The Orthodox calendar
December: Orthodox Saints and Feasts
Every feast and saint of December in the Church's calendar, day by day, with each day's date on the New and Old Calendars and the names whose name day it is.
Movable feasts in December
- : The Holy Forefathers (27 December 2026 on the Old Calendar)
- : The Holy Fathers of Christ (3 January 2027 on the Old Calendar)
- : St Joseph the Betrothed (Sunday after the Nativity (with King David and James the Brother of the Lord); 26 Dec if no Sunday falls between 25 Dec and 1 Jan — movable) (10 January 2027 on the Old Calendar)
In December on the Old Calendar
- 4 December: The Entry of the Mother of God into the Temple
- 6 December: St Alexander Nevsky
- 9 December: St George
- 16 December: St John the Silent
- 17 December: St Barbara
- 19 December: St Nicholas the Wonderworker
- 22 December: Sts Joachim and Anna
- 25 December: St Spyridon the Wonderworker
- 26 December: St Herman of Alaska
1 December14 December on the Old Calendar
- The Prophet Nahum (Holy Prophet Nahum)
- Martyr Ananias of Persia
- Righteous Philaret the Merciful of Amnia in Asia Minor
- Venerable Botolph of Iken
2 December15 December on the Old Calendar
- St Porphyrios of Kafsokalyvia (Venerable Porphyrios of Kafsokalyvia)
- Martyr Myrope of Chios
- Venerable Alexei (Kabalyuk)
- Prophet Habakkuk
- Venerable Athanasius "the Resurrected One", Recluse of the Kiev Near Caves
- Venerable Athanasius the Recluse of the Kiev Caves
- Sts John, Heraclemon, Andrew, and Theophilus, of Egypt
- St Jesse, Bishop of Tsilkani, Georgia
- St Stephen Urosh, King of Serbia
- Venerable Joannicius of Devic
- Synaxis of the Gerontissa Icon of the Mother of God
Name days3 December16 December on the Old Calendar
- St John the Silent (Repose)
- The Prophet Zephaniah (Holy Prophet Zephaniah)
- New Martyr Angelos of Chios
- St Theodoulus
- Venerable Savva, Igoumen of Zvenigorod, Disciple of Venerable Sergius of Radonezh
- Hieromartyr Theodore, Archbishop of Alexandria
- Monastic Martyr Cosmas of Saint Anne Skete, Mount Athos
- Venerable George of Cernica
4 December17 December on the Old Calendar
- St Barbara (Martyrdom (with St Juliana))
- St John of Damascus (Venerable John of Damascus)
- Hieromartyr Seraphim Archbishop of Phanarion and Neochorion
- St Gennadius
- The Priestmartyr Alexander Hotovitzky
- Icon of the Mother of God of Damascus
Name days5 December18 December on the Old Calendar
- St Sabbas the Sanctified (Venerable Sabbas the Sanctified)
- Martyr Anastasius the Fuller at Salona in Dalmatia
- Venerable Karion
- Venerable Savva the Sanctified
- St Gurias, Archbishop of Kazan
- Venerable Nectarius of Bitolya and Mount Athos
- Venerable Philotheus of Karyes, Mount Athos
- Monastic Martyrs of Karyes
- St Crispina
6 December19 December on the Old Calendar
- St Nicholas the Wonderworker (Repose (Russian folk name: Nikola Zimny, 'Winter St Nicholas'))
- St Maximus, Metropolitan of Kiev
7 December20 December on the Old Calendar
- St Ambrose of Milan (St Ambrose, Bishop of Milan)
- St Philothea of Thrace
- Venerable Anthony, Abbot of Siya, Novgorod
- Venerable Nilus of Stolbensk Lake
- Venerable John the Faster of the Kiev Near Caves
- Martyr Athenodorus of Mesopotamia
- Venerable Paul the Obedient
- Venerable Gregory, founder of Grigoriou Monastery, Mount Athos
- "Vladimir" Icon of the Mother of God of Seliger
8 December21 December on the Old Calendar
- Apostle Apollos of the Seventy
- Apostle Epaphroditus of the Seventy
- Apostle Sosthenes of the Seventy
- Venerable Patapius of Thebes
- Venerable Cyril, Abbot of Chelma Hill
- Holy Apostles of the Seventy: Sosthenes, Apollos, Cephas, Tychicus, Epaphroditus, Caesar, and Onesiphorus
- Martyr Anthusa at Rome
- 362 Martyrs of Africa (62 Clergy and 300 Laypeople)
9 December22 December on the Old Calendar
- Sts Joachim and Anna (Conception of the Theotokos by St Anna)
- St Anna, mother of the Mother of God (Conception of the Mother of God by St Anna)
- St Sophronius
- Conception of the Most Holy Theotokos by Saint Anna
- Prophetess Hannah the mother of the Prophet Samuel
- St Stephen the "New Light" of Constantinople
- "Unexpected Joy" Icon of the Mother of God
- Hieromonk Anthimus the Athonite, "Fool for Christ"
