March 31 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)

An Eastern Orthodox cross

March 30 - Eastern Orthodox liturgical calendar - April 1

All fixed commemorations below are observed on April 13 by Orthodox Churches on the Old Calendar. ^{[note 1]}

For March 31st, Orthodox Churches on the Old Calendar commemorate the Saints listed on March 18 .

Saints

• Righteous Joseph the Fair (the All-Comely), son of Jacob, Patriarch (c. 1700 BC) ^{[1] [2] [3]}
• Saint Acacius the Confessor, Bishop of Melitene in Pisidia (251) ^{[1] [4] [5] [6]}
• Saint Hypatius the Wonderworker, Bishop of Gangra (326) ^{[1] [5] [7] [8]}
• Theophilos the Martyr, and those with him, in Crete. ^{[5] [9]}
• Martyrs Menander and Sabinus, and another 38 martyrs, in Hermopolis of Egypt, under Julian the Apostate (c. 361-363) ^{[5] [10] [11]}
• Saint Apollonius (Apollo) of the Thebaid, ascetic (4th century) ^{[1] [12]}
• Hieromartyrs Abdas, Bishop of Hormizd-Ardashir, ^[13] and the Deacon Benjamin, ^{[14] [15]} of Persia (c. 424) ^{[1] [5] [16] [note 2]} (see also: May 16 and March 12 )
• Saint Hypatius, Abbot of Rufinus in Chalcedon (446) ^{[1] [16] [18]}
• Venerable Blaise of Amorium and Mount Athos (c. 909) ^{[1] [5] [19]}
• Venerable Stephen the Wonderworker, ascetic. ^{[5] [20]}

Pre-Schism Western saints

• Saint Balbina of Rome (c. 130) ^{[17] [21] [22] [note 3]}
• Martyrs Theodulus, Anesius, Felix, Cornelia and Companions, in North Africa. ^{[17] [21] [23]}
• Saint Renovatus, Abbot of Cauliana in Lusitania, then Bishop of Merida in Spain for twenty-two years (c. 633) ^{[21] [24]}
• Saint Aldo, Abbot of Hasnon Abbey (fr) in Belgium (8th century) ^{[21] [note 4]}
• Saint Guy (Guido) (1046) ^{[21] [note 5]}

Post-Schism Orthodox saints

• Saint Hypatius the Healer, of the Kiev Caves (14th century) ^{[1] [25]}
• Saint Ivan I of Moscow (John I Daniilovich Kalita), Prince of Moscow from 1325 and Grand Prince of Vladimir from 1328 (1340) ^[26]
• Saint Jonah, Metropolitan of Kiev, Moscow, and all Russia (1461) ^{[1] [5] [27] [28]}
• Saint Philaret, Abbot of Glinsk Hermitage (1841) ^[1]
• Saint Innocent, Metropolitan of Moscow, Enlightener of Siberia and Alaska (1879) ^{[1] [29] [30]}

New martyrs and confessors

• New Hieromartyr John Blyumovich, Priest (1938) ^{[11] [16]}

Other commemorations

• Appearance of the Iveron Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos, on Mt. Athos ("Panagia Portaitissa" or "Gate-Keeper") (late 10th century) ^{[1] [31]} (see also: February 12 )
• Repose of Archbishop Averky (Taushev) of Syracuse and Holy Trinity Monastery (1976) ^[1]
• Repose of Schemanun Anastasia (Shevelenko) of Karaganda (1977) ^[1]
• Repose of Archimandrite Thaddeus (Strabulovich) of Vitovnica Monastery (Tadej Štrbulović), Serbia (2003) ^[1]

Icon gallery

• 
  St Hypatius the Wonderworker of Gangra (Menologion of Basil II)
• 
  A 15th-century Russian icon of St. Hypatius (Hypatian Monastery).
• 
  St. Ivan Kalita.
• 
  St. Jonah of Moscow
• 
  St. Innocent as Metropolitan of Moscow.
• 
  The Relics of Saint Innocent of Alaska, in the Assumption Cathedral at the Trinity-Sergius Monastery in Sergiev Posad, Russia.
• 
  Our Lady of Iveron, Mount Athos, Greece.

Notes

1. The notation Old Style or (OS) is sometimes used to indicate a date in the Julian Calendar (which is used by churches on the "Old Calendar").
   The notation New Style or (NS), indicates a date in the Revised Julian calendar (which is used by churches on the "New Calendar").
2. "In Persia, during the reign of king Isdegerdes, St. Benjamin, deacon. Because he would not cease to preach the word of God, sharp-pointed reeds were forced under his nails, a thorny stake driven through his entrails; and thus he consummated his martyrdom." ^[17]
3. By tradition the daughter of Quirinus the martyr, she was baptised by Pope Alexander and lived as a virgin in Rome. She was buried on the Appian Way near her father. Later her relics were enshrined in the church dedicated to her on the Aventine.
4. Count of Ostrevant, he became a monk at the monastery of Hasnon in Belgium, which had been founded by his brother John. Aldo was chosen as second abbot.
5. Born near Ravenna in Italy, Guy became a monk at the monastery of St Severus, where he became abbot. Later he went to the monastery of Pomposa near Ferrara.

