov, Priest (1938) New Hieromartyr Michael Razhkin, Priest (1938) Martyr Sergius Borodavkin (1938) New Hieromartyr Sergius (Bukashkin), Hieromonk, of Novo-Alexandrovka, Moscow (1938) New Hieromartyr Antipas (Kyrillov), hieromonk, of Tatarintsevo, Moscow (1938) New Hieromartyr Philaret (Pryakhin), Abbot, of Trubino, Tver (1942)

Other commemorations

Repose of Archimandrite Agapit (Belovidov) of Optina Monastery (1922) Repose of Elder Sabbas (Stavrobouniotes) of Cyprus (1985) Finding of the relics (1998) of Blessed Matrona of Moscow (1952) (see also: May 2 - Feast day)

Icon gallery

Notes

References

Sources February 23 / March 8. Orthodox Calendar (PRAVOSLAVIE.RU). March 8 / February 23. Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Church (A parish of the Patriarchate of Moscow). February 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. 17. The Twenty-Third Day of the Month of February. Orthodoxy in China. February 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. 56–57. 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. 81-82. Greek Sources Great Synaxaristes: 23 ΦΕΒΡΟΥΑΡΙΟΥ. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ. Συναξαριστής. 23 Φεβρουαρίου. ECCLESIA.GR. (H ΕΚΚΛΗΣΙΑ ΤΗΣ ΕΛΛΑΔΟΣ). Russian Sources 8 марта (23 февраля). Православная Энциклопедия под редакцией Патриарха Московского и всея Руси Кирилла (электронная версия). (Orthodox Encyclopedia - Pravenc.ru). 23 февраля (ст.ст.) 8 марта 2014 (нов. ст.) . Русская Православная Церковь Отдел внешних церковных связей. (DECR).