Abdas and Benjamin

Hieromartyr Abdas, Bishop of Persia, and Martyr Benjamin the Deacon.

St. Abdas was a bishop in Persia in the fifth century who was put to death by King Yazdegerd after he destroyed a fire temple of the Zoroastrians and refused to rebuild it. His deacon Benjamin was imprisoned, released on condition that he stop preaching, and, continuing to preach Christ, was tortured and killed.

The Church keeps their memory on March 31.

Feast day

On the New Calendar, Abdas and Benjamin is commemorated on March 31. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on April 13 of the civil calendar.

Who celebrates a name day

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

Veniamin, Benjamin, Beniamin

Also commemorated on March 31

• 

  Hypatius, Bishop of Gangra

  Hierarch, Υπάτιος

  Hieromartyr Hypatius the Wonderworker, Bishop of Gangra.

  Name days: Hypatios, Ypatios

• Akakios of Melitene

  Hierarch, Ακάκιος ο Ομολογητής

  Saint Akakios the Confessor, Bishop of Melitene.

  Name days: Akakios, Acacius

• Theophilos of Crete

  Martyr, Θεόφιλος ο εν Κρήτη

  Holy Martyr Theophilos and those who suffered with him in Crete.

• Menandros the Martyr

  Martyr, Μένανδρος

  Holy Martyr Menandros.

  Name days: Menandros, Menander

• Blasios of Amorion

  Venerable, Βλάσιος ο εξ Αμορίου

  Venerable Blasios of Amorion, monk of Studion and Mount Athos.

• Innocent of Alaska

  Hierarch, Ιννοκέντιος Αλάσκας

  Saint Innocent, Metropolitan of Moscow, enlightener of Alaska and apostle to America.