Saint Monica, whose years of prayer and tears brought her son Augustine to Christ.
Monica was born in North Africa in the fourth century to a Christian family and was given in marriage to a pagan husband, whom she eventually won to the faith by patience. She wept and prayed for many years for her gifted but wayward son Augustine.
She followed him to Milan, saw him baptized by Saint Ambrose, and died at Ostia in 387 while they were returning to Africa, saying she had nothing more to hope for in this life.
Feast day
On the New Calendar, Monica, Mother of Augustine is commemorated on May 4. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on May 17 of the civil calendar.
Who celebrates a name day
People with these names keep their name day on this feast:
Also commemorated on May 4
Nikephoros of Mount Athos
Venerable, Νικηφόρος ο Αθωνίτης
Venerable Nikephoros the Hesychast of Mount Athos, teacher of Saint Gregory Palamas.
Name days: Nikiforos, Nikephoros, Nicephorus
Aphrodisios and Companions
Martyr, Αφροδίσιος, Λεόντιος και Αντωνίνος
Holy Martyrs Aphrodisios, Leontios, Antoninos and their companions, who suffered at Scythopolis in Palestine.
Name days: Aphrodisios, Afrodisios, Leontios, Leontius
Athanasios of Corinth
Hierarch, Αθανάσιος Κορίνθου
Venerable Athanasios, Bishop of Corinth, an ascetic hierarch of the Byzantine period.
Florian the Martyr
Martyr, Φλωριανός
Holy Martyr Florian, a Roman officer drowned for his faith at Lorch in present-day Austria.
Name days: Florian
Hilarion the Wonderworker
Venerable, Ιλαρίων ο Θαυματουργός
Venerable Hilarion the Wonderworker, an ascetic honored in the Greek synaxarion.
The calendar, on your phone each morning
Today’s saints, whether it is a fast day, and the people in your contacts who have a name day. Free, with no ads.
