Joseph the Hymnographer

Venerable Joseph the Hymnographer, composer of many canons of the Church and confessor for the holy icons.

Joseph was born in Sicily in the ninth century and, fleeing the Arab invasions, became a monk in Thessalonica and later in Constantinople. Sent on a mission to Rome, he was captured by pirates and held on Crete, where tradition relates he strengthened the faith of his fellow captives.

Returning to Constantinople he founded a monastery and composed a vast number of canons and hymns still sung in the Church. He suffered exile for the holy icons and reposed in peace, remembered as the sweet-voiced nightingale of the Church.

Feast day

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

Also commemorated on April 3

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  Nicetas the Confessor

  Venerable, Νικήτας

  Venerable Nicetas the Confessor, Abbot of Medikion.

  Name days: Nikitas, Nicetas

• Elpidephoros, Dius, Bithonius and Galycus

  Martyr, Ελπιδηφόρος, Δίος, Βυθόνιος και Γάλυκος

  Holy Martyrs Elpidephoros, Dius, Bithonius and Galycus, who suffered different deaths for Christ.

  Name days: Elpidoforos, Elpidophoros, Elpidiforos

• Illyrios of Mount Myrsinon

  Venerable, Ιλλύριος

  Venerable Illyrios the Wonderworker, ascetic of Mount Myrsinon in the Peloponnese.

• Paul the Russian

  Martyr, Παύλος ο Ρώσος

  Holy New Martyr Paul the Russian, a freed captive who was martyred in Constantinople.

• Agape the Virgin Martyr

  Holy Woman, Αγάπη η Παρθενομάρτυς

  Holy Virgin Martyr Agape, commemorated on this day in the Greek synaxaria.