Ignatius Brianchaninov

Saint Ignatius Brianchaninov, Bishop of the Caucasus and Stavropol, ascetic writer.

Ignatius was born in 1807 to a noble family and, after a brilliant beginning as a military engineer, left the world for the monastic life. He became abbot of the Sergiev Hermitage near Saint Petersburg and later Bishop of the Caucasus and Stavropol.

Retiring to a monastery, he devoted his last years to writing; his works on the spiritual life, above all The Arena, remain widely read. He reposed in 1867.

Feast day

On the New Calendar, Ignatius Brianchaninov is commemorated on April 30. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on May 13 of the civil calendar.

Also commemorated on April 30

• 

  James the Apostle, Son of Zebedee

  Apostle, Ιάκωβος Ζεβεδαίου

  Holy Apostle James, son of Zebedee, brother of John the Theologian.

  Name days: James, Iakovos, Jacob

• Donatus of Euroea

  Hierarch, Δονάτος Ευροίας

  Saint Donatus, Bishop of Euroea in Epirus, wonderworker.

  Name days: Donatos, Donatus

• Clement the Hymnographer

  Venerable, Κλήμης ο Υμνογράφος

  Venerable Clement the Hymnographer, abbot of the Studion.

• Maximus of Ephesus

  Martyr, Μάξιμος ο εν Εφέσω

  Holy Martyr Maximus of Ephesus, who suffered under Decius.

• Aphrodisios and the Thirty Martyrs

  Hierarch, Αφροδίσιος ο Ιερομάρτυς

  Hieromartyr Aphrodisios and the thirty martyrs who suffered with him.