Orthodox saints and name days on February 24

Name days on February 24

John, Ioannis, Yiannis, Prodromos, Erasmos, Erasmus

Saints and feasts of February 24

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  Finding of the Head of St. John the Baptist

  Great Feast, Εύρεσις Κεφαλής Προδρόμου

  This feast commemorates the First and Second Findings of the honorable head of St. John the Forerunner. According to tradition, after the Baptist was beheaded by Herod his head was hidden, and in later generations it was revealed and recovered by the faithful; in times of persecution it was concealed again and found anew, each recovery received with rejoicing and accompanied by healings.

  Name days: John, Ioannis, Yiannis, Prodromos

• Erasmus of the Kiev Caves

  Venerable, Έρασμος

  St. Erasmus was a monk of the Kiev Caves who spent his entire fortune on the adornment of the monastery church. Later tempted by despair over his lost wealth, he fell ill, but was consoled by a vision of the Theotokos assuring him that his offering was accepted.

  Name days: Erasmos, Erasmus

• John the Harvester

  Venerable, Ιωάννης ο Θεριστής

  St. John was born in Sicily to a Christian mother held captive by the Saracens and escaped to Calabria, where he became a monk in the Greek monastery of Stilo. Tradition relates that he miraculously harvested a field for the peasants during a storm, earning the name Harvester.

• Ethelbert of Kent

  Saint, Εθελβέρτος

  St. Ethelbert was King of Kent when St. Augustine and his monks arrived from Rome in 597. He received them kindly, was baptised, and allowed the free preaching of the Gospel, founding churches at Canterbury and elsewhere.

• Boisil of Melrose

  Venerable, Βοϊσίλος

  St. Boisil was prior and later abbot of the monastery of Melrose in the seventh century, renowned for his holiness and his gift of prophecy. He received the young St. Cuthbert into the monastery and was his teacher.