Orthodox saints and name days on April 17

Name days on April 17

Ariadne, Ariadni, Makarios, Macarius

Saints and feasts of April 17

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  Ariadne

  Holy Woman, Αριάδνη

  St. Ariadne was a Christian servant in Phrygia in the early centuries of the Church. When she refused to take part in the pagan festivities of her master's household, she was punished for her faith and pursued when she fled. Tradition relates that as her persecutors closed upon her she prayed, and a rock opened to receive her, taking her beyond their reach into the hands of God.

  Name days: Ariadne, Ariadni

• Simeon of Persia and those with him

  Hierarch, Συμεών Επίσκοπος Περσίδος

  Simeon bar Sabbae was bishop of Seleucia-Ctesiphon, the chief city of Persia, when King Shapur began his persecution of the Christians in the fourth century. Accused of loyalty to Rome and of refusing to worship the sun, he was arrested with many of his clergy.

• Adrian of Corinth

  Martyr, Αδριανός ο Νέος

  Adrian was a Christian of Corinth arrested during the persecution of Decius in the third century. Commanded to sacrifice to the idols, he refused and instead overturned the altar.

• Makarios of Corinth

  Hierarch, Μακάριος Νοταράς

  Makarios Notaras was born in Corinth in 1731 and was chosen Metropolitan of Corinth by his people. Removed from his see after the uprising of 1770, he devoted himself to the spiritual renewal of the Greek people, defending frequent Communion and the traditions of the Church.

  Name days: Makarios, Macarius

• Agapetus of Rome

  Hierarch, Αγαπητός Πάπας Ρώμης

  Agapetus was Bishop of Rome in the sixth century. Sent to Constantinople on an embassy by the Gothic king, he found the patriarchal throne occupied by Anthimus, a Monophysite, and refused communion with him until the emperor Justinian consented to his removal.

• Azat the Eunuch

  Martyr, Αζάτ ο Ευνούχος

  Azat was a favoured eunuch of the Persian court under King Shapur who confessed himself a Christian during the great persecution. Tradition relates that he was put to death together with a vast number of believers.

• Zosimas of Solovki

  Venerable, Ζωσιμάς Σολόβκι

  Zosimas was a monk of the Russian north who, with Saint Herman, settled on the Solovki islands in the White Sea in the fifteenth century, on the site where Saint Sabbatius had lived before him. He built the first church there and became the first abbot of the community.