Eleutherios

Holy Hieromartyr Eleutherius of Rome.

The holy hieromartyr Eleutherios was a bishop of the early Church, raised in piety by his mother Anthia and consecrated to the episcopate while still young. According to tradition he suffered in the persecutions of the second century: brought before the emperor, he refused to deny Christ, endured many torments unharmed, and was finally put to death, his mother Anthia being slain beside him.

His name means freedom, and the faithful ask his intercession for deliverance from every bond; his feast is a beloved name day for Eleftherios and Lefteris. He is commemorated on December 15.

Feast day

On the New Calendar, Eleutherios is commemorated on December 15. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on December 28 of the civil calendar.

Who celebrates a name day

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

Eleutherios, Eleftherios, Lefteris, Lef, Eleftheris, Eleutherius, Eleftheria

Also commemorated on December 15

• Anthia the Martyr

  Holy Woman, Ανθία

  Holy Martyr Anthia, mother of the Hieromartyr Eleutherios.

  Name days: Anthia, Anthea

• Susanna the Deaconess

  Holy Woman, Σωσάννα η Οσιομάρτυς

  Venerable Martyr Susanna the Deaconess of Palestine.

  Name days: Sousanna, Susanna, Susan, Sosanna, Suzanne

• Paul of Latros

  Venerable, Παύλος ο εν Λάτρω

  Venerable Paul the New, ascetic of Mount Latros.

• Bacchus the New

  Martyr, Βάκχος ο Νέος

  Holy Martyr Bacchus the New of Palestine.

• Stephen of Sourozh

  Hierarch, Στέφανος Σουρόζης

  Stephen the Confessor, Archbishop of Sourozh in Crimea.

• Eleutherios the Cubicularius

  Martyr, Ελευθέριος ο Κουβικουλάριος

  Holy Martyr Eleutherios the Cubicularius of Constantinople.

Icon: public domain image from Wikimedia Commons.