Orthodox saints and name days on December 31

Name days on December 31

Melania, Melanie

Saints and feasts of December 31

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  Melania the Elder

  Holy Woman, Μελανία

  St. Melania was a Roman noblewoman of one of the wealthiest families of the empire who, in the era of the great flowering of monasticism, renounced rank and riches for the sake of Christ. She gave her vast possessions to the poor and to the churches, freed those enslaved to her household, and devoted herself to asceticism, prayer, and the service of the monks and holy places of the East, ending her days in the Holy Land.

  Name days: Melania, Melanie

• Zoticus the Orphan-keeper

  Martyr, Ζωτικός ο Ορφανοτρόφος

  The holy martyr Zoticus was a priest of Constantinople in the fourth century who used his wealth and the emperor's gifts to build a home for orphans and for lepers, whom he cared for with his own hands. Tradition relates that the emperor Constantius, angered at his charity, had him dragged to death behind mules.

• Theophylact of Ochrid

  Hierarch, Θεοφύλακτος Βουλγαρίας

  Theophylact was born at Euripos in Euboea in the eleventh century and served as a deacon and teacher in Constantinople before being made Archbishop of Ochrid and All Bulgaria. He is remembered above all for his commentaries on the Gospels and Epistles, which follow the teaching of St. John Chrysostom and are still widely read. He reposed in peace in the early twelfth century.

• Gelasius the Venerable

  Venerable, Γελάσιος

  Venerable Gelasius is remembered by the Greek Synaxarion on this day as an ascetic who reposed in peace; the Church also remembers on this day the venerable Gaius.

• Ten Holy Virgins

  Holy Woman, Δέκα Παρθένες

  The Ten Holy Virgins are remembered together on this day. The Synaxarion records that they confessed Christ and were perfected by the sword.

• Olympiodora the Martyr

  Holy Woman, Ολυμπιοδώρα

  The holy martyr Olympiodora is remembered by the Greek Synaxarion on this day. Tradition records that she confessed Christ and was perfected by fire.