Naukratios, Brother of Basil the Great

Venerable Naukratios, brother of Saint Basil the Great, who lived as an ascetic in Pontus and died young.

Saint Naukratios was the second son of Basil the Elder and Saint Emmelia, and a brother of Saints Basil the Great, Gregory of Nyssa and Macrina. Gifted as an orator, he abandoned a worldly career at about twenty-one and withdrew to the family estate in Pontus, where he lived as an ascetic and cared for the poor.

He died suddenly, around the year 357, while hunting to feed those in his care. His family's grief and the strength of his sister Macrina are described by Saint Gregory of Nyssa.

Feast day

On the New Calendar, Naukratios, Brother of Basil the Great is commemorated on June 8. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on June 21 of the civil calendar.

Who celebrates a name day

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

Nafkratios, Naukratios, Navkratios

Also commemorated on June 8

• 

  Theodore Stratelates

  Martyr, Θεόδωρος

  Translation of relics of Theodore Stratelates.

  Name days: Theodoros, Theodoris, Ted, Theodore

• Kalliope the Martyr

  Holy Woman, Καλλιόπη

  Holy Virgin Martyr Kalliope, who suffered for Christ in the third century.

  Name days: Kalliopi, Kalliope, Calliope, Popi, Pepi, Kalliopy, Kelly

• Theophanes the New Martyr

  Martyr, Θεοφάνης ο Νεομάρτυς

  New Martyr Theophanes of Constantinople, who suffered in 1559 after returning to the faith of Christ.

• Nicander and Marcian, Martyrs

  Martyr, Νίκανδρος και Μαρκιανός

  Holy Martyrs Nicander and Marcian, soldiers beheaded for Christ at Durostorum.

• Paul the Confessor of Kaiouma

  Venerable, Παύλος ο Ομολογητής

  Venerable Paul the Confessor of the monastery of Kaiouma, who suffered for the holy icons.

• Theodore of Rostov

  Hierarch, Θεόδωρος Επίσκοπος Ροστώφ

  Saint Theodore, first Bishop of Rostov and Suzdal, missionary among the pagans of northern Russia.