References

1. March 31/April 13. Orthodox Calendar (PRAVOSLAVIE.RU).
2. Righteous Joseph the Handsome. HOLY TRINITY RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH (A parish of the Patriarchate of Moscow).
3. Righteous Joseph the Patriarch. OCA - Lives of the Saints.
4. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ἅγιος Ἀκάκιος ὁ Ὁμολογητής Ἐπίσκοπος Μελιτινῆς. 31 ΜΑΡΤΙΟΥ. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
5. (in Greek) Συναξαριστής. 31 Μαρτίου. ECCLESIA.GR. (H ΕΚΚΛΗΣΙΑ ΤΗΣ ΕΛΛΑΔΟΣ).
6. St Acacius the Confessor. OCA - Lives of the Saints.
7. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ἅγιος Ὑπάτιος ὁ Ἱερομάρτυρας Ἐπίσκοπος Γαγγρῶν. 31 ΜΑΡΤΙΟΥ. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
8. St Hypatius the Wonderworker and Bishop of Gangra. OCA - Lives of the Saints.
9. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ἅγιος Θεόφιλος ὁ Μάρτυρας καὶ οἱ σὺν αὐτῷ μαρτυρήσαντες ἐν Κρήτῃ. 31 ΜΑΡΤΙΟΥ. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
10. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Οἱ Ἅγιοι Μένανδρος καὶ Σαβίνος οἱ Μάρτυρες καὶ οἱ σὺν αὐτοῖς τριάντα ὀκτῶ Μάρτυρες. 31 ΜΑΡΤΙΟΥ. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
11. April 13 / March 31. HOLY TRINITY RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH (A parish of the Patriarchate of Moscow).
12. Venerable Apollonius, Ascetic, of Egypt. OCA - Lives of the Saints.
13. Hieromartyr Audas the Bishop of Persia. OCA - Lives of the Saints.
14. Martyr Benjamin the Deacon. OCA - Lives of the Saints.
15. Rev. Sabine Baring-Gould (M.A.). "S. BENJAMIN, D. M. (5TH CENT.)." In: The Lives of the Saints. Volume the Third: March. London: John C. Nimmo, 1897. p. 515.
16. (in Russian) 31 марта (ст.ст.) 13 апреля 2013 (нов. ст.). Русская Православная Церковь Отдел внешних церковных связей. (DECR).
17. The Roman Martyrology. Transl. by the Archbishop of Baltimore. Last Edition, According to the Copy Printed at Rome in 1914. Revised Edition, with the Imprimatur of His Eminence Cardinal Gibbons. Baltimore: John Murphy Company, 1916. pp. 91-92.
18. Venerable Hypatius the Abbot of Rufinus in Chalcedon. OCA - Lives of the Saints.
19. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ὅσιος Βλάσιος ὁ ἐξ Ἀμορίου. 31 ΜΑΡΤΙΟΥ. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
20. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ὅσιος Στέφανος ὁ Θαυματουργός. 31 ΜΑΡΤΙΟΥ. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
21. March 31. Latin Saints of the Orthodox Patriarchate of Rome.
22. Rev. Sabine Baring-Gould (M.A.). "S. BALBINA, V. (A.D. 132.)." In: The Lives of the Saints. Volume the Third: March. London: John C. Nimmo, 1897. pp. 513-515.
23. Very Rev. John O'Hanlon. "Article VIII.—Feast of the Holy Anissus, and of his Companions, Martyrs, in Africa." In: Lives of the Irish Saints: With Special Festivals, and the Commemorations of Holy Persons. VOL. III. Dublin, 1875. pp. 1034-1035.
24. Rev. Sabine Baring-Gould (M.A.). "S. RENOVATUS, B. OF MERIDA. (ABOUT A.D. 633.)." In: The Lives of the Saints. Volume the Third: March. London: John C. Nimmo, 1897. pp. 515-517.
25. Venerable Hypatius the Healer of the Kiev Caves. OCA - Lives of the Saints.
26. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ἅγιος Ἰωάννης ὁ πρίγκιπας. 31 ΜΑΡΤΙΟΥ. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
27. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ἅγιος Ἰωνᾶς Μητροπολίτης Μόσχας καὶ πασῶν τῶν Ρωσιῶν. 31 ΜΑΡΤΙΟΥ. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
28. Repose of St Jonah the Metropolitan of Moscow and All Russia. OCA - Lives of the Saints.
29. Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Ὁ Ἅγιος Ἰννοκέντιος Μητροπολίτης Μόσχας καὶ Ἱεραπόστολος Ἀλάσκας. 31 ΜΑΡΤΙΟΥ. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
30. Repose of St Innocent the Metropolitan of Moscow the Enlightener of the Aleuts and Apostle to the Americas. OCA - Lives of the Saints.
31. Appearance of the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God. OCA - Lives of the Saints.

Sources

• March 31/April 13. Orthodox Calendar (PRAVOSLAVIE.RU).
• April 13 / March 31. HOLY TRINITY RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH (A parish of the Patriarchate of Moscow).
• March 31. OCA - The Lives of the Saints.
• The Autonomous Orthodox Metropolia of Western Europe and the Americas (ROCOR). St. Hilarion Calendar of Saints for the year of our Lord 2004. St. Hilarion Press (Austin, TX). p. 25.
• March 31. Latin Saints of the Orthodox Patriarchate of Rome.
• The Roman Martyrology. Transl. by the Archbishop of Baltimore. Last Edition, According to the Copy Printed at Rome in 1914. Revised Edition, with the Imprimatur of His Eminence Cardinal Gibbons. Baltimore: John Murphy Company, 1916. pp. 91-92.

Greek Sources

• Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) 31 ΜΑΡΤΙΟΥ. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
• (in Greek) Συναξαριστής. 31 Μαρτίου. ECCLESIA.GR. (H ΕΚΚΛΗΣΙΑ ΤΗΣ ΕΛΛΑΔΟΣ).

Russian Sources

• (in Russian) April 13 (March 31). Православная Энциклопедия под редакцией Патриарха Московского и всея Руси Кирилла (электронная версия). (Orthodox Encyclopedia - Pravenc.ru).
• (in Russian) 31 марта (ст.ст.) 13 апреля 2013 (нов. ст.). Русская Православная Церковь Отдел внешних церковных связей. (DECR).