Mercurius the Great Martyr

Holy Great Martyr Mercurius of Caesarea in Cappadocia, the soldier martyred under Decius.

Saint Mercurius was a Scythian officer in the Roman army who, according to tradition, was granted victory in battle by an angel and afterwards confessed Christ before the Emperor Decius. He was subjected to cruel tortures and beheaded at Caesarea in Cappadocia.

A later tradition relates that Saint Basil the Great saw him in a vision being sent to slay Julian the Apostate. He is greatly venerated in Greece and Egypt.

Feast day

On the New Calendar, Mercurius the Great Martyr is commemorated on November 25. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on December 8 of the civil calendar.

Who celebrates a name day

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

Merkourios, Mercurius, Mercurios, Merkouris

Also commemorated on November 25

• 

  Catherine the Great Martyr

  Martyr, Αικατερίνη η Μεγαλομάρτυς

  Great Martyr Catherine of Alexandria.

  Name days: Aikaterini, Katerina, Katia, Katina, Kate, Cathy, Cat, Katherine, Kathryn, Catherine, Ekaterini, Kaiti, Katie, Kathy

• Peter the Hesychast

  Venerable, Πέτρος ο Ησυχαστής

  Venerable Peter the Hesychast of Galatia, who lived as an ascetic from childhood.

• Augusta the Empress

  Holy Woman, Βασίλισσα Αυγούστα

  Holy Martyr Augusta the Empress, converted by Saint Catherine.

• Porphyrios the General

  Martyr, Πορφύριος ο Στρατηλάτης

  Holy Martyr Porphyrios the General and the 200 soldiers martyred with him.

• The 150 Rhetors

  Saint, Οι Εκατόν Πενήντα Ρήτορες

  The 150 philosophers and rhetors converted by Saint Catherine and martyred by fire.