Justin the Philosopher

Holy Martyr Justin the Philosopher.

St. Justin the Philosopher and Martyr was born in Palestine and lived in the second century. Seeking truth through the schools of the philosophers, he found it at last in Christ, and thereafter wore the philosopher's cloak in the service of the Gospel. In Rome he wrote his celebrated Apologies, defending the Christians before the emperors and describing the baptism and Eucharist of the early Church.

He was beheaded in Rome with several companions around the year 165, faithful to the truth he had found. The first great Christian apologist, he is commemorated on June 1.

Feast day

On the New Calendar, Justin the Philosopher is commemorated on June 1. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on June 14 of the civil calendar.

Who celebrates a name day

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

Ioustinos, Justin

Also commemorated on June 1

• Chariton, Charito and Companions, Martyrs with Justin

  Martyr, Χαρίτων και Χαριτώ

  Holy Martyrs Justus, Chariton, Charito the virgin, Evelpistus, Hierax, Paeon and Liberian, who suffered at Rome with Justin the Philosopher.

  Name days: Chariton, Hariton, Charito, Charitini

• Thespesios the Martyr

  Martyr, Θεσπέσιος

  Holy Martyr Thespesios of Cappadocia, who suffered for Christ under Alexander Severus.

  Name days: Thespesios, Thespesius

• Justin Popovich of Chelije

  Venerable, Ιουστίνος Πόποβιτς

  Venerable Justin Popovich, Serbian theologian and confessor of the twentieth century, spiritual father of the Chelije monastery.

• Dionysius of Glushitsa

  Venerable, Διονύσιος του Γλουσέτσκ

  Venerable Dionysius, Abbot of Glushitsa in Vologda, ascetic and iconographer of the Russian north.

• Agapitus of the Kiev Caves

  Venerable, Αγαπητός ο Ανάργυρος

  Venerable Agapitus, the unmercenary physician of the Kiev Caves, who healed the sick freely by prayer and simple herbs.

  Name days: Agapitos, Agapitus

• Pyrrhus the Virgin, Bishop

  Hierarch, Πύρρος

  Saint Pyrrhus the Virgin, a bishop remembered for his purity of life.

Icon: public domain image from Wikimedia Commons.