Spyridon and Nikodemos the Prosphora-Bakers

Venerable Spyridon and Nikodemos, prosphora-bakers of the Kiev Caves.

Spyridon came to the Kiev Caves as an unlettered man in middle age and was given the obedience of baking the prosphora, which he fulfilled for thirty years while reciting the Psalter by heart. Tradition relates that when the bakery caught fire he carried water in his cloak and put out the flames unharmed.

Nikodemos shared his labor and his prayer, and both reposed in the twelfth century; their relics rest in the Near Caves.

Feast day

On the New Calendar, Spyridon and Nikodemos the Prosphora-Bakers is commemorated on October 31. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on November 13 of the civil calendar.

Also commemorated on October 31

• 

  Stachys the Apostle

  Apostle, Στάχυς

  Holy Apostle Stachys, first Bishop of Byzantium.

  Name days: Stachys

• Epimachos of Egypt

  Martyr, Επίμαχος ο Αιγύπτιος

  Holy Martyr Epimachos of Pelusium, who suffered at Alexandria.

• Nicholas the New Martyr of Chios

  Martyr, Νικόλαος ο Χίος

  Holy New Martyr Nicholas of Chios, beheaded in 1754.

• Apelles, Amplias, Urban, Narcissus and Aristobulus

  Apostle, Απελλής, Αμπλίας, Ουρβανός, Νάρκισσος και Αριστόβουλος

  Holy Apostles Apelles, Amplias, Urban, Narcissus and Aristobulus of the Seventy, companions of Saint Stachys.

• Seleukos and Stratonike

  Martyr, Σέλευκος και Στρατονίκη

  Holy Martyrs Seleukos and his wife Stratonike of Cyzicus.

  Name days: Stratoniki, Stratonike

• John Kochurov

  Hierarch, Ιωάννης Κοτσούρωφ

  Holy Hieromartyr John Kochurov, missionary priest in America and first clergy martyr of the Bolshevik revolution.