Index of Medieval Art

The Lois Drewer Calendar of Saints
in Byzantine Manuscripts and Frescoes

Introduction Calendar Abbreviations List of Iconographical Motifs List of Iconographical Scenes List of Feasts

Calendar of Saints and Feasts for November 3

Acepsimas, Joseph and Aithala of Persia.

Acepsimas, a bishop, Joseph, a priest, and Aithala, a deacon, martyred in Persia under Shapur II.

Synax.CP, Nov. 3, par. 3 (cols. 189-91).

Simeon Metaphrastes, Nov. 3.

BHG 15-20; BiblSS I 150-4; Holweck 8-9; LCI V 66.

Mount Sinai, gr. 500, fol. 25v. Joseph. Priest, holding book. Acepsimas. Bishop, holding book. Aithala. Deacon, holding censer and pyxis placed on cross-inscribed veil. (Ševčenko, N., Metaphrastian Menologion, pp. 64-5, fig. 1G3; Weitzmann and Galavaris, Illuminated Greek Manuscripts, I, p. 75, fig. 202, colorpl. XVI:a).

Oxford, Bodleian Library, Gr. th. f. 1, fol. 15v. 1) Acepsimas. Martyrdom, beheading. 2) Joseph