Galaktion and Episteme

Holy Martyrs Galaktion and Episteme.

Saints Galaktion and Episteme were a young married couple of Emesa in Syria who, according to tradition, agreed to preserve chastity and gave themselves to the ascetic life, each entering a monastic community. When persecution arose, Galaktion was seized for his faith, and Episteme freely joined him in confessing Christ; together they endured torture and were put to death.

The Church honors them as a pair united first in marriage and finally in martyrdom. They are commemorated on November 5.

Feast day

On the New Calendar, Galaktion and Episteme is commemorated on November 5. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on November 18 of the civil calendar.

Who celebrates a name day

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

Galaktionas, Galaktion

Also commemorated on November 5

• Hermas, Patrobas, Linus, Gaius and Philologus the Apostles

  Apostle, Ερμάς, Πατρόβας, Λίνος, Γάιος και Φιλόλογος

  Holy Apostles of the Seventy Hermas, Patrobas, Linus, Gaius and Philologus, greeted by Saint Paul in his epistles.

  Name days: Linos, Linus

• Gregory of Alexandria

  Hierarch, Γρηγόριος Πάπας Αλεξανδρείας

  Saint Gregory the Confessor, Pope and Archbishop of Alexandria, who suffered under the iconoclasts.

• Domninus and companions

  Martyr, Δομνίνος

  Holy Martyr Domninus and the Christian virgins martyred with him in Palestine.

• Timothy, Theophilos and Theotimos

  Martyr, Τιμόθεος, Θεόφιλος και Θεότιμος

  Holy Martyrs Timothy, Theophilos and Theotimos, who were given to wild beasts.

• Eupsychios and Karterios

  Martyr, Ευψύχιος και Καρτέριος

  Holy Martyrs Eupsychios and Karterios, who suffered by mutilation for the faith.

• Jonah of Novgorod

  Hierarch, Ιωνάς Νοβογορδίας

  Saint Jonah the Wonderworker, Archbishop of Novgorod.

Icon: public domain image from Wikimedia Commons.