The Orthodox calendar
May: Orthodox Saints and Feasts
Every feast and saint of May 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 May
- : Pascha
- : Bright Week
- : The Life-giving Spring
- : The Myrrh-bearing Women
In May on the Old Calendar
- 2 May: St Matrona of Moscow
- 6 May: St Alexandra the Passion-Bearer
- 6 May: St George
- 8 May: St Mark the Apostle
- 18 May: The Mother of God "the Inexhaustible Cup"
- 22 May: St Christopher
- 22 May: St Nicholas the Wonderworker
1 May14 May on the Old Calendar
- St Tamar of Georgia (Holy Right-believing Queen Tamar of Georgia)
- The Prophet Jeremiah (Holy Prophet Jeremiah)
- Martyr Isidora
- New Martyr Ignatius the Martyr of Mount Athos
- St Panaretus of Cyprus
- Venerable Paphnutius
- New Martyr Euthymius of Mount Athos
- New Martyr Acacius, Martyr of Mount Athos and Seres
- Hieromartyr Macarius, Metropolitan of Kiev
- Martyr Bata the Persian
- Right-believing Tamara, Queen of Georgia
- Venerable Nikephoros of Chios
- "Unexpected Joy" Icon of the Mother of God
- "Myrrh-Bearing" Icon of the Mother of God
- St Gerasimus of Boldino
- St Zosimas II of Kumurdo
2 May15 May on the Old Calendar
- St Athanasius the Great (Translation of the relics of St Athanasius)
- St Zoe (Holy Martyrs Hesperus and Zoe)
- Sts Boris and Gleb (Translation of the relics of Sts Boris and Gleb)
- St Matrona of Moscow
- The Holy Passionbearers Boris and Gleb (in Baptism Roman and David—1072 and 1115)
- St Athanasius of Lubensk, Patriarch of Constantinople
- Martyr Hesperus with his wife and sons at Attalia
- St Boris (in Baptism Michael), Equal of the Apostles, Prince and Baptizer of Bulgaria
- Icon of the Mother of God of Putivil
Name days3 May16 May on the Old Calendar
- Martyr Timothy the Reader and his wife
- Sunday of the Paralytic
- Venerable Theodosius, Abbot of the Kiev Far Caves Monastery, and Founder of Coenobitic Monasticism in Russia
- St Peter the Wonderworker, Bishop of Argos
- "Svena" Icon of the Mother of God
- Translation of the Dormition Icon of the Mother of God from Constantinople to the Kiev Caves, Far Caves
- St Mamai, Catholicos of Georgia
- Sts Michael and Arsenius of Ulompo, Georgia
- St Ekoumenios, Wonderworker of Trikala
- Holy Great Martyr Xenia of Kalamata
4 May17 May on the Old Calendar
- St Pelagia of Antioch (Holy Martyr Pelagia of Tarsus)
- Hieromartyr Albian
- Hieromartyr Silvanus
- New Martyr Archpriest Vasily Martysz
- Virgin Martyr Pelagia of Tarsus, in Asia Minor
- Venerable Alphan, with his brothers, of Novgorod, founders of the Sokolnitzky Monastery
- Holy Confessor Erasmus, Bishop of Formia in Campania
- Venerable Nikephoros of Mount Athos
- "Staro Rus" Old Russian Icon of the Mother of God
- St Monica
5 May18 May on the Old Calendar
- The Mother of God "the Inexhaustible Cup"
- St Ephraim of Nea Makri (Venerable Great Martyr Ephraim of Nea Makri)
- St Irene (Great Martyr Irene)
- Venerable Barlaam of Serpukhov
- Venerable James, Abbot of Zhelezny Bor
- Inexhastible Chalice Icon of the Mother of God
6 May19 May on the Old Calendar
- St Job the Much-suffering (Holy and Righteous Job the Much-suffering)
- Martyr Barbarus the Soldier
- St Seraphim of Labodeia
- Midfeast of Pentecost
- Righteous Job the Long-Suffering
- Venerable Micah, disciple of Venerable Sergius of Radonezh
- Martyr Barbarus in Thessaly, who was a robber
- St Savva, first Archbishop of Serbia
7 May20 May on the Old Calendar
- St Alexis of Wilkes-Barre (Righteous Alexis Toth, Confessor and Defender of Orthodoxy in America)
- St Nil Sorsky (Venerable Nil Sorsky)
