Commemoration of Saints (February 26)

Solemnities, Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials, and Traditional Dates of Commemoration

• Nestor, bishop and martyr
• Alexander of Alexandria, bishop
• Porphyry, bishop
• Victor or Vittre the Hermit

St. Porphyry or Porphyrius of Gaza (ca. 353-412 A.D.) was a bishop of Gaza known for his generosity to the poor. He was born in Thessalonika and at twenty-five went to live as a monk for five years in the desert of Skete. He spent the next five years as a hermit in Palestine in a cave near the river Jordan. He became crippled by illness and used a walking stick to visit the holy places. It was while in Jerusalem that he first Mark, who would become his deacon and biographer.

Porphyry sent Mark back to Thessalonika to sell his property for distribution to the poor. When Mark returned to Jerusalem, he found Porphyry restored to full health. In 393 A.D., the bishop of Jerusalem ordained Porphyry a priest. Three years later, at 43 years of age, he was elected bishop of Gaza without his knowledge. Porphyry had difficulties in working at his see because it was comprised of both pagans and Christians. Eventually, Porphyry received permission from the Emperor to destroy the remaining pagan temples so he could build a cruciform church on the site once occupied by a pagan temple. Porphyry spent the remaining thirteen years of his life in active pastoral service of his people. [1]

St. Porphyry's is commemorated today, February 26, by the Catholic Church, and also commemorated as a feast in both the Greek and Russian Orthodox Churches. [2]

Saints in the Byzantine Calendar [February 26]

• Porphyrius, Archbishop of Gaza
• St. Sebastian, Martyr
• St. Photina of Samaria, Martyr

St. Photina was the name attributed to the Samaritan woman of Sychar whom Jesus conversed with at a well (John 4). Stories handed down from generation to generation say that she preached the gospel, was imprisoned for three years, and died for the Christian faith at Carthage. She is commemorated today, February 26, in the Byzantine Calendar. In the Catholic Church, she is commemorated on March 20. [2]

References: Books
[1] Lives of the Saints, by Richard P. McBrien
[2] Dictionary of Saints, by John J. Delaney

Commemoration of Saints (February 25)

Solemnities, Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials, and Traditional Dates of Commemoration

• Victorinus and Companions, martyrs
• Caesarius Nazianzen
• Ethelbert of Kent
• Walburga, virgin
• Tarasius, bishop
• Gerland, bishop

St. Ethelbert of Kent (d. ca. 616 A.D.) was the first Christian Anglo-Saxon king. His wife, Bertha, was the daughter of the king of Paris and was already a Christian when they got married. Since Ethelbert was not Christian, Bertha agreed to the marriage as long as she was permitted to practice her Christian faith. It was St. Augustine of Canterbury and his monks who, in 597 A.D., was instrumental in the conversion to the Christian faith of Ethelbert and the whole of Britain through Pope Gregory the Great. Although King Ethelbert did not accept Christianity at first, he allowed the missionaries to preach and make converts. But in ca. 601 A.D., Ethelbert himself was eventually baptized. His conversion was decisive for the Christianization of Kent and the whole of England.

Saints in the Byzantine Calendar [February 25]

• St. Tharasius, Archbishop of Constantinople

St. Tharasius or Tarasius of Constantinople (d. ca. 806 A.D.) was a layman serving as secretary to Emperor Constantine VI. He was named Patriarch of Constantinople by Empress Irene and was consecrated bishop in 784 A.D. He was able to restore the statues and images to the churches of his see after the decrees of the General Council of Nicaea. In his term of office in the see of Constantinople, there was political strife in the royal family. However, even with this turmoil, St. Tharasius was able to complete and finish his twenty-one year service under the next Emperor, Nicephorus.

St. Tarasius is commemorated today, February 25, in both the Catholic Church and in the Byzantine Calendar.

Commemoration of Saints (February 24)

Solemnities, Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials, and Traditional Dates of Commemoration

• Montanus, Lucius and Companions, martyrs
• Praetextatus, bishop and martyr

Saints in the Byzantine Calendar [February 24]

• First and Second Finding of the Venerable Head of St. John, the Precursor

The First and Second Finding of the Venerable Head of St. John, the Precursor refers to the Christian tradition that the head of St. John the Baptist was discovered twice after his beheading.

• First finding: Found and hidden on the Mount of Olives by Joanna, wife of Herod's steward.
• Second finding: Found again in a cave near Emesa, Syria, following a vision from St. John himself to two monks.

There are many versions and details connected with these two "Findings" online. But there is more certainty to the truth that both discoveries are commemorated on February 24th in the Orthodox Church.