John the Stranger of Crete

Venerable John the Stranger, ascetic and founder of monasteries in Crete.

St. John the Stranger, called Xenos, was born at Siva in the Messara plain of Crete in the tenth century and lived as a hermit in many parts of the island, founding churches and monasteries wherever he went. Tradition relates that he traveled to Constantinople and received imperial support for his foundations.

He reposed in peace in the eleventh century and is commemorated on September 20.

Feast day

On the New Calendar, John the Stranger of Crete is commemorated on September 20. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on October 3 of the civil calendar.

Also commemorated on September 20

• 

  Eustace the Great Martyr

  Martyr, Ευστάθιος ο Μεγαλομάρτυς

  Great Martyr Eustathios Placidas.

  Name days: Efstathios, Efstathis, Stathis, Eustace, Eustathius, Efstathia, Stathoula, Theopisti, Theopiste

• Hilarion the New Martyr of Crete

  Martyr, Ιλαρίων ο Κρης

  New Martyr Hilarion of Crete, monk of the Skete of St. Anne on Mount Athos.

• Hypatios and Andrew the Confessors

  Hierarch, Υπάτιος και Ανδρέας

  Hieromartyrs Hypatios the bishop and Andrew the presbyter, confessors of the holy icons.

• Maximos the Confessor and his Disciples

  Venerable, Μάξιμος ο Ομολογητής

  Commemoration of St. Maximos the Confessor, St. Martin of Rome, and the disciples Anastasios and Theodore.

• Meletios of Cyprus

  Hierarch, Μελέτιος Κύπρου

  St. Meletios, bishop in Cyprus.

• Eustathios of Thessaloniki

  Hierarch, Ευστάθιος Θεσσαλονίκης

  St. Eustathios Kataphloros, Archbishop of Thessaloniki, scholar and shepherd.