10 December23 December on the Old Calendar
- Martyr Gemellus of Paphlagonia
- St Joasaph
- Venerable Angelina of Serbia
- Martyrs Menas, Hermogenes, and Eugraphus, of Alexandria
- Venerable Thomas of Bithynia
- Righteous King John of Serbia, and his parents Righteous Stephen, Despot of Serbia, and Venerable Angelina of Serbia
- Venerable Leontios of Achaia
Name days11 December24 December on the Old Calendar
- Martyr Mirax of Egypt
- Martyrs Akepsimas and Aithalas of Egypt
- Martyrs Akepsimas and Aithalas of Egypt
- Venerable Nikon the Dry
- Venerable Daniel the Stylite of Constantinople
- Venerable Luke the New Stylite of Chalcedon
- Synaxis of the Saints of Georgia
12 December25 December on the Old Calendar
- St Spyridon the Wonderworker (Repose)
- St Alexander
- St Mardarije (Uskokovic) of Libertyville
- Venerable Therapon, Abbot of Monza
- Martyr Synetus of Rome
- Martyr John, Abbot of the Zedazeni Monastery
Name days13 December26 December on the Old Calendar
- St Herman of Alaska (Repose (1837))
- St Lucy of Syracuse (Holy Virgin Martyr Lucy of Syracuse)
- Sts Eustratius, Auxentius, Eugene, Mardarius and Orestes (Holy Martyrs Eustratius, Auxentius, Eugene, Mardarius and Orestes)
- Venerable Mardarios the Recluse of the Kiev Caves
- Sunday of the Forefathers
- Righteous Priest Aaron
- Righteous Benjamin
- Righteous Deborah
- Righteous Hezron
- Righteous Isaac
- Righteous Jacob
- Righteous Judith
- Righteous Miriam
- Prophet Nathan
- Prophet Nehemiah
- Righteous Noah
- Righteous Rebecca
- Righteous Sarah
- Prophet Solomon
- Righteous Susanna
- Righteous Ruth
- Righteous Mary
- Venerable Arcadius of Novotorsk
- Venerable Arsenius of Latros
- Hieromartyr Gabriel of Serbia
14 December27 December on the Old Calendar
- Martyrs Thyrsos
- Martyrs Philemon, Apollonios, Arrian, and Theonas of Alexandria
- St Hilarion, Metropolitan of Suzdal and Yuriev
15 December28 December on the Old Calendar
- St Eleftherios (Hieromartyr Eleftherios and his mother Anthia)
- Venerable Pardus the Hermit
- Venerable Tryphon
- Hieromartyr Eleutherius, Bishop of Illyria, his mother, Martyr Evanthia, and Caribus the Eparch
- Venerable Paul of Latros
- St Stephen the Confessor, Archbishop of Sourozh, Crimea
- Martyr Jonah, disciple of Tryphon of Pechenga
- Martyr Eleutherius at Constantinople
- Hieromartyr Hilarion, Archbishop of Verey
- St Nectarius of Bitel
Name days16 December29 December on the Old Calendar
- St Theophano the Empress (Holy Empress Theophano)
- Martyr Marinus of Rome
- St Theophano the Wonderworker
- Prophet Haggai
- Venerable Sophia of Suzdal, the Wonderworker
17 December30 December on the Old Calendar
- St Dionysios of Zakynthos (St Dionysios of Zakynthos, Archbishop of Aegina)
- The Prophet Daniel (Holy Prophet Daniel and the Three Holy Youths)
- Prophet Daniel
- Venerable Dionysius of Aegina
- The Three Holy Youths: Ananias, Azarias and Misael
- Martyr Avakum the Deacon of Serbia
- St Paisius
18 December31 December on the Old Calendar
- St Sebastian (Holy Martyr Sebastian and his companions)
- St Zoe (Holy Martyr Zoe of Rome)
- Righteous Simeon
- St Florus
- St Modestos
- St Michael the Confessor at Constantinople
- New Hieromartyr Archbishop Thaddeus of Tver
- Venerable Daniel the Hesychast
19 December1 January on the Old Calendar
- St Boniface of Tarsus (Martyrdom (with Righteous Aglaia of Rome))
- Martyr Boniface at Tarsus in Cilicia, and Righteous Aglaia of Rome
- Venerable Elias of Murom, Wonderworker of the Kiev Near Caves
- Martyrs Elias, Probus, and Ares in Cilicia
- St Boniface the Merciful, Bishop of Ferentino
- St Gregory, Archbishop of Omirits
- Venerable George the Scribe, and Venerable Savva, of Khakhuli
20 December2 January on the Old Calendar
- St John of Kronstadt (Repose)
- St Ignatius the God-bearer (Hieromartyr Ignatius the God-bearer, Bishop of Antioch)
- St Daniel II
- St Philogonius
- Sunday before the Nativity
- Forefeast of the Nativity of our Lord
- Icon of the Mother of God the "Rescuer of the Drowning"
- New-martyr John of Thasos
- Icon of the Mother of God of Novgorod
21 December3 January on the Old Calendar
- St Juliana of Nicomedia (Holy Martyr Juliana of Nicomedia)
- Martyr Themistocles of Myra in Lycia
