December 8 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)

December 7 - Eastern Orthodox liturgical calendar - December 9

The Eastern Orthodox cross

All fixed commemorations below celebrated on December 21 by Eastern Orthodox Churches on the Old Calendar.[note 1]

For December 8th, Orthodox Churches on the Old Calendar commemorate the Saints listed on November 25.

Saints

• Holy Apostles of the Seventy (1st century):[1]
  • Sosthenes, Apollos, Cephas, Tychicus, Epaphroditus, Caesar, and Onesiphorus.
• Saint Patapius of Thebes (4th century)[2][3][note 2]
• Holy 362 Martyrs of Africa, martyred by the Arians (477):[3][note 3] (see also December 7)[5][6][7]
  • 62 priests and 300 laymen martyred by the Arians.[note 4]
• Venerable Sophronius, Bishop of Cyprus (8th century)[3][9]
• Venerable Aeros, Archbishop of the Church of Jerusalem.[10][note 5]

Pre-Schism Western saints

• Saint Eucharius (Valerius), first Bishop of Trier in Germany (c. 250)[3][11][note 6]
• Saint Eutychian, Pope of Rome, venerated as a martyr (283)[11][note 7]
• Martyr Anthusa (Anthysa) at Rome (5th century)[3][13][note 8]
• Saint Budoc, Bishop of Plourin Ploudalmezeau in Finistère (6th century)[15]
• Saint Romaricus, monk at Luxeuil Abbey, later founded the monastery of Habendum (Remiremont Abbey, Romarici Mons), and became the second abbot (653)[11][note 9]
• Saint Gunthild, a nun from Wimborne in England, went to Germany and became Abbess of a convent in Thuringia (748)[11]

Post-Schism Orthodox saints

• Saint Cyril, Abbot of Chelmogorsk, Enlightener of the Chudian People (1367)[3][13][note 10]

New martyrs and confessors

• Hieromartyr Michael Kiselev, Protopresbyter, new martyr of Perm (1918)[17]
• Hieromartyr Alexander Fedoseyev, Priest, new martyr of Perm (1918)[17]
• Hieromartyr Sergius Orlov (1937)[13][15]

Icon gallery

• 
  Holy Apostles Epaphroditus, Sosthenes, Apollos, Cephas and Caesar (15th-century icon).
• 
  St. Patapius of Thebes (Menologion of Basil II, 10th century).
• 
  Byzantine Icon of Saint Patapios found in his cave in Loutraki - Greece (15th century).
• 
  St. Eutychian, Pope of Rome.

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. The Monk Patapios was born at Thebes into a pious Christian family. Reaching the age of maturity, he had but scorn for the vanities of the world and so went off into the Egyptian wilderness. He became known for his ascetic deeds after the passing of many years. When people began to come to him for advice, he instead wished to dwell in silence. He went eventually to Constantinople, where he obtained a cell at the city wall, near the Blakhernae church. But here also he quickly became known. The sick began to throng about, and he having been vouchsafed the gift of healing, began to help all the needy.[4]
3. In the Greek Menaion these are celebrated on December 7.
4. Martyred 62 Clergy and 300 Laymen: This occurred during the time of the Emperor Zenon (474‑491). The ruler of the Vandal kingdom in North Africa, Guneric, came under the influence of heretic Arian bishops and started up a fierce persecution against the Orthodox. When believers had gathered at one of the churches and secretly celebrated Divine Liturgy, barbarian soldiers burst into the church. Part of the worshippers fled, but 300 men – those most firm in the true faith – voluntarily gave themselves over to torture and were beheaded. Of the 62 clergy, two were burnt, and tongues were cut out from the rest. But by a miraculous Divine power they continued to preach and to oppose the Arian false-teachings.[8]
5. His memory is recorded in the Jerusalemitic Canonarion.
6. "At Treves, St. Eucharius, disciple of the blessed apostle Peter, and first bishop of that city."[12]
7. "At Rome, blessed Eutychian, pope, who with his own hands buried in various places three hundred and forty-two martyrs. Under the emperor Numerian he became their companion, being crowned with martyrdom and buried in the cemetery of Callistus."[12]
8. The Holy Martyress Anthysa, wife of a Roman official, was baptised by Sainted Ambrose of Mediolanum (Milan). She recoiled from the offer of the city-governor's wife Sunilda to accept Arian baptism, and so was committed to the fire.[14]
9. "In the monastery of Luxeuil, St. Romaricus, abbot, who left the highest station at the court of king Theodobert, renounced the world, and surpassed others in the observance of monastic discipline."[12]
10. The Monk Kirill of Chelmogorsk, Enlightener of the Chudian People, was born at the city of Beloozero [White-Lake]. He took vows at the monastery of the Monk Antonii the Roman, where for 6 years he passed through various obediences. Then, after a three year wandering through the wilderness, he settled in a wild region of Kargopol'sk. And here, by a command from on high, he chose for his constant abode Mount Chelma. Many of the afflicted from among the Chud people came to check out the Monk Kirill, whose luminant ascetic life and kindly preachings moved many to an acceptance of holy Baptism. Towards the end of his life, the Monk Kirill established a monastery and church in honour of the Theophany (Bogoyavlenie) of the Lord. The monk dwelt upon Mount Chelma for 52 years and died at the advanced age of 82.[16]

