Orthodox saints and name days on January 28

Name days on January 28

Efraim, Ephraim, Charis, Chara, Hara, Charikleia

Saints and feasts of January 28

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  Ephrem the Syrian

  Venerable, Εφραίμ

  St. Ephrem the Syrian was born in Nisibis in Mesopotamia early in the fourth century and later settled in Edessa. A deacon who out of humility refused higher office, he became the greatest hymnographer of the Syriac church, called the Harp of the Holy Spirit, and his hymns and homilies taught the faith to generations.

  Name days: Efraim, Ephraim

• Palladios of Antioch

  Venerable, Παλλάδιος

  St. Palladios lived as a hermit in a cell on a mountain near Antioch in the fourth century, spending his days in prayer and labor. Tradition relates that a murdered merchant was left at his door and that through his prayer the dead man revealed the true killer.

• James the Ascetic

  Venerable, Ιάκωβος ο Ασκητής

  St. James lived as a hermit near Porphyreon in Phoenicia in the sixth century and was granted the gift of healing. Tradition relates that he fell into grave sin and, despairing, nearly abandoned his repentance, but was restored through counsel and years of penance in a tomb, and again received the grace of God.

• Charis the Martyr

  Holy Woman, Χάρις

  St. Charis is commemorated on January 28 as a holy woman martyr. The synaxaria record that she ended her contest for Christ, but the details of her life have not been preserved.

  Name days: Charis, Chara, Hara, Charikleia

• 

  Isaac the Syrian

  Hierarch, Ισαάκ ο Σύρος

  St. Isaac the Syrian lived in the seventh century and was for a short time Bishop of Nineveh before withdrawing to the solitary life in the mountains. His ascetical homilies, translated into Greek by the monks of St. Sabbas, became one of the most treasured spiritual books of the Orthodox Church.

• Theodosios of Totma

  Venerable, Θεοδόσιος της Τότμα

  St. Theodosios was a monk of Vologda in the sixteenth century who founded the monastery of the Savior at Totma, laboring in humility and strictness. He reposed in 1568, and his relics were later found incorrupt.

• Ephraim of Novy Torg

  Venerable, Εφραίμ ο εκ Ρωσίας

  St. Ephraim was a Hungarian by birth who served the holy princes Boris and Gleb. After the murder of his brother George with St. Boris, he became a monk and founded a monastery and hospice at Novy Torg, where he reposed in the eleventh century.