Orthodox saints and name days on March 3

Name days on March 3

Hesychios, Isychios, Eftropios, Eutropios, Eutropius, Kleonikos, Cleonicus, Theodoritos, Theodoretos, Zenon, Zeno, Zoilos

Saints and feasts of March 3

• Hesychios

  Martyr, Ησύχιος

  St. Hesychios was a martyr of Antioch who suffered during the Roman persecutions of the early fourth century. Tradition remembers him as a man of rank who, when the emperor demanded that Christians in imperial service deny their faith or lose their honors, laid aside his dignities rather than deny Christ, and was put to death for his confession.

  Name days: Hesychios, Isychios

• Eutropios, Kleonikos and Basiliskos

  Martyr, Ευτρόπιος

  Sts. Eutropios, Kleonikos and Basiliskos were soldiers of Amasea in Pontus and companions of the Great Martyr Theodore the Recruit. Imprisoned after St. Theodore's martyrdom, they were tortured for refusing to sacrifice to idols; Eutropios and Kleonikos were crucified, while Basiliskos was kept in prison and later beheaded.

  Name days: Eftropios, Eutropios, Eutropius, Kleonikos, Cleonicus

• Theodoretos of Antioch

  Hierarch, Θεοδώρητος

  St. Theodoretos was a presbyter of the Church of Antioch in the fourth century, entrusted with the care of the sacred vessels. When Julian the Apostate's uncle, also named Julian, plundered the great church of Antioch and demanded its treasures, Theodoretos refused to hand them over and boldly rebuked him.

  Name days: Theodoritos, Theodoretos

• Zenon and Zoilos

  Venerable, Ζήνων

  Sts. Zenon and Zoilos are venerable fathers whose names the Greek synaxaria record for March 3 with the simple note that they reposed in peace. Nothing further of their lives has been preserved.

  Name days: Zenon, Zeno, Zoilos

• Piamoun the Virgin

  Holy Woman, Πιαμούν

  St. Piamoun was a virgin of Egypt in the fourth century who lived in her mother's house in strict asceticism, spinning flax and eating only every other day. Tradition relates that she received the gift of foresight and once, through her prayers, held back armed men who were coming to attack her village during a dispute over water.

• Alexandra of Alexandria

  Holy Woman, Αλεξάνδρα

  St. Alexandra was a virgin of Alexandria in the fourth century who, in order to avoid being a cause of temptation to a young man, shut herself in a tomb and lived there for many years in prayer, receiving food through a small opening. Her story is told by Palladius in the Lausiac History.