Orthodox saints and name days on January 3

Name days on January 3

Gordios, Gordius, Malachi, Malachias, Malachy, Thomais, Thomai, Genevieve, Genoveva, Genovefa

Saints and feasts of January 3

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  Gordios

  Martyr, Γόρδιος

  St. Gordios was a centurion of Caesarea in Cappadocia who lived in the time of the persecutions of the early fourth century. Withdrawing to the wilderness to live in prayer, he returned to the city during a great pagan festival and openly confessed Christ before the assembled crowds, knowing the cost. He was condemned and beheaded for his confession.

  Name days: Gordios, Gordius

• Malachi the Prophet

  Prophet, Μαλαχίας

  The Holy Prophet Malachi is the last of the twelve minor prophets of the Old Testament. His name means messenger of the Lord, and his book, written after the return from the Babylonian captivity, calls the priests and people back to faithful worship.

  Name days: Malachi, Malachias, Malachy

• Thomais of Lesbos

  Holy Woman, Θωμαΐς

  St. Thomais was born on the island of Lesbos and lived in Constantinople in the tenth century. Married to a harsh and violent husband, she bore his ill-treatment with patience and gave herself to prayer, fasting, and generous almsgiving.

  Name days: Thomais, Thomai

• Genevieve of Paris

  Holy Woman, Γενεβιέβη

  St. Genevieve lived in Gaul in the fifth century and was consecrated to God from childhood. Tradition relates that she encouraged the people of Paris to stand firm through prayer and fasting when the Huns threatened the city, and that it was spared.

  Name days: Genevieve, Genoveva, Genovefa

• Peter of Atroa

  Venerable, Πέτρος ο Σημειοφόρος

  St. Peter of Atroa was a monk and abbot in Bithynia in the ninth century, called the Sign-Bearer because of the many miracles worked through his prayers. He lived through the iconoclast persecution, defending the veneration of the holy icons.

• Akakios the Wonderworker

  Venerable, Ακάκιος

  St. Akakios the Wonderworker is commemorated on January 3 as a monastic father who, tradition relates, was granted the gift of miracles and served as abbot of his community. Few details of his life have been preserved beyond the record of his holiness.

• Finding of the Relics of Ephraim of Nea Makri

  Saint, Εύρεση Λειψάνων Αγίου Εφραίμ

  St. Ephraim of Nea Makri was a monk of the Monastery of the Annunciation on Mount Amomon in Attica, martyred there by Turkish raiders in the fifteenth century. His relics were discovered on January 3, 1950, after the abbess of the restored monastery was led to their place through prayer.