The Eastern Orthodox cross

May 3 - Eastern Orthodox Church calendar - May 5

All fixed commemorations below celebrated on May 17 by Orthodox Churches on the Old Calendar.^{[note 1]}

For May 4th, Orthodox Churches on the Old Calendar commemorate the Saints listed on April 21.

Saints

• Virgin-martyr Pelagia of Tarsus in Asia Minor (287)^[1][2]
• Hieromartyr Albian (Olbian), Bishop of Anaea in Asia Minor, and his disciples (284-303)^[3]
• Martyrs Aphrodisius, Leontius, Anthony, Valerian, Macrobius, and 60 others, monks at Scythopolis of Palestine (beginning of the 4th century)^[4][5]
• Hieromartyr Silvanus of Gaza, bishop, and with him 40 martyrs (311)^[2][6][7] (see also: October 14)
• Saint Hilary of the desert, the Wonderworker.^[8][9]
• Saint Nicephorus of Medikion, abbot and founder of Medikion Monastery (813)^[10]
• Saint Athanasios of Corinth, bishop (10th-11th century)^[11]

Pre-Schism Western saints

• Hieromartyr Porphyrius (250)^[2][12]
• Saint Curcodomus, a deacon in Rome sent to help St Peregrinus (2nd century)^[2][12]
• Hieromartyr Erasmus of Formiae, bishop in Campania, and 20,000 martyrs with him (303)^[7]
• Martyrs Florian and 40 companions, at Lorsch, Austria (304)^[2][12][13]
• Saint Monica of Tagaste, the mother of St. Augustine of Hippo (387)^[2][14]
• Saint Nepotianus, nephew of St Heliodorus, Bishop of Altino near Venice in Italy (395)^[12][15]
• Saint Venerius of Milan, second bishop of Milan, a loyal supporter of St John Chrysostom (409)^[2][12]
• Saint Conleth, first Bishop of Kildare (c. 519)^[12] (see also: May 3 and May 10)^{[16][17][18][19]}
• Saint Anthony du Rocher, a disciple of St Benedict and companion of St Maurus in his mission to France, founder of the monastery of Saint Julian in Tours (6th century)^[12]
• Saint Æthelred (Ethelred, Ailred), king of Mercia and monk (716)^[7][12]
• Saint Sacerdos of Limoges, Bishop of Limoges (720)^[12]
• Saint Gotthard of Hildesheim, became Bishop of Hildesheim in 1022 and did much to spread the Faith (1038)^[12]

Post-Schism Orthodox saints

• Saint Theodosia (Fedosia), princess of Vladimir, (wife of Jaroslav Vsevolodovich; mother of St. Alexander Nevsky) (1244)^[20]
• Venerable Nicephorus (the Solitary, the Hesychast) of Mount Athos, teacher of St. Gregory Palamas (before 1300)^[21][22]
• The Alfanov brothers of Novgorod:

• Saints: Nicetas, Cyril, Nicephorus, Clement, and Isaac of Novgorod; founders of the Sokolnitzki Monastery in 1389.^[23]

Other commemorations

• Translation of the relics of the Righteous Lazarus and Saint Mary Magdalene, Equal-to-the-Apostles, to Constantinople^[5][27]
• Icon of the Mother of God "Staro Rus" (Staraya Russa) Old Russian (1570)^[24][28]

Icon gallery

• 
  St. Pelagia of Tarsus (Menologion of Basil II, 10th century).
• 
  The Martyrdom of Erasmus of Formiae.
• 
  St. Florian.
• 
  St. Monica of Tagaste, mother of St. Augustine of Hippo.
• 
  Altar with sarcophagus containing the corpses of Sts. Venerius, Marolus, Glycerius, Lazarus, bishops of Milan (San Nazaro Maggiore basilica in Milan).
• 
  Stained glass window (1890): Foundation of the church of St John's Church, Chester, England, by king Æthelred of Mercia 689.
• 
  New Hieromartyr Protopresbyter Basil Martysz of Teratyn.

References

Sources

• Complete List of Saints. Protection of the Mother of God Church (POMOG).
• May 4/17, Orthodox Calendar (PRAVOSLAVIE.RU)
• May 17, 2011 / May 4, HOLY TRINITY RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH (A parish of the Patriarchate of Moscow)
• May 4, 2011, OCA - The Lives of the Saints.
• May 4. Latin Saints of the Orthodox Patriarchate of Rome.
• May 4, The Roman Martyrology.

Greek Sources

• Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) 4 ΜΑΪΟΥ, ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
• (in Greek) Συναξαριστής. 4 Μαΐου. ECCLESIA.GR. (H ΕΚΚΛΗΣΙΑ ΤΗΣ ΕΛΛΑΔΟΣ).

Russian Sources

• (in Russian) 17 мая (4 мая). Православная Энциклопедия под редакцией Патриарха Московского и всея Руси Кирилла (электронная версия). (Orthodox Encyclopedia - Pravenc.ru).
• (in Russian) 4 мая (ст.ст.) 17 мая 2013 (нов. ст.). Русская Православная Церковь Отдел внешних церковных связей. (DECR).