Theopemptos

Holy Martyr Theopemptos.

St. Theopemptos was a bishop who suffered martyrdom during the persecution of Diocletian at the beginning of the fourth century. Tradition relates that his steadfastness under torture so moved a pagan sorcerer named Theonas that he too confessed Christ, was baptized, and shared in the crown of martyrdom.

Together the bishop and the converted sorcerer bear witness that the courage of the martyrs was itself a preaching of the Gospel. They are commemorated on January 5, the eve of Theophany.

Feast day

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

Who celebrates a name day

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

Theopemptos

Also commemorated on January 5

• Synkletike of Alexandria

  Holy Woman, Συγκλητική

  Venerable Synkletike, mother of women's monasticism in Egypt.

  Name days: Synkletike, Synkletiki, Syncletica, Sygklitiki

• Theonas the Martyr

  Martyr, Θεωνάς

  Holy Martyr Theonas, the magician converted by the Hieromartyr Theopemptos.

  Name days: Theonas

• Romanos of Karpenisi

  Martyr, Ρωμανός ο Νέος

  New Monk-Martyr Romanos, martyred in Constantinople in the seventeenth century.

• Domnina the Venerable

  Holy Woman, Δομνίνα

  Venerable Domnina, an ascetic woman.

  Name days: Domnina

• Phosterios the Hermit

  Venerable, Φωστήριος

  Venerable Phosterios, a hermit who shone in the ascetic life.

• Gregory of Akrita

  Venerable, Γρηγόριος ο εν Ακρίτα

  Venerable Gregory of Akrita, a monk of Crete and Constantinople.

Icon: public domain image from Wikimedia Commons.