- St Akaki Asistavi of Georgia
- The Apparition of the Sign of the Precious Cross Over Jerusalem, in 351 AD
- St Alexis Toth, Confessor and Defender of Orthodoxy in America
- Martyr Acacius the Centurion at Byzantium
- Venerable Nilus, Abbot of Sora
- St John Zedazeni of Zaden, Georgia, with his 12 disciples
- Venerable Nilus the Myrrhgusher of Lavra of Mount Athos
- Monastic Martyr Pachomius of Mount Athos
- Icon of the Mother of God of Zhirovits
- Icon of the Mother of God of Lubech
- Martyr Quadratus and his companions
Name days8 May21 May on the Old Calendar
- St Arsenius the Great (Venerable Arsenius the Great)
- St John the Theologian (Feast of St John the Theologian)
- Venerable Pimen the Much-Ailing of the Kiev Near Caves
- Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian
- Venerable Arsenius the Lover-of-Labor of the Kiev Far Caves
- Venerable Pimen the Ascetic of the Kiev Far Caves
9 May22 May on the Old Calendar
- St Christopher (Martyrdom (with Sts Callinica and Aquilina))
- St Nicholas the Wonderworker (Translation of the relics from Myra to Bari (Russian folk name: Nikola Veshny, 'Spring St Nicholas'))
- The Prophet Isaiah (Holy Prophet Isaiah)
- New Martyrs and Confessors of Butovo
- Venerable Shio the Anchorite of Georgia
- Venerable Joseph of Optina
Name days10 May23 May on the Old Calendar
- St Simon the Zealot (Holy Apostle Simon the Zealot)
- Isidora the Fool of Tabenna in Egypt
- Martyrs Philadelphus
- Thais of Egypt
- Sunday of the Samaritan Woman
- Martyr Hesychius of Antioch
- "Kiev-Bratsk" Icon of the Mother of God
- Venerable Comgall of Bangor
11 May24 May on the Old Calendar
- Sts Cyril and Methodius (Sts Cyril and Methodius, Equal-to-the-Apostles)
- New Martyr Argyrus
- New Martyr Dioscorus
- St Nikodemos
- St Rostislav
- The Founding of Constantinople
- Hieromartyr Mocius the Presbyter of Amphipolis in Macedonia
- Equals of the Apostles and Teachers of the Slavs, Cyril and Methodius
- Venerable Sophronius the Recluse of the Kiev Far Caves
- St Joseph, Metropolitan of Astrakhan
- Christopher, called Christesia
- Holy Monastic Martyrs Olympia and Euphrosyne
12 May25 May on the Old Calendar
- St Germanus of Constantinople (St Germanus, Patriarch of Constantinople)
- Righteous Simeon (Второе обре)
- St Epiphanius
- St Sabinus
- Venerable Dionysius
- Hieromartyr Hermogenes, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia
- St Polybius, Bishop in Cyprus
- Martyr John of Vlachia, Romania
- Martyr Pancratius
Name days13 May26 May on the Old Calendar
- St Glykeria (Holy Martyr Glykeria of Heraclea)
- Martyr Laodicius the Keeper of the Prison
- Virgin Martyr Glyceria at Heraclea
- Venerable Macarius, Archimandrite of Ovruch
- Martyr Alexander of Rome
- St Pausicacus, Bishop of Synnada
- St George the Confessor, with his wife and children, of Constantinople
- St Irene, with her husband and children, of Constantinople
- St Euthymius the New, Founder of the Iveron Monastery, and his fellow Georgian Saints of Mount Athos
- Monastic Martyr John of the Iveron Monastery on Mount Athos
- Monastic Martyr George of the Iveron Monastery on Mount Athos
- Monastic Martyr Gabriel of the Iveron Monastery on Mount Athos
- Martyrs killed by the Latins at the Iveron Monastery on Mount Athos
Name days14 May27 May on the Old Calendar
- Hieromartyr Therapontus of Cyprus
- Martyrs Isidore and Myrope of Chios
- St Leontius
- Venerable Serapion of Egypt
- Venerable Isidore the Fool-For-Christ and Wonderworker of Rostov