- St Peter
- Virgin Martyr Juliana of Nicomedia, and 500 men and 130 women with her
- Forefeast of the Nativity of our Lord
- Right-believing Princess Juliana of Vyazma
- Procopius of Vyatka the Fool-For-Christ
- Venerable Macarius the Faster, Abbot of the Khakhuli Monastery
22 December4 January on the Old Calendar
- St Anastasia the Deliverer from Potions (Martyrdom)
- Forefeast of the Nativity of our Lord
23 December5 January on the Old Calendar
- St Niphon
- St Theoktistos
- Forefeast of the Nativity of our Lord
- 10 Holy Martyrs of Crete
- St Paul, Bishop of Neocaesarea
- St Nahum of Ochrid, disciple of Saints Cyril and Methodius, Equal of the Apostles
24 December6 January on the Old Calendar
- St Eugenia (Venerable Martyr Eugenia of Rome)
- Eve of the Nativity of our Lord
- Nun-Martyr Eugenia of Rome
- Venerable Nicholas the Monk of Bulgaria
- St Antiochus
25 December7 January on the Old Calendar
- The Nativity of Christ
- The Nativity of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ
- The Adoration of the Magi: Melchior, Caspar, and Balthasar
- The Shepherds in Bethlehem who were watching their flocks, and went to see the Lord
- Priestmonk Jonah the Martyr of Pechenga
Name days26 December8 January on the Old Calendar
- The Synaxis of the Mother of God
- Venerable Evarestus of the Studion Monastery
- Venerable Isaac II of Optina
- Second Day of the Nativity of our Lord
- Hieromartyr Euthymius, Bishop of Sardis
- Venerable Constantine of Synnada
- St Nikodemos the Sanctified of Tismana, Romania
- Hieromartyr Constantine the Russian of Lavra on Mount Athos
- "Bethlehem" Icon of the Mother of God
- Icon of the Mother of God "the Womb"
Name days27 December9 January on the Old Calendar
- St Stephen the First Martyr (Holy Protomartyr and Archdeacon Stephen)
- The Holy Righteous David the King, Joseph the Betrothed, and James the Brother of the Lord
- Holy Righteous Joseph the Betrothed
- Holy Righteous David the King
- Righteous James the Brother of the Lord
- Third Day of the Nativity of our Lord
- Protomartyr and Archdeacon Stephen
- Venerable Theodore Graptus, "the branded," Confessor
- St Theodore, Archbishop of Constantinople
- "All-Merciful Kykko" Icon of the Mother of God
28 December10 January on the Old Calendar
- Afterfeast of the Nativity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
- 20,000 Martyrs of Nicomedia
- Venerable Ignatius of Loma and Yaroslav
- Apostle Nicanor the Deacon of the Seventy
- Venerable Simon the Myrrh-gusher of Mount Athos
- Hieromartyr Nikodemos, Bishop of Belgorod
29 December11 January on the Old Calendar
- Venerable Basilisk the Hesychast of Siberia
- Venerable Mark the Grave-Digger
- Venerable Theophilus and Jacob
- Afterfeast of the Nativity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
- 14,000 Infants (the Holy Innocents) slain by Herod at Bethlehem
- Venerable Marcellus, Abbot of the Monastery of the "Unsleeping Ones"
- Venerable Theophilos and Jacob, wonderworkers of Omuch
- Venerable Thaddeus the Confessor of the Studion
- All Orthodox Christians who died as martyrs for the glory of Christ by hunger, thirst, freezing, and by the sword
30 December12 January on the Old Calendar
- Martyr Philetairus of Nicomedia
- Martyr Zoticus the Keeper of Orphans
- Venerable Theodora of Caesarea
- Venerable Theodora of Caesarea
- Virgin Martyr Anysia at Thessalonica
- Afterfeast of the Nativity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
- Apostle Timon the Deacon of the Seventy
- Venerable Theodora of Constantinople
- Monastic Martyr Gideon of Karakalou, Mount Athos
- St Macarius, Metropolitan of Moscow and All Russia
- Opening of the relics of Saint Daniel of Pereyaslavl
31 December13 January on the Old Calendar
- St Melania the Younger (Venerable Melania the Younger of Rome)
- St Dositheus the Confessor
- Leavetaking of the Nativity of our Lord
- Venerable Cyriacus of Bisericani, Romania
- Venerable Cyriacus of Tazlau, Romania
- St Theophylactus of Ochrid
- Venerable Sabiana, Abbess of the Samtskhe Monastery
- "Unfading Flower" Icon of the Mother of God at Ardatov
The day's other commemorations follow the Lives of the Saints of the Orthodox Church in America.