Gerontios and Basilides

Holy Martyrs Gerontios and Basilides, who were beheaded for their confession of Christ.

Gerontios and Basilides are commemorated together as martyrs of the early centuries of the Church. The synaxaria record that they confessed Christ before the pagan authorities and were beheaded by the sword.

Little else is preserved of their lives, but the Church has kept their names among the confessors whose blood watered the seed of the faith.

Feast day

On the New Calendar, Gerontios and Basilides is commemorated on April 1. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on April 14 of the civil calendar.

Also commemorated on April 1

• 

  Mary of Egypt

  Holy Woman, Μαρία η Αιγυπτία

  Venerable Mary of Egypt, great penitent saint.

  Name days: Maria, Mary, Maro, Marianna, Marika, Mariam, Marie

• Makarios of Pelekete

  Venerable, Μακάριος ο Ομολογητής

  Venerable Makarios the Confessor, abbot of the Pelekete Monastery in Bithynia, who suffered exile for the holy icons.

• Hermes and Theodora

  Martyr, Ερμής και Θεοδώρα

  Holy Martyrs Hermes and Theodora, brother and sister, who suffered together for Christ.

• Abraham of Bulgaria

  Martyr, Αβραάμιος ο Νεομάρτυρας

  Holy New Martyr Abraham of Bulgaria, a Volga merchant who embraced Christ and was killed by his own people.

• Euthymius of Suzdal

  Venerable, Ευθύμιος Σουζδαλίας

  Venerable Euthymius, archimandrite and founder of the Saviour Monastery in Suzdal.

• Barsanuphius of Optina

  Venerable, Βαρσανούφιος της Όπτινα

  Venerable Barsanuphius, elder of the Optina Hermitage and former army officer.