Orthodox Church religious commemorations

The Orthodox Church observes various feast days commemorating historical martyrs.

On September 14, the Church and its believers commemorated Saint Mamant, a 3rd-century martyr revered as a protector of animals and homes, and Saint Antim, a bishop from Nicomedia who faced martyrdom during the persecutions under Emperors Diocletian and Maximian.

On September 19, the religious calendar marks the feast days of Saints Trofimos, Sabbatios, and Dorymedon. According to ecclesiastical tradition, these 3rd-century martyrs lived during the reign of the Roman Emperor Probus in Antioch of Pisidia. Trofimos and Sabbatios were arrested after publicly condemning pagan festivals dedicated to Apollo. Sabbatius died following torture under the governor Heliodorus, while Trofimos was later persecuted in Synnada. Dorymedont, a senator and secret Christian, was also tortured after assisting Trofimos. Tradition states that although the martyrs were cast to wild beasts, the animals did not attack them, and they were eventually executed by beheading. In some regional traditions, September 19 is also associated with customs regarding honey, symbolizing generosity.

On September 20, the Church honors Saint Eustathius the Great Martyr, his wife Theopista, and their children Agapius and Theopistos. Eustathius, a former Roman officer named Placidus, converted to Christianity following a vision involving a luminous cross between the antlers of a deer. The family remained steadfast in their faith despite facing exile and persecution under Emperors Trajan and Hadrian, ultimately meeting martyrdom. Some traditions specify that after Eustathius was ordered by Emperor Hadrian to offer sacrifices to pagan gods, his family met martyrdom within a burning bronze bull in 117 AD. He is traditionally venerated as a patron of hunters and foresters.