Wednesday, July 3 today, and the Orthodox Church honors the memory of Saint Hyacinth the Cubiculus and Martyr, and Saint Anatolius, the Patriarch of Constantinople.
According to calendar Saint Theodotus the Martyr and Saint Gerasimo the Younger, the Karpenisiotis and Holy Martyr are also celebrated.
Who has their name day?
Today you hear “happy birthday”, the:
- Anatolians, Anatolia
- Zoumboulia, Zoumboulis
- Hyacinth, Hyacinth, Yanthi
Who was Saint Hyacinth?
Agios Hyacinthos, the Kubicularian or Saint Hyacinth of Cappadocia, was a chamberlain to Emperor Trajan. He is considered a saint by both the Orthodox and Catholic churches.
He was born in 78 AD. He came from Caesarea and served as Trajan’s chamberlain.
Because he did not follow the pagan sacrifices of the Romans, it was realized that he was a pagan and Trajan ordered that he be given food only with the carcasses of the sacrifices in prison. He died of starvation at only 20 years old.
In Anogeia there is a church dedicated to Agios Hyakinthos, built of dry stones, in the shape of a mitta. The church was built in 1998 on the proposal of Louis of Anogeia, which was accepted by the Metropolitan of Rethymno, Anthimos. It was designed and supervised by the architect Stavros Vidalis. The Hyacinths are celebrated every year at this site.(4).