May 21 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)

+ May 20 May 21 May 22 ≍ ≍

May 21 in Eastern Orthodox liturgical calendars is a feast day and a day of commemoration of saints and martyrs. Although some Orthodox churches use the Revised Julian Calendar and others use the traditional Julian calendar, the fixed commemorations for their respective May21 are broadly the same, no matter which calendar is used.

Saints

Holy Equals-to-the-Apostles Emperor Constantine (337), and Empress Helena, his mother (327)Great Synaxaristes: Οἱ Ἅγιοι Κωνσταντίνος καὶ Ἑλένη οἱ Ἱσαπόστολοι. 21 Μαΐου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.May 21/June 3. Orthodox Calendar (ORTHOCHRISTIAN.COM).June 3 / May 21. HOLY TRINITY RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH (A parish of the Patriarchate of Moscow).Rev. Sabine Baring-Gould (M.A.). "S. CONSTANTINE, EMP. (A.D. 337.)." In: The Lives of the Saints. Volume the Fifth: May. London: John C. Nimmo, 1898. pp. 314-318. Martyrs Polyeuctus, Victorinus, and Donatus, at Caesarea in Cappadocia.May 21. The Roman Martyrology.Great Synaxaristes: Οἱ Ἅγιοι Πολύευκτος, Βίκτωρ καὶ Δονάτος οἱ Μάρτυρες. 21 Μαΐου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ. Hieromartyr Secundus and those with him, in Alexandria (356)Rev. Sabine Baring-Gould (M.A.). "SS. SECUNDUS, P.M., AND COMPANIONS, MM. (A.D. 356.)." In: The Lives of the Saints. Volume the Fifth: May. London: John C. Nimmo, 1898. pp. 319-320. Saint Adelphios, Bishop of Onouphis, in Byzantine Egypt (c. 362)Great Synaxaristes: Ὁ Ἅγιος Ἀδέλφιος. 21 Μαΐου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ. АДЕЛЬФИЙ ОНИФИССКИЙ. Открытая православная энциклопедия "Древо" (Open Orthodox Encyclopedia "The Tree") Retrieved: March 24, 2026. Saint Boros, monk.Great Synaxaristes: Ὁ Ὅσιος Βόρος. 21 Μαΐου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ. Saint Christopher I, Patriarch of Antioch (967)Great Synaxaristes: Ὁ Ἅγιος Χριστόφορος Α’ Πατριάρχης Ἀντιοχείας. 21 Μαΐου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.

Pre-Schism Western saints

Hieromartyrs Timothy, Polius and Eutychius, deacons, in Mauretania Caesariensis, Morocco.Great Synaxaristes: Οἱ Ἅγιοι Τιμόθεος, Πόλιος καὶ Εὐτύχιος οἱ Ἱερομάρτυρες. 21 Μαΐου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.May 21. Latin Saints of the Orthodox Patriarchate of Rome. Hieromartyr Valens and Companions, Bishop who was martyred in Auxerre in France along with three children. Martyr Secundinus, in Cordoba in Spain under Diocletian (c. 306) Saint Hospitius the Hermit of Nice, Wonderworker (581)Great Synaxaristes: Ὁ Ὅσιος Ὁσπίτιος ὁ Ἐρημίτης. 21 Μαΐου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ. Saint Barrfoin (Bairrfhionn, Barrindus) of Killbarron (6th century)Very Rev. John O'Hanlon. "ARTICLE I.—ST. BAIRRFHIONN, PATRON OF DRUIM-CUILINN, OR DRUIM-CULLEN, KING'S COUNTY, AND OF CILL-BAIRRFHINN, NOW KILBARRON, COUNTY OF DONEGAL. [SIXTH CENTURY.]." In: Lives of the Irish Saints: With Special Festivals, and the Commemorations of Holy Persons. VOL. V. Dublin, 1875. pp. 522-528. Saint Gollen (Collen, Colan) of Denbighshire, a saint who has given his name to Llangollen in Wales (7th century) Saint Isberga (Itisberga) of Aire, reputed sister of Charlemagne, nun at Aire (Aria) in the Artois, of which she is the patroness (c. 800)Rev. Sabine Baring-Gould (M.A.). "S. ISBERGA, V. (ABOUT A.D. 800.)." In: The Lives of the Saints. Volume the Fifth: May. London: John C. Nimmo, 1898. pp. 320-322. Saint Ageranus (Ayran, Ayrman) of Beze, a monk at Bèze in France, martyred by the Vikings (888) Saint Theobald of Vienne (Thibaud), Archbishop of Vienne (970-1001)

