Savas the Sanctified

Founder of the Great Lavra monastery in Palestine.

St. Savas the Sanctified was born in Cappadocia in the fifth century and came as a young man to the Judean desert, where he became a disciple of the great elders of Palestine. In the wild gorge of the Kidron he founded the Great Lavra, which still bears his name, and became the leader and lawgiver of the monks of the desert.

His order of services deeply shaped the worship of the whole Orthodox Church, and his monastery has remained a fountain of holiness for fifteen centuries. He reposed at a great age and is commemorated on March 5.

Feast day

On the New Calendar, Savas the Sanctified is commemorated on March 5. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on March 18 of the civil calendar.

Who celebrates a name day

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

Savvas, Sabbas

Also commemorated on March 5

• 

  Konon

  Martyr, Κόνων

  Holy Martyr Konon of Isauria.

  Name days: Konon, Conon

• Konon the Gardener

  Martyr, Κόνων ο Κηπουρός

  Holy Martyr Konon the Gardener of Pamphylia.

• Mark the Ascetic

  Venerable, Μάρκος ο Ασκητής

  Venerable Mark the Ascetic, spiritual writer of the Philokalia.

• George of Rapsani

  Martyr, Γεώργιος ο εκ Ραψάνης

  Holy New Martyr George of Rapsani in Thessaly.

• Eulogios and Eulampios

  Martyr, Ευλόγιος

  Holy Martyrs Eulogios and Eulampios of Palestine.

  Name days: Evlogios, Eulogios, Eulogius

• Archelaos and 152 Martyrs

  Martyr, Αρχέλαος

  Holy Martyr Archelaos and the 152 martyrs with him.

  Name days: Archelaos, Archelaus

• Nicholas of Zicha

  Hierarch, Νικόλαος Αχρίδος και Ζίτσης

  Saint Nicholas (Velimirovich), Bishop of Ochrid and Zicha, the new Chrysostom of Serbia.

Icon: public domain image from Wikimedia Commons.