40 Holy Virgin Martyrs of Thrace

The 40 Holy Ascetic Virgin Martyrs of Thrace and their teacher Ammon the Deacon.

The 40 Holy Virgins were ascetic women of Thrace who, with their teacher Ammon the Deacon, confessed Christ during the persecution under Licinius in the early fourth century. Refusing to sacrifice to idols, they endured imprisonment and torture with their teacher, and received together the crown of martyrdom at Heraclea in Thrace.

Greek tradition preserves their forty names — among them Ourania, Aspasia, Penelope, Margarita, Erato, Kleio, and Melpomeni — and on September 1 women bearing these names celebrate their name day. The holy virgins and St. Ammon are honored as examples of steadfast faith at the very opening of the church year.

Feast day

On the New Calendar, 40 Holy Virgin Martyrs of Thrace is commemorated on September 1. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on September 14 of the civil calendar.

Who celebrates a name day

People with these names keep their name day on this feast:

Ammon, Adamantia, Adamantini, Diamanto, Athina, Athena, Akrivi, Antigoni, Antigone, Arivoia, Aspasia, Afroditi, Aphrodite, Dioni, Dodoni, Elpiniki, Erasmia, Erato, Ermioni, Hermione, Efterpi, Euterpe, Thalia, Thaleia, Theano, Theanoi, Theonymfi, Theofano, Kalliroi, Kallirroi, Kallisti, Kleio, Clio, Kleoniki, Kleopatra, Cleopatra, Koralia, Coralia, Lambro, Margarita, Marianthi, Melpomeni, Moscho, Ourania, Urania, Rania, Pandora, Pinelopi, Penelope, Polymnia, Polyniki, Sapfo, Sappho, Terpsichori, Troada, Chaido, Haido, Charikleia, Hariklia, Penelopi

Also commemorated on September 1

• Beginning of the Church Year

  Great Feast, Αρχή της Ινδίκτου

  The Indiction — beginning of the Ecclesiastical New Year.

• 

  Simeon Stylites the Elder

  Venerable, Συμεών Στυλίτης

  Venerable Symeon Stylites the Elder who stood 36 years on a pillar.

  Name days: Simeon, Symeon

• Joshua the Son of Nun

  Saint, Ιησούς του Ναυή

  Righteous Joshua the son of Nun, successor of Moses and leader of Israel into the Promised Land.

  Name days: Joshua

• Martha the Mother of Simeon Stylites

  Holy Woman, Μάρθα

  Venerable Martha, mother of St. Simeon Stylites of the Wonderful Mountain.

  Name days: Martha

• Evanthia the Righteous

  Holy Woman, Ευανθία

  Venerable Evanthia, righteous woman commemorated at the opening of the Church year.

  Name days: Evanthia, Evanthea, Evanthie, Evantheia

• Meletios the New of Myoupolis

  Venerable, Μελέτιος ο Νέος

  Venerable Meletios the New, ascetic of Mount Myoupolis in Boeotia.

  Name days: Meletios, Meletius, Meletis

• Evodos, Kallisti and Hermogenes

  Martyr, Εύοδος, Καλλίστη και Ερμογένης

  Holy Martyrs Evodos, Kallisti and Hermogenes, siblings of Nicomedia.

  Name days: Evodos, Hermogenes, Ermogenis, Kallisti, Callista, Callisti

• Angelis the New Martyr of Constantinople

  Martyr, Αγγελής

  New Martyr Angelis, goldsmith of Constantinople, martyred under the Ottomans.

  Name days: Angelis

Icon: public domain image from Wikimedia Commons.