Onuphrios the Great

Great Venerable Onuphrius the Egyptian.

St. Onuphrios the Great was one of the greatest hermits of the Egyptian desert, living in the fourth century. Leaving his monastery for the inner wilderness, he dwelt alone for some sixty years in utter poverty, unseen by men, clothed only in his own hair and a girdle of leaves, sustained by God in prayer.

Near the end of his life he was discovered by the monk Paphnutios, who heard his story, witnessed his blessed repose, and made his life known to the Church. He is loved as an image of total surrender to God, and is commemorated on June 12.

Feast day

On the New Calendar, Onuphrios the Great is commemorated on June 12. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on June 25 of the civil calendar.

Who celebrates a name day

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

Onyfrios

Also commemorated on June 12

• Peter the Athonite

  Venerable, Πέτρος ο Αθωνίτης

  Venerable Peter the Athonite, first known hermit of the Holy Mountain.

• Antonina of Nicaea

  Holy Woman, Αντωνίνα

  Holy Virgin Martyr Antonina of Nicaea, who suffered under Diocletian.

  Name days: Antonina

• Arsenius of Konevets

  Venerable, Αρσένιος Κονεζίας

  Venerable Arsenius, founder of the Konevets monastery on Lake Ladoga.

• Synesios, Benedict and Timothy, Monk-Martyrs of Thessaloniki

  Martyr, Συνέσιος, Βενέδικτος και Τιμόθεος

  Monk-Martyrs Synesios, Benedict and Timothy, monastics put to death in Thessaloniki.

• Zeno the Venerable

  Venerable, Ζήνων

  Venerable Zeno, an ascetic whose memory is preserved in the synaxaria.

Icon: public domain image from Wikimedia Commons.