References

1. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Οἱ Ἅγιοι Σωσθένης, Κήφας, Ἀπολλῶς, Τυχικός, Καίσαρ καὶ Ἐπαφρόδιτος οἱ Ἀπόστολοι ἐκ τῶν 70 . 8 Δεκεμβρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
2. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ὅσιος Πατάπιος. 8 Δεκεμβρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
3. December 8/21. Orthodox Calendar (PRAVOSLAVIE.RU).
4. The Monk Patapios. HOLY TRINITY RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH (A parish of the Patriarchate of Moscow).
5. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Οἱ Ἅγιοι 300 Μάρτυρες ποὺ μαρτύρησαν στὴν Ἀφρικὴ. 7 Δεκεμβρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
6. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Οἱ Ἅγιοι 60 Μάρτυρες ἱερεῖς. 7 Δεκεμβρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
7. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Οἱ Ἅγιοι δύο Μάρτυρες ἱερεῖς. 7 Δεκεμβρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
8. Martyred 62 Clergy and 300 Laymen. HOLY TRINITY RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH (A parish of the Patriarchate of Moscow).
9. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Οἱ Ὅσιοι Σωφρόνιος καὶ Δαμιανὸς Ἐπίσκοποι Κύπρου. 8 Δεκεμβρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
10. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ἅγιος Ἀέρος ὁ Ἀρχιεπίσκοπος. 8 Δεκεμβρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
11. December 8. Latin Saints of the Orthodox Patriarchate of Rome.
12. 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. 377-378.
13. (in Russian) 8 декабря (ст.ст.) 21 декабря 2013 (нов. ст.). Русская Православная Церковь Отдел внешних церковных связей. (DECR).
14. The Holy Martyress Anthysa. HOLY TRINITY RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH (A parish of the Patriarchate of Moscow).
15. December 21 / December 8. HOLY TRINITY RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH (A parish of the Patriarchate of Moscow).
16. The Monk Kirill of Chelmogorsk. HOLY TRINITY RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH (A parish of the Patriarchate of Moscow).
17. 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.

Sources

• December 8/21. Orthodox Calendar (PRAVOSLAVIE.RU).
• December 21 / December 8. HOLY TRINITY RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH (A parish of the Patriarchate of Moscow).
• December 7. OCA - The Lives of the Saints.
• December 8. 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. 377–378.

Greek Sources

• Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) 8 ΔΕΚΕΜΒΡΙΟΥ. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
• (in Greek) Συναξαριστής. 8 Δεκεμβρίου. ECCLESIA.GR. (H ΕΚΚΛΗΣΙΑ ΤΗΣ ΕΛΛΑΔΟΣ).

Russian Sources

• (in Russian) 21 декабря (8 декабря). Православная Энциклопедия под редакцией Патриарха Московского и всея Руси Кирилла (электронная версия). (Orthodox Encyclopedia - Pravenc.ru).
• (in Russian) 8 декабря (ст.ст.) 21 декабря 2013 (нов. ст.). Русская Православная Церковь Отдел внешних церковных связей. (DECR).