Paphnutius the Egyptian

Venerable Paphnutius of Egypt, father of St. Euphrosyne of Alexandria.

St. Paphnutius was a wealthy Christian of Alexandria in the fifth century whose only daughter Euphrosyne fled a worldly marriage to live in disguise as a monk. Tradition relates that he sought her for years, was consoled by the monk Smaragdus without knowing it was she, and learned the truth only at her deathbed.

He then took up her cell and lived there in asceticism until his own repose. He is commemorated with his daughter on September 25.

Feast day

On the New Calendar, Paphnutius the Egyptian is commemorated on September 25. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on October 8 of the civil calendar.

Who celebrates a name day

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

Paphnoutios, Pafnoutios, Paphnutius

Also commemorated on September 25

• 

  Euphrosyne of Alexandria (2nd)

  Holy Woman, Ευφροσύνη

  Venerable Euphrosyne of Alexandria.

  Name days: Euphrosyne, Efrosyni, Frossini

• Sergius of Radonezh

  Venerable, Σέργιος του Ραντονέζ

  Venerable Sergius of Radonezh, abbot and wonderworker, father of Russian monasticism.

  Name days: Sergei, Sergey, Sergius

• Paphnutius the Hieromartyr and the 546 with him

  Hierarch, Παφνούτιος ο Ιεροσολυμίτης

  Hieromartyr Paphnutius of Egypt and the 546 martyrs who suffered with him.

• Paul, Tatta and their Children

  Martyr, Παύλος, Ταττή και τα τέκνα

  Holy Martyrs Paul and Tatta of Damascus and their sons Sabinian, Maximos, Rufus and Eugene.

• Theophilos of Ephesus

  Hierarch, Θεόφιλος Εφέσου

  St. Theophilos, Archbishop of Ephesus, confessor of the holy icons.