Barsanouphios and John

Venerable Barsanouphios the Great and John the Prophet, elders of Gaza.

St. Barsanouphios, an Egyptian by birth, lived as a recluse at the monastery of Abba Seridos near Gaza in the sixth century, communicating with the world only through letters. His disciple John, called the Prophet for his gift of foresight, lived in a nearby cell.

Their letters of spiritual counsel, answering questions from monks and laypeople, survive as one of the treasures of Orthodox ascetic literature.

Feast day

On the New Calendar, Barsanouphios and John is commemorated on February 6. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on February 19 of the civil calendar.

Also commemorated on February 6

• 

  Bukolos of Smyrna

  Hierarch, Βουκόλος

  Bishop of Smyrna and disciple of John the Theologian.

  Name days: Voukolos, Voukoulas

• Photios the Great

  Hierarch, Φώτιος ο Μέγας

  St. Photios the Great, Patriarch of Constantinople, Confessor and Pillar of Orthodoxy.

  Name days: Photios, Fotios, Fotis, Photis, Fotini, Photini, Foteini, Fotoula, Fay

• Julian of Emesa

  Martyr, Ιουλιανός ο εν Εμέσῃ

  Holy Martyr Julian the physician of Emesa in Syria.

  Name days: Ioulianos, Julian

• Fausta, Evilasios and Maximos

  Holy Woman, Φαύστα, Ευϊλάσιος και Μάξιμος

  Virgin Martyr Fausta of Cyzicus, with Evilasios and Maximos whom she converted.

  Name days: Fausta, Favsta

• Dorothea of Caesarea

  Holy Woman, Δωροθέα

  Virgin Martyr Dorothea of Caesarea in Cappadocia, with Christina, Kallista and Theophilos.

  Name days: Dorothea, Dorothy, Dora