Euthymios the Great

Great monastic father of the Palestinian desert.

St. Euthymios the Great was born in Melitene of Armenia in the fourth century and became one of the great fathers of the Palestinian desert. Settling in the wilderness east of Jerusalem, he founded a famous lavra, guided multitudes of monks, and formed disciples who themselves became pillars of monasticism, among them St. Savas the Sanctified.

A staunch defender of the Orthodox faith of the Council of Chalcedon, he reposed at a very great age in the fifth century. He is commemorated on January 20.

Feast day

On the New Calendar, Euthymios the Great is commemorated on January 20. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on February 2 of the civil calendar.

Who celebrates a name day

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

Efthimios, Efthimis, Euthymios, Efthymios, Efthymis, Thymios, Efthymia, Efthimia, Thymia, Effie

Also commemorated on January 20

• Zacharias of Arta

  Martyr, Ζαχαρίας ο εξ Άρτης

  New Martyr Zacharias of Arta, martyred at Patras.

• Bassos, Eusebios, Eutychios and Basilides

  Martyr, Βάσσος, Ευσέβιος, Ευτύχιος και Βασιλείδης

  Holy Martyrs of Nicomedia, senators converted by the martyrdom of St. Theopemptos.

• Innas, Pinnas and Rimmas

  Martyr, Ιννάς, Πιννάς και Ριμμάς

  Holy Martyrs of Scythia, disciples of the Apostle Andrew.

• Peter the Publican

  Saint, Πέτρος ο Τελώνης

  Blessed Peter the Tax-Collector, who was converted through almsgiving.

• Leo the Great the Emperor

  Saint, Λέων Μακέλλης

  Holy Emperor Leo I the Great, called Makelles, of Thrace.

• Euthymios of Trnovo

  Hierarch, Ευθύμιος Τυρνόβου

  St. Euthymios, Patriarch of Trnovo, teacher of the Bulgarian people.

Icon: public domain image from Wikimedia Commons.