Holy Martyrs Elpidephoros, Dius, Bithonius and Galycus, who suffered different deaths for Christ.
These four martyrs are commemorated together in the synaxaria. Tradition relates that each met a different death for the faith: Elpidephoros was beheaded, Dius was stoned, Bithonius was drowned in the sea, and Galycus was given to wild beasts.
No further details of their lives have been preserved, but their names remain in the calendar of the Church.
Feast day
On the New Calendar, Elpidephoros, Dius, Bithonius and Galycus is commemorated on April 3. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on April 16 of the civil calendar.
Who celebrates a name day
People with these names keep their name day on this feast:
Elpidoforos, Elpidophoros, Elpidiforos
Also commemorated on April 3
Joseph the Hymnographer
Venerable, Ιωσήφ ο Υμνογράφος
Venerable Joseph the Hymnographer, composer of many canons of the Church and confessor for the holy icons.
Illyrios of Mount Myrsinon
Venerable, Ιλλύριος
Venerable Illyrios the Wonderworker, ascetic of Mount Myrsinon in the Peloponnese.
Paul the Russian
Martyr, Παύλος ο Ρώσος
Holy New Martyr Paul the Russian, a freed captive who was martyred in Constantinople.
Agape the Virgin Martyr
Holy Woman, Αγάπη η Παρθενομάρτυς
Holy Virgin Martyr Agape, commemorated on this day in the Greek synaxaria.
The calendar, on your phone each morning
Today’s saints, whether it is a fast day, and the people in your contacts who have a name day. Free, with no ads.
