The Synaxarion
A Cloud of Witnesses
“Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses” (Hebrews 12:1). The saints are not the dead but the living — the friends of God who ran the race before us. A starter synaxarion of some of the most beloved, by the age in which they lived.
The Apostolic Age
August 15 (Dormition)
The Most Holy Theotokos 1st century
The Mother of God, Ever-Virgin
January 7 (Synaxis)
Saint John the Baptist c. AD 30
The Forerunner of the Lord
June 29
Saint Peter c. AD 67
Chief Apostle
November 30
Saint Andrew c. AD 60
The First-Called Apostle
April 30
Saint James the Son of Zebedee AD 44
Apostle, Brother of John
September 26
Saint John the Theologian c. AD 100
Apostle and Evangelist
November 14
Saint Philip c. AD 80
Apostle of the Twelve
June 11
Saint Bartholomew 1st century
Apostle of the Twelve
October 6
Saint Thomas c. AD 72
Apostle of the Twelve
November 16
Saint Matthew 1st century
Apostle and Evangelist
October 9
Saint James the Son of Alphaeus 1st century
Apostle of the Twelve
June 19
Saint Jude 1st century
Apostle of the Twelve, called Thaddaeus
May 10
Saint Simon the Zealot 1st century
Apostle of the Twelve
August 9
Saint Matthias c. AD 80
Apostle chosen in place of Judas
June 29
Saint Paul c. AD 67
Chief Apostle, Apostle to the Nations
July 22
Saint Mary Magdalene 1st century
Myrrhbearer, Equal-to-the-Apostles
December 27
Saint Stephen c. AD 34
Protomartyr and Archdeacon
The Martyrs of the Early Church
December 20
Saint Ignatius of Antioch c. AD 107
Hieromartyr, the God-bearer
February 23
Saint Polycarp of Smyrna c. AD 155
Hieromartyr, Disciple of the Apostle John
August 23
Saint Irenaeus of Lyons c. AD 202
Hieromartyr & Theologian
April 23
Saint George AD 303
Great Martyr & Trophy-bearer
October 26
Saint Demetrios of Thessalonica c. AD 306
Great Martyr, the Myrrh-streamer
December 4
Saint Barbara c. AD 306
Great Martyr
November 24 / 25
Saint Catherine of Alexandria c. AD 305
Great Martyr
July 27
Saint Panteleimon c. AD 305
Great Martyr & Unmercenary Healer
The Great Hierarchs
January 18
Saint Athanasius the Great AD 373
Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria
December 6
Saint Nicholas of Myra c. AD 343
Wonderworker, Archbishop of Myra
January 1
Saint Basil the Great AD 379
Archbishop of Caesarea
January 25
Saint Gregory the Theologian c. AD 390
Archbishop of Constantinople
November 13
Saint John Chrysostom AD 407
Archbishop of Constantinople, the Golden-Mouthed
December 12
Saint Spyridon of Trimythous c. AD 348
Wonderworker
June 9
Saint Cyril of Alexandria AD 444
Patriarch, Pillar of the Faith
The Desert and the Confessors
January 17
Saint Anthony the Great AD 356
Father of Monasticism
January 28
Saint Ephraim the Syrian AD 373
Deacon & Hymnographer
April 1
Saint Mary of Egypt c. AD 522
The Penitent
December 5
Saint Sabbas the Sanctified AD 532
Abbot of the Great Lavra
January 21
Saint Maximus the Confessor AD 662
Monk and Confessor
December 4
Saint John of Damascus c. AD 749
Monk and Hymnographer
Equal-to-the-Apostles
The Pre-Schism West
The Byzantine Fathers
The Saints of Rus’
The Modern Saints
January 24
Blessed Xenia of Saint Petersburg c. 1803
Fool-for-Christ
January 2
Saint Seraphim of Sarov AD 1833
Wonderworker
December 13
Saint Herman of Alaska AD 1836
Wonderworker of All America
December 20
Saint John of Kronstadt AD 1908
Priest & Wonderworker
November 9
Saint Nektarios of Aegina AD 1920
Metropolitan of Pentapolis, Wonderworker
September 24
Saint Silouan the Athonite AD 1938
Monk of Mount Athos
May 2
Blessed Matrona of Moscow AD 1952
The Blind Eldress
June 11
Saint Luke of Simferopol AD 1961
Archbishop & Surgeon, Confessor
July 2
Saint John of Shanghai and San Francisco AD 1966
Archbishop & Wonderworker
December 2
Saint Porphyrios of Kafsokalyvia AD 1991
Elder
July 12
Saint Paisios of Mount Athos AD 1994
Elder