Theodore of Kythera

Venerable Theodore, the hermit of Kythera.

Theodore was born in Koroni in the Peloponnese and, after serving as a cleric, left his family for the ascetic life. He withdrew to the then-deserted island of Kythera, where he lived alone in prayer and hardship.

He reposed there in the tenth century, and his relics and church remain the spiritual center of the island.

Feast day

On the New Calendar, Theodore of Kythera is commemorated on May 12. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on May 25 of the civil calendar.

Also commemorated on May 12

• Modestos

  Martyr, Μόδεστος

  Holy Martyr Modestus.

  Name days: Modestos, Modestus

• Epiphanios of Cyprus

  Hierarch, Επιφάνιος Κύπρου

  Saint Epiphanios, Bishop of Salamis (Constantia) and Archbishop of Cyprus, champion of the faith.

  Name days: Epiphanios, Epifanios, Epiphanius

• Germanos of Constantinople

  Hierarch, Γερμανός Κωνσταντινουπόλεως

  Saint Germanos, Patriarch of Constantinople, confessor for the holy icons.

  Name days: Germanos, Germanus

• John of Wallachia

  Martyr, Ιωάννης ο Βλάχος

  New Martyr John of Wallachia, a Romanian youth strangled in Constantinople for refusing Islam.

• Pancratius of Rome

  Martyr, Παγκράτιος ο Μάρτυς

  Holy Martyr Pancratius, a boy of fourteen beheaded at Rome.

  Name days: Pankratios, Pancratius

• Hermogenes of Moscow

  Hierarch, Ερμογένης Μόσχας

  Hieromartyr Hermogenes, Patriarch of Moscow, who died in prison for the faith and the Russian land.

  Name days: Ermogenis, Hermogenes