Theoktiste of Lesbos

Venerable Theoktiste of Lesbos, who lived alone for thirty-five years on the island of Paros.

Saint Theoktiste was a young nun of Lesbos who was carried off by Arab raiders in the ninth century. Landed on the deserted island of Paros, she escaped and hid in the ruined church of the Panagia Ekatontapyliani, where she lived alone for some thirty-five years on wild plants and prayer.

Tradition relates that a hunter found her shortly before her death and, at her request, brought her Holy Communion, after which she reposed in peace.

Feast day

On the New Calendar, Theoktiste of Lesbos is commemorated on November 9. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on November 22 of the civil calendar.

Who celebrates a name day

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

Theoktisti, Theoktiste, Theoctista

Also commemorated on November 9

• Onesiphoros the Apostle

  Apostle, Ονησιφόρος

  Holy Apostle Onesiphoros.

  Name days: Onisiforos

• 

  Nektarios of Aegina

  Hierarch, Νεκτάριος

  St. Nektarios of Aegina, Metropolitan of Pentapolis, wonderworker.

  Name days: Nektarios, Nectarios, Nectarius, Nektaria

• Matrona of Constantinople

  Holy Woman, Ματρώνα η Οσία

  Venerable Matrona of Perge, who lived disguised as a monk and later founded a convent in Constantinople.

• Eustolia and Sopatra

  Holy Woman, Ευστολία και Σωπάτρα

  Venerable Eustolia and Sopatra, nuns of Constantinople.

• Symeon Metaphrastes

  Venerable, Συμεών ο Μεταφραστής

  Venerable Symeon Metaphrastes, compiler of the lives of the saints.

• John Kolovos

  Venerable, Ιωάννης ο Κολοβός

  Venerable John the Short of Scetis, disciple of Abba Ammoes and teacher of obedience.

• Euthymios and Neophytos of Docheiariou

  Venerable, Ευθύμιος και Νεόφυτος οι Δοχειαρίτες

  Venerable Euthymios and Neophytos, founders of the Docheiariou monastery on Mount Athos.