Cornelius of the Pskov Caves

Venerable Martyr Cornelius, Abbot of the Pskov Caves Monastery.

St. Cornelius was born in Pskov in 1501 to a noble family and became a monk at the Pskov Caves Monastery, where he was later elected abbot. Under his leadership the monastery flourished, its walls were built and missions were sent to the neighbouring Estonian peoples.

Tradition relates that Tsar Ivan the Terrible, suspecting him of treason, struck him down at the monastery gate in 1570 and immediately repented, carrying the body inside himself.

Feast day

On the New Calendar, Cornelius of the Pskov Caves is commemorated on February 20. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on March 5 (a day earlier in leap years) of the civil calendar.

Also commemorated on February 20

• 

  Leo of Catania

  Hierarch, Λέων

  Bishop Leo of Catania, wonderworker.

  Name days: Leon, Leo, Leonidas

• Agathon of Rome

  Hierarch, Αγάθων Ρώμης

  St. Agathon, Pope of Rome, defender of Orthodoxy against Monothelitism.

  Name days: Agathon, Agathonas

• Bessarion the Great

  Venerable, Βησσαρίων

  Venerable Bessarion the Great, wonderworker of Egypt.

  Name days: Bessarion, Vissarion

• Sadok and the 128 Martyrs

  Hierarch, Σαδώκ και οι συν αυτώ

  Hieromartyr Sadok, Bishop of Persia, and the 128 Martyrs with him.

• Apphia the Martyr

  Holy Woman, Απφία

  Holy Martyr Apphia, wife of the Apostle Philemon.

  Name days: Apphia, Apfia