Telemachos the Monk-Martyr

Monk who gave his life to end the gladiatorial games in Rome.

St. Telemachos was a monk from the East who, according to the Church historians, came to Rome at the beginning of the fifth century. Entering the amphitheater during the gladiatorial games, he stepped between the combatants to stop the bloodshed and was killed by the crowd.

Tradition relates that the Emperor Honorius, moved by his death, put an end to the gladiatorial games. He is commemorated on January 1.

Feast day

On the New Calendar, Telemachos the Monk-Martyr is commemorated on January 1. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on January 14 of the civil calendar.

Who celebrates a name day

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

Telemachos, Tilemachos, Telemachus

Also commemorated on January 1

• 

  Basil the Great

  Great Feast, Βασίλειος

  Archbishop of Caesarea, one of the Three Holy Hierarchs.

  Name days: Vasilis, Vasileios, Vassilis, Vasile, Basil, Bill, Vasilios, Vassilios, Vasos, Vasily, Vasil, Billy, Vasiliki, Vassiliki, Vasilia, Vaso, Vasso, Vasia

• Circumcision of the Lord

  Great Feast, Περιτομή του Κυρίου

  Feast of the Circumcision of our Lord Jesus Christ on the eighth day after His Nativity.

• Gregory of Nazianzus the Elder

  Hierarch, Γρηγόριος Ναζιανζού

  Bishop of Nazianzus, father of St. Gregory the Theologian.

• Theodotos the Martyr

  Martyr, Θεόδοτος

  Holy Martyr Theodotos, who ended his contest by the sword.

  Name days: Theodotos, Theodotus

• Peter the Peloponnesian

  Martyr, Πέτρος ο Πελοποννήσιος

  New Martyr Peter of the Peloponnese, martyred for Christ in the eighteenth century.