Gordios

Holy Martyr Gordios of Caesarea.

St. Gordios was a centurion of Caesarea in Cappadocia who lived in the time of the persecutions of the early fourth century. Withdrawing to the wilderness to live in prayer, he returned to the city during a great pagan festival and openly confessed Christ before the assembled crowds, knowing the cost. He was condemned and beheaded for his confession.

St. Basil the Great, a later bishop of the same city, honored his memory with a celebrated homily, and the Church has kept his name ever since as a model of fearless witness. He is commemorated on January 3.

Feast day

On the New Calendar, Gordios is commemorated on January 3. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on January 16 of the civil calendar.

Who celebrates a name day

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

Gordios, Gordius

Also commemorated on January 3

• Malachi the Prophet

  Prophet, Μαλαχίας

  Holy Prophet Malachi, last of the twelve minor prophets.

  Name days: Malachi, Malachias, Malachy

• Thomais of Lesbos

  Holy Woman, Θωμαΐς

  Righteous Thomais of Lesbos, a married woman of Constantinople renowned for patience and almsgiving.

  Name days: Thomais, Thomai

• Genevieve of Paris

  Holy Woman, Γενεβιέβη

  Venerable Genevieve, patroness of Paris.

  Name days: Genevieve, Genoveva, Genovefa

• Peter of Atroa

  Venerable, Πέτρος ο Σημειοφόρος

  Venerable Peter the Sign-Bearer, abbot of the monastery of St. Zacharias at Atroa.

• Akakios the Wonderworker

  Venerable, Ακάκιος

  Venerable Akakios the Wonderworker, an ascetic and abbot.

• Finding of the Relics of Ephraim of Nea Makri

  Saint, Εύρεση Λειψάνων Αγίου Εφραίμ

  Commemoration of the finding of the relics of St. Ephraim the New Martyr at Nea Makri.

Icon: public domain image from Wikimedia Commons.