Post-Schism Orthodox saints

Right-Believing Sviatoslav II Yaroslavich, Grand Prince of Kiev, son of Saint Yaroslav the Wise (1076) СВЯТОСЛАВ ЯРОСЛАВИЧ. Открытая православная энциклопедия "Древо" (Open Orthodox Encyclopedia "The Tree"). Retrieved: September 16, 2026. (see also: December 27 - repose) Blessed Constantine (Yaroslav), prince, and his children Michael and Theodore, Wonderworkers of Murom (1129)Great Synaxaristes: Οἱ Ἅγιοι Κωνσταντίνος, Μιχαὴλ καὶ Θεόδωρος οἱ Πρίγκιπες καὶ Θαυματουργοί. 21 Μαΐου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ. Saint Cyril II (Kirill), Bishop of Rostov (1262)Great Synaxaristes: Ὁ Ἅγιος Κύριλλος Β’ Ἐπίσκοπος Ροστώβ. 21 Μαΐου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.Fr. S. Janos (Transl.). Sainted Kirill (Cyril), Bishop of Rostov. HOLY TRINITY RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH (A parish of the Patriarchate of Moscow). Saint Basil of Ryazan, Bishop (1295)Great Synaxaristes: Ὁ Ἅγιος Βασίλειος Ἐπίσκοπος Ριαζὰν καὶ Μουρώμ. 21 Μαΐου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ. (see also: April 12) Saint Helen of Dečani, Serbia, Princess (c. 1350)Great Synaxaristes: Ἡ Ἁγία Ἑλένη ἡ πριγκίπισσα. 21 Μαΐου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ. Venerable Cassian the Greek, monk of Uglich, Wonderworker (1504)Great Synaxaristes: Ὁ Ὅσιος Κασσιανὸς ὁ Θαυματουργός ὁ Ἕλληνας. 21 Μαΐου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ. 21 мая (ст.ст.) 3 июня 2013 (нов. ст.). Русская Православная Церковь Отдел внешних церковных связей. (DECR). Monk-martyr Agapitus of Markushev, Vologda (1584)Great Synaxaristes: Ὁ Ἅγιος Ἀγαπητὸς ὁ Ὁσιομάρτυρας. 21 Μαΐου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ. АГАПИТ МАРКУШЕВСКИЙ. Открытая православная энциклопедия "Древо" (Open Orthodox Encyclopedia "The Tree") Retrieved: March 23, 2026. Saint Constantine the Fool-for-Christ, of Novotorzhsky, Russia (c. 16th century)Great Synaxaristes: Ὁ Ἅγιος Κωνστανίνος ὁ διὰ Χριστὸν Σαλός. 21 Μαΐου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ. New Martyrs King Constantine Brancoveanu of Wallachia and his four sons Constantine, Stephen, Radu, and Matthew, and his counsellor Ianache (1714)Great Synaxaristes: Ὁ Ἅγιος Κωνσταντίνος ὁ Νεομάρτυρας καὶ οἱ σὺν αὐτῷ μαρτυρήσαντες. 21 Μαΐου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ. Martyr Pachomios of Patmos (1730)Great Synaxaristes: Ὁ Ἅγιος Παχώμιος ὁ Ὁσιομάρτυρας ὁ Νέος. 21 Μαΐου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ. Saint Callistratus of Georgia, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia (1952) КАЛЛИСТРАТ (ЦИНЦАДЗЕ). Открытая православная энциклопедия "Древо" (Open Orthodox Encyclopedia "The Tree") Retrieved: March 23, 2026.

New martyrs and confessors

Synaxis of All Saints of Karelia. СОБОР КАРЕЛЬСКИХ СВЯТЫХ. Открытая православная энциклопедия "Древо" (Open Orthodox Encyclopedia "The Tree") Retrieved: March 23, 2026. Synaxis of All Saints of Simbirsk. СОБОР СИМБИРСКИХ СВЯТЫХ. Открытая православная энциклопедия "Древо" (Open Orthodox Encyclopedia "The Tree") Retrieved: March 23, 2026. Synaxis of New Hieromartyrs and Confessors of Ufa.Hieromartyrs And Martyrs Of Ufa And Orenburg. St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church, McKinney (Dallas area) Texas. СОБОР УФИМСКИХ СВЯТЫХ. Открытая православная энциклопедия "Древо" (Open Orthodox Encyclopedia "The Tree") Retrieved: March 23, 2026.

Other commemorations

Repose of Elena Pavlova of Chepel, Kharkiv (1885) Repose of Elder Isaac of Dionysiou Monastery of Mount Athos (1932) Uncovering of the relics (1998) of St. Andrew Ogorodnikov, Fool-for-Christ of Simbirsk (1841) The Anastenaria fire-walking ritual is performed from May 21–23 in some villages in Northern Greece and Southern Bulgaria, coinciding with the feast of Constantine and Helen.Kerry Kolasa-Sikiaridi. 'Anastenaria' Fire-Walking Festival in Lagada, Thessaloniki From May 21-23. Greek Reporter: Greece. May 19, 2017.

Icons

Synaxis of the "Vladimir" Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos (1521)Great Synaxaristes: Σύναξις Ὑπεραγίας Θεοτόκου τοῦ Βλαδιμήρου. 21 Μαΐου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.Fr. S. Janos (Transl.). The Celebration of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God. HOLY TRINITY RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH (A parish of the Patriarchate of Moscow).Meeting of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God. OCA - Feasts and Saints. Synaxis of the "Virgin of Tenderness" Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos from Pskov-Pechersk (1524)Great Synaxaristes: Σύναξις Ὑπεραγίας Θεοτόκου τῆς Τρυφερῆς. 21 Μαΐου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.The "Umilenie-Tenderness" Pskovo-Pechersk Icon of the Mother of God. HOLY TRINITY RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH (A parish of the Patriarchate of Moscow).Icon of the Mother of God "Virgin of Tenderness" from the Pskov Caves. OCA - Feasts and Saints.

Icon gallery

Notes

References

Sources May 21/June 3. Orthodox Calendar (ORTHOCHRISTIAN.COM). June 3 / May 21. HOLY TRINITY RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH (A parish of the Patriarchate of Moscow). May 21. Latin Saints of the Orthodox Patriarchate of Rome. May 21. The Roman Martyrology. Greek Sources Great Synaxaristes: 21 ΜΑΪΟΥ. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ. Συναξαριστής. 21 Μαΐου. ECCLESIA.GR. (H ΕΚΚΛΗΣΙΑ ΤΗΣ ΕΛΛΑΔΟΣ). Russian Sources 3 июня (21 мая). Православная Энциклопедия под редакцией Патриарха Московского и всея Руси Кирилла (электронная версия). (Orthodox Encyclopedia - Pravenc.ru). 21 мая (ст.ст.) 3 июня 2013 (нов. ст.). Русская Православная Церковь Отдел внешних церковных связей. (DECR).