Aphraates the Persian

Venerable Aphraates the Persian, ascetic of Antioch.

St. Aphraates was a Persian who came to Edessa and then to Antioch in the fourth century and lived as a hermit. He defended the Orthodox faith against the Arians in the reign of Valens, and tradition relates that he answered the emperor's rebuke with the boldness of a father of the Church.

He reposed in peace and is commemorated on January 29.

Feast day

On the New Calendar, Aphraates the Persian is commemorated on January 29. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on February 11 of the civil calendar.

Also commemorated on January 29

• 

  Ignatios the God-Bearer

  Hierarch, Ιγνάτιος

  Bishop of Antioch and apostolic father.

  Name days: Ignatios, Ignacio, Ignacy, Ignatius

• Demetrios of Chios

  Martyr, Δημήτριος ο Χιοπολίτης

  New Martyr Demetrios of Chios, martyred in Constantinople.

• Seven Martyrs of Samosata

  Martyr, Επτά Μάρτυρες εν Σαμοσάτοις

  Holy Martyrs Romanos, James, Philotheos, Hyperechios, Abibos, Julian and Paregorios of Samosata.

• Sarbelos and Bebaia

  Martyr, Σάρβηλος και Βεβαία

  Holy Martyrs Sarbelos and his sister Bebaia of Edessa.

• Andrei Rublev

  Venerable, Ανδρέας Ρουμπλιόβ

  Venerable Andrei Rublev, the iconographer.

• Silvanos, Luke and Mokios

  Martyr, Σιλουανός, Λουκάς και Μώκιος

  Hieromartyr Silvanos, Bishop of Emesa, with Luke the deacon and Mokios the reader.