Paul the Russian

Holy New Martyr Paul the Russian, a freed captive who was martyred in Constantinople.

Paul was a Russian who had been taken captive by the Tatars and sold into slavery in Constantinople, where he was later ransomed and set free. Tradition relates that he was subject to fits, and during one of them Turks claimed he had professed Islam.

When he recovered he firmly refused to deny Christ, and was beheaded in Constantinople in the seventeenth century.

Feast day

On the New Calendar, Paul the Russian is commemorated on April 3. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on April 16 of the civil calendar.

Also commemorated on April 3

• 

  Nicetas the Confessor

  Venerable, Νικήτας

  Venerable Nicetas the Confessor, Abbot of Medikion.

  Name days: Nikitas, Nicetas

• Joseph the Hymnographer

  Venerable, Ιωσήφ ο Υμνογράφος

  Venerable Joseph the Hymnographer, composer of many canons of the Church and confessor for the holy icons.

• Elpidephoros, Dius, Bithonius and Galycus

  Martyr, Ελπιδηφόρος, Δίος, Βυθόνιος και Γάλυκος

  Holy Martyrs Elpidephoros, Dius, Bithonius and Galycus, who suffered different deaths for Christ.

  Name days: Elpidoforos, Elpidophoros, Elpidiforos

• Illyrios of Mount Myrsinon

  Venerable, Ιλλύριος

  Venerable Illyrios the Wonderworker, ascetic of Mount Myrsinon in the Peloponnese.

• Agape the Virgin Martyr

  Holy Woman, Αγάπη η Παρθενομάρτυς

  Holy Virgin Martyr Agape, commemorated on this day in the Greek synaxaria.