Orthodox saints and name days on December 7

Name days on December 7

Amvrosios, Ambrose, Ambrogio, Athinodoros, Athenodorus

Saints and feasts of December 7

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  Ambrose of Milan

  Hierarch, Αμβρόσιος

  St. Ambrose was Archbishop of Milan in the fourth century and one of the great Fathers of the Western Church. Governor of the region when a disputed episcopal election threatened the city with strife, he was acclaimed bishop by the people while still a catechumen; he gave his wealth to the poor, defended the Nicene faith against Arianism, and did not fear to call even emperors to repentance. His preaching helped bring Blessed Augustine to conversion.

  Name days: Amvrosios, Ambrose, Ambrogio

• Athenodorus of Mesopotamia

  Martyr, Αθηνόδωρος

  The holy martyr Athenodorus was a monk of Mesopotamia who suffered under the persecution of Diocletian. Tradition relates that he endured many tortures, and that when the executioner raised the sword against him he fell dead, so that the saint gave up his soul in prayer, untouched by the blade.

  Name days: Athinodoros, Athenodorus

• Gerasimos of Euripos

  Venerable, Γεράσιμος ο εξ Ευρίπου

  Venerable Gerasimos came from Euripos, the region of Chalkis in Euboea, and embraced the monastic life. The Greek Synaxarion records that he laboured in asceticism and reposed in peace.

• Gregory of Grigoriou

  Venerable, Γρηγόριος ο Σιναΐτης ο Ειρηνικός

  Venerable Gregory was a hesychast of the fourteenth century, a disciple of the Sinaite tradition of prayer, who founded the monastery on the south-west coast of Mount Athos that bears his name. He is honoured by the brotherhood of Grigoriou as its founder and heavenly patron.

• Philothea of Arges

  Holy Woman, Φιλοθέη του Άρτζες

  Holy Philothea was born in Tarnovo in the thirteenth century. From childhood she gave food to the poor, and tradition relates that her father, angered at her charity, struck her and she died. Her relics were later brought to Curtea de Arges in Wallachia, where she is venerated as a protectress of the Romanian people.

• Ammoun of Nitria

  Venerable, Αμμούν ο της Νιτρίας

  Venerable Ammoun was an Egyptian of the fourth century who, married against his will, persuaded his wife to live with him in chastity and later withdrew to the desert of Nitria, where he became the father of a great multitude of monks. A friend of St. Anthony the Great, he reposed in peace; tradition relates that Anthony saw his soul carried up to heaven.

• Paul the Obedient

  Venerable, Παύλος ο Υποτακτικός

  Venerable Paul is remembered for his perfect monastic obedience. Tradition relates that at his elder's command he thrust his hand into a burning furnace and was unharmed, and that he reposed in peace after a life of humility.