- St Niketas, Bishop of Novgorod, Recluse of the Kiev Far Caves
- Martyr Maximus
- First opening of the relics of Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk
- "Sweet-Kissing" Icon of the Mother of God
- "Yaroslavl-Caves" Icon of the Mother of God
- New Martyr Raiko (John) of Bulgaria
Name days15 May28 May on the Old Calendar
- St Dimitry of Uglich (Holy Tsarevich Dimitry of Uglich and Moscow)
- St Achilles
- Venerable Arsenius (Обретение мощей)
- Venerable Pachomius the Great
- Venerable Serapion of Spaso-Eleazar Monastery
- St Isaiah the Wonderworker, Bishop of Rostov
- The Holy Right-believing Tsarevich Demetrios of Uglich and Moscow
- Venerable Isaiah, Wonderworker of the Kiev Near Caves
- Venerable Silvanus of Nerekhta
- Venerable Euphrosynos, Igoumen of Pskov
- Venerable Serapion of Pskov
16 May29 May on the Old Calendar
- St Brendan the Navigator (Venerable Brendan the Navigator)
- New Martyr Vukasin of Klepci
- St Alexander
- St George
- Venerable Theodore the Sanctified, disciple of Venerable Pachomius the Great
- Venerable Ephraim, Abbot of Perekop, Novgorod
- Venerable Cassian, Abbot of Komel (Vologda)
- Venerable Laurence, Abbot of Komel
- Martyrs Vitus, Modestus, and Crescentia, at Lucania
- Child Musa of Rome
- Venerable Monastic Martyrs of Saint Savva Lavra
- St Theodore of Vrsac, Serbia
- New Martyr Nicholas of Metsovo
Name days17 May30 May on the Old Calendar
- Sts Andronicus and Junia (Holy Apostles Andronicus and Junia)
- Martyrs Solochon, Pamphamer, and Pamphalon, at Chalcedon
- St Stephen
- Sunday of the Blind Man
- Icon of the Mother of God “of the Passion”
- Apostle Andronicus of the Seventy and his fellow-laborer, Junia
- St Euphrosyne, Great Princess of Moscow
- Venerable Dodo of the Saint David-Gareji Monastery, Georgia
- Great Martyr Nicholas of Sofia (Bulgaria)
- St Athanasius the New, Wonderworker and Archbishop of Christianopolis
- The Hieromartyr Adrian of Ondrusov, Wonderworker
Name days18 May31 May on the Old Calendar
- Martyr Theodotus of Ancyra
- Martyr Theodotus of Ancyra
- Martyrs David and Tarichan of Georgia
- Martyrs Peter, Dionysius, Andrew, Paul, and Christina who suffered under Decius
- Martyrs Simeon, Isaac and Bachtisius, of Persia
- Martyrs Heraclius, Paulinus, and Benedimus
19 May1 June on the Old Calendar
- St Dimitry Donskoy (Right-believing Grand Prince Dimitry Donskoy)
- St Dunstan of Canterbury (St Dunstan, Archbishop of Canterbury)
- Hieromartyr Patrick, Bishop of Prusa, and his companions
- Martyr Theotime
- Venerable Cornelius, Abbot of Komel, Vologda
- Venerable Cornelius, Abbot of Paleostrov
- Right-believing John, Prince of Uglich, tonsured as Ignatius
- Venerable Sergius of Shukhtom
- St John, Bishop of the Goths in the Crimea
- Right-believing Demetrios Donskoy, Grand Prince of Moscow
- Martyr Caluf of Egypt
- Entrance of Saint Nino (Nina) the Enlightener into Georgia
20 May2 June on the Old Calendar
- St Alexis of Moscow (Uncovering of the relics of St Alexis)
- St Lydia of Philippi (Holy Lydia of Philippi)
- Dovmont
- Venerable Zabulon and Sosanna
- Venerable Zabulon and Sosanna
- Leavetaking of Pascha
- Unmercenary Physician Thallelaios at Aegae in Cilicia and his companions, Martyrs Alexander and Asterios
- Martyr Asclas of Egypt
- Venerable Stephen of Piperi, Serbia
21 May3 June on the Old Calendar
- The Vladimir Mother of God
- Sts Constantine and Helen (Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine and Helen)
- The Ascension of our Lord
- Equal of the Apostles and Emperor Constantine with his Mother Helen
- Venerable Cassian the Greek of Uglich
- Meeting of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God
- "Tenderness" Icon of the Mother of God from the Pskov Caves
Name days22 May4 June on the Old Calendar
- St John Vladimir (Holy Great Martyr John Vladimir, Prince of Duklja)
- Martyr Basiliscus
- The Holy Fathers of the Second Ecumenical Council
- Monastic Martyr Paul of the Lavra, Mount Athos
- Icon of the Mother of God of Cyprus
- James of Borovichi, Wonderworker of Novgorod
- Righteous Melchizedek, King of Salem
23 May5 June on the Old Calendar
- St Euphrosyne of Polotsk (Venerable Euphrosyne of Polotsk)
- St Michael the Confessor
- Venerable Paisius
- Synaxis of the Saints of Rostov
- Martyr Michael "the Black-Robed" of Saint Savva Monastery
- St Damiane (Demetrius), King and Hymnographer
- Icon of the Mother of God "You are a Vineyard" (Georgian: Shen khar venakhi)
- Holy Myrrh-bearer Mary, the wife of Cleopas
- St Leontius, Bishop of Rostov
Name days24 May6 June on the Old Calendar
- St Xenia of St Petersburg (Glorification (1988))
- Martyr Meletius Stratelates who suffered in Galatia
- The Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council
- Venerable Simeon Stylites the Younger of Wonderful Mountain
- Venerable Niketas the Stylite, Wonderworker of Pereyaslavl, Zalesski
- St Vincent of Lerins
Name days25 May7 June on the Old Calendar
- St John the Baptist (Third finding of his head)
- Hieromartyr Therapon
- Third Finding of the Honorable Head of the Holy Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John
- Hieromartyr Urban, Pope of Rome
Name days26 May8 June on the Old Calendar
- Apostle Alphaeus of the Seventy
- Martyrs Abercius and Helen
- Apostle Carpus of the Seventy
- Greatmartyr George the New at Sofia, Bulgaria
- Venerable Macarius, Abbot of Kalyazin
- Venerable Confessor John Psykhaitis
- St Augustine of Canterbury, Evangelizer of England
27 May9 June on the Old Calendar
- St John the Russian (Repose)
- St Bede the Venerable (Venerable Bede of Jarrow)
- Hieromartyr Therapon
- Sts Cyprian
- Venerable Nilus of Stolobensk
- Virgin Martyr Theodora and Martyr Didymus the Soldier, of Alexandria
- St Basil of Georgia, son of King Bagrat III
- Venerable Michael of Parekhi
- Venerable Matthew of Zaransk
28 May10 June on the Old Calendar
- St Germanus
- St Germanus
- St Ignatius the Wonderworker
- St Sophronius the Bulgarian
- St Niketas, Bishop of Chalcedon
- St Eutychius, Bishop of Melitene
- Martyr Heliconis of Thessalonica
- Hieromartyr Helladius, Bishop in the East
- New Martyr Demetrius
- Icon of the Mother of God of Nicea
- St William of Gellone
29 May11 June on the Old Calendar
- St Luke of Crimea (Repose)
- St Theodosia of Constantinople (Venerable Martyr Theodosia of Constantinople)
- Holy Virgin Martyr Theodosia of Tyre
- The John of Ustiug the Fool-for-Christ
- Virgin Martyr Theodosia the Nun of Constantinople
- Icon of the Mother of God "the Surety of Sinners"
- Martyred Fathers and Mothers of Atchara
30 May12 June on the Old Calendar
- St Isaac of Dalmatia (Venerable Isaac the Confessor of the Dalmatian monastery)
- St Emmeleia
- Memorial Saturday
31 May13 June on the Old Calendar
- Martyr Philosophus at Alexandria
- Holy Pentecost
- Apostle Hermas of the Seventy
- Martyr Hermias at Comana
- Hieromartyr Philosophos of St. Petersburg
- Metropolitan Philotheos of Tobolsk, Enlightener of Siberia
- St Apollonios (Apollo) of the Egyptian Thebaid
The day's other commemorations follow the Lives of the Saints of the Orthodox Church in America.