December 9 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)

December 8 - Eastern Orthodox liturgical calendar - December 10

All fixed commemorations below celebrated on December 22 by Eastern Orthodox Churches on the Old Calendar.^{[note 1]}

For December 9th, Orthodox Churches on the Old Calendar commemorate the Saints listed on November 26.

Feasts

The Conception by St. Anna of the Most Holy Theotokos.^[1]^[2]

Saints

Prophetess Anna (Hannah), mother of the Prophet Samuel (1100 BC)^[3]^[4]
Martyr Easios, tortured and beheaded (c. 284-305)^[5]^{[note 2]}
Saint Bassa (Vassa), Patrician and Igumenia of a female monastery in Jerusalem, where she also founded the Monastery of St Menas, whose Abbot was the Bishop of Jamnia, Stephanos (5th century)^[6]^{[note 3]} (see also December 7 - Slavonic)
Martyr Sositheus of Persia, by the sword (553)^[7]^[8]
Saint Sophronius the Archbishop of Cyprus (6th century)^[9] (see also: December 8)
Martyr Nerses of Persia, by the sword.^[8]^[10]
Martyr Isaac.^[11]
Saint Stephen “the New Light” of Constantinople (912)^[12]^[13]^{[note 4]}

Pre-Schism Western saints

Saint Syrus of Pavia, first Bishop and main patron-saint of Pavia in Italy (c. 1st century)^[15]
Virgin-martyr Valerie of Limoges (Valeria of Aquitaine), by tradition she was converted by St Martial of Limoges in France and beheaded (1st or 3rd century)^[8]^[15]
Saint Nectarius of Auvergne (c. 300)^{[citation needed]}
Virgin-martyr Leocadia (Locaie), in Toledo, Spain (c. 303)^[15]^[16]
Saint Proculus of Verona, Bishop of Verona in Italy, a confessor during the persecution of Diocletian, reposed in peace (c. 320)^[15]
Martyrs Peter, Successus, Bassian, Primitivus and 20 other Companions, in North Africa.^[15]^[17]
Saint Cyprian, a monk at Périgueux in France, who ended his life as a hermit on the banks of the Dordogne (586)^[15]
Saint Augard, hermit at Saint-Augard-en-Paule in Brittany (6th century)^{[citation needed]}
Saint Restitutus, Bishop of Carthage in North Africa and Martyr.^[15]^[17]
Saint Balda, third Abbess of Jouarre in France (7th century)^[15]
Saint Budoc (Budeaux), born in Brittany, became Abbot of Youghal in Ireland, then Bishop of Dol in Brittany (7th century?)^[15] (see also: December 8)
Saint Ethelgiva (Æthelgifu), the daughter of King Alfred the Great, became first Abbess of Shaftesbury (896)^[15]^{[note 5]}
Saint Egbert of Trier, Bishop of Trier in Germany (993)^[19]
Saint Wolfeius, a hermit at St Benet Hulme in Norfolk in England (c. 1000)^[15]
Saint Enguerrammus (Angilram) 'the Wise', monk and Abbot of Saint Riquier in France (1045)^[15]

Post-Schism Orthodox saints

Hieromonk Anthymus the Athonite, "Fool for Christ"^[20]

New martyrs and confessors

New Hieromartyr Vladimir Vinogradov, priest (1919)^[21]^[22]
New Hieromartyr Vladimir Dzhurinsky, priest and Virgin-martyr Ephrosia Dzhurinsky (1920)^[21]^[22]
New Hieromartyrs Basil Yagodin, Protopresbyter, and Alexander Buravtsev, priests (1937)^[21]^[22]^[23]
New Martyr Priest Sergius Mechiev of Moscow (1941)^[21]^[23]
New-Martyr Archpriest Paul Levashov of Gomel.^[23]

Other commemorations

Commemoration of the Founding of the Church of the Resurrection at Jerusalem (335)^[8]
Repose of Archimandrite Theodosius of Tismana and Sophroniev Monasteries, fellow-struggler of St. Paisius Velichkovsky (1802)^[8]
Repose of Elder Anthimus the Bulgarian on Mt. Athos (1867)^[8]
Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos "Unexpected Joy".^[8]^[22]^[24]

Icon gallery

Saint Anne with the Virgin Mary. (Angelos Akotanos, 15th century).
The Holy and Righteous Ancestors of God Joachim and Anna.
Stained glass of St. Anne and the child St. Mary. (St. John the Baptist, Vincennes, Indiana.).
Prophetess Anna (Hannah), mother of Prophet Samuel. (Paris Psalter, 10th century).
Bottom: When Samuel was weaned, Hannah and Elkanah brought him to the temple. (William de Brailes, c. 1250).
St. Sophronius, Archbishop of Cyprus (Menologion of Basil II, 10th century).
The Beheading of St. Valerie of Limoges. (Fresco of the first bay north, Cheylat chapel, Saint-Geniès, Dordogne, France).
Close-up of altar relief: St Valerie of Limoges presents her own head to her confessor, St Martial. (Altar in St Michel des Lions, Limoges).
Saints Firmus and Rusticus of Verona with an angel, by Sebastiano Ricci. Saint Proculus of Verona is seated. (Sebastiano Ricci, 1704).
Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos "Unexpected Joy". (19th century)

Notes

^ 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").
^ He is unknown in the Synaxarion of St. Nicodemus and absent in the Menaia. However his memory is preserved in Parisian Codex 1621. The biography of this martyr is similar to that of the martyr Euplos (Efplus) (August 11), and it is not impossible that due to a scribal error that Euplos became Easios.
^ Her memory is preserved in the Jerusalemitic Canonarion, pg.120.
^ The Monk Stephen the New-Radiant was born at Constantinople and received a fine education. Under Patriarch Methodios (82-846) Stephen accepted monastic tonsure and entered amongst the clergy at one of the Constantinople churches. Later he went into seclusion and over a span of 50 years he constantly increased his ascetic efforts. Towards the end of his life the monk acquired from the Lord a great grace, shining in the constellation of the Saints like to the ancient ascetics of the Orthodox Church of old, so that he came to be called the "New-Radiant". According to the prologue-accounts of the Saints, he died in the year 912.^[14]
^ "ST. ETHELGIVA, or ÆTHELGIFU, was the daughter of the great King Alfred and his saintly wife Ethelwida. Recognising her vocation to the religious state, the King built and endowed the monastery at Shaftesbury for her reception. She was appointed Abbess, and after a life of eminent holiness, there ended her days about the year 896."^[18]

References

^ Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Σύλληψις Ἁγίας Ἄννης. 9 Δεκεμβρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
^ The Conception by Righteous Anna of the Most Holy Mother of God. OCA - Feasts and Saints.
^ Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ἡ Ἁγία Ἄννα ἡ Προφήτιδα Μητέρα τοῦ Προφήτη Σαμουήλ. 9 Δεκεμβρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
^ Prophetess Hannah the mother of the Prophet Samuel. OCA - Feasts and Saints.
^ Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ἅγιος Ἐάσιος ὁ Μάρτυρας. 9 Δεκεμβρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
^ Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ἡ Ἁγία Βάσσα. 9 Δεκεμβρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
^ Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ἅγιος Σωσίθεος ὁ Μάρτυρας. 9 Δεκεμβρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g December 9/22. Orthodox Calendar (PRAVOSLAVIE.RU).
^ Saint Sophronius, Archbishop of Cyprus. OCA - Feasts and Saints.
^ Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ἅγιος Ναρσὴς ὁ Μάρτυρας ὁ Πέρσης. 9 Δεκεμβρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
^ Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ἅγιος Ἰσαὰκ ὁ Μάρτυρας. 9 Δεκεμβρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
^ Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ὅσιος Στέφανος ὁ νεολαμπὴς ὁ ἐν τῷ Ἁγίῳ Ἀντίπα κειμένου. 9 Δεκεμβρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
^ Saint Stephen the "New Light" of Constantinople. OCA - Feasts and Saints.
^ The Monk Stephen the New-Radiant. HOLY TRINITY RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH (A parish of the Patriarchate of Moscow).
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l December 9. Latin Saints of the Orthodox Patriarchate of Rome.
^ RUSSIAN CHURCH OFFICIALLY ADDS SAINTS OF SPAIN, PORTUGAL TO LITURGICAL CALENDAR. Orthodox Christianity. January 4, 2019.
^ ^a ^b 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. 378-379
^ 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.590.
^ "Святые Германии". www.rus-kirche-baden.de. Retrieved 2023-05-22.
^ Hieromonk Anthimus the Athonite, "Fool for Christ". OCA - Feasts and Saints.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d December 22 / December 9. HOLY TRINITY RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH (A parish of the Patriarchate of Moscow).
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d (in Russian) 9 декабря (ст.ст.) 22 декабря 2013 (нов. ст.). Русская Православная Церковь Отдел внешних церковных связей. (DECR).
^ ^a ^b ^c 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.92.
^ "Unexpected Joy" Icon of the Mother of God. OCA - Feasts and Saints.

Sources

December 9/22. Orthodox Calendar (PRAVOSLAVIE.RU).
December 22 / December 9. HOLY TRINITY RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH (A parish of the Patriarchate of Moscow).
December 8. 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. 92.
December 9. 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. 378–379.

Greek Sources

Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) 9 ΔΕΚΕΜΒΡΙΟΥ. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
(in Greek) Συναξαριστής. 9 Δεκεμβρίου. ECCLESIA.GR. (H ΕΚΚΛΗΣΙΑ ΤΗΣ ΕΛΛΑΔΟΣ).

Russian Sources

(in Russian) 22 декабря (9 декабря). Православная Энциклопедия под редакцией Патриарха Московского и всея Руси Кирилла (электронная версия). (Orthodox Encyclopedia - Pravenc.ru).
(in Russian) 9 декабря (ст.ст.) 22 декабря 2013 (нов. ст.). Русская Православная Церковь Отдел внешних церковных связей. (DECR).

[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").

[7] He is unknown in the Synaxarion of St. Nicodemus and absent in the Menaia. However his memory is preserved in Parisian Codex 1621. The biography of this martyr is similar to that of the martyr Euplos (Efplus) (August 11), and it is not impossible that due to a scribal error that Euplos became Easios.

[9] Her memory is preserved in the Jerusalemitic Canonarion, pg.120.

[18] The Monk Stephen the New-Radiant was born at Constantinople and received a fine education. Under Patriarch Methodios (82-846) Stephen accepted monastic tonsure and entered amongst the clergy at one of the Constantinople churches. Later he went into seclusion and over a span of 50 years he constantly increased his ascetic efforts. Towards the end of his life the monk acquired from the Lord a great grace, shining in the constellation of the Saints like to the ancient ascetics of the Orthodox Church of old, so that he came to be called the "New-Radiant". According to the prologue-accounts of the Saints, he died in the year 912.^[14]

[23] "ST. ETHELGIVA, or ÆTHELGIFU, was the daughter of the great King Alfred and his saintly wife Ethelwida. Recognising her vocation to the religious state, the King built and endowed the monastery at Shaftesbury for her reception. She was appointed Abbess, and after a life of eminent holiness, there ended her days about the year 896."^[18]

[2] Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Σύλληψις Ἁγίας Ἄννης. 9 Δεκεμβρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.

[3] The Conception by Righteous Anna of the Most Holy Mother of God. OCA - Feasts and Saints.

[4] Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ἡ Ἁγία Ἄννα ἡ Προφήτιδα Μητέρα τοῦ Προφήτη Σαμουήλ. 9 Δεκεμβρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.

[5] Prophetess Hannah the mother of the Prophet Samuel. OCA - Feasts and Saints.

[6] Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ἅγιος Ἐάσιος ὁ Μάρτυρας. 9 Δεκεμβρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.

[8] Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ἡ Ἁγία Βάσσα. 9 Δεκεμβρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.

[10] Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ἅγιος Σωσίθεος ὁ Μάρτυρας. 9 Δεκεμβρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.

[PRAVOSLAVIE-11] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g December 9/22. Orthodox Calendar (PRAVOSLAVIE.RU).

[12] Saint Sophronius, Archbishop of Cyprus. OCA - Feasts and Saints.

[13] Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ἅγιος Ναρσὴς ὁ Μάρτυρας ὁ Πέρσης. 9 Δεκεμβρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.

[14] Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ἅγιος Ἰσαὰκ ὁ Μάρτυρας. 9 Δεκεμβρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.

[15] Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ὅσιος Στέφανος ὁ νεολαμπὴς ὁ ἐν τῷ Ἁγίῳ Ἀντίπα κειμένου. 9 Δεκεμβρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.

[16] Saint Stephen the "New Light" of Constantinople. OCA - Feasts and Saints.

[17] The Monk Stephen the New-Radiant. HOLY TRINITY RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH (A parish of the Patriarchate of Moscow).

[LATIN-19] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l December 9. Latin Saints of the Orthodox Patriarchate of Rome.

[20] RUSSIAN CHURCH OFFICIALLY ADDS SAINTS OF SPAIN, PORTUGAL TO LITURGICAL CALENDAR. Orthodox Christianity. January 4, 2019.

[ROMAN-21] 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. 378-379

[22] 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.590.

[24] "Святые Германии". www.rus-kirche-baden.de. Retrieved 2023-05-22.

[25] Hieromonk Anthimus the Athonite, "Fool for Christ". OCA - Feasts and Saints.

[MOSPAT-26] December 22 / December 9. HOLY TRINITY RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH (A parish of the Patriarchate of Moscow).

[DECR-27] (in Russian) 9 декабря (ст.ст.) 22 декабря 2013 (нов. ст.). Русская Православная Церковь Отдел внешних церковных связей. (DECR).

[ROCOR-28] 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.92.

[29] "Unexpected Joy" Icon of the Mother of God. OCA - Feasts and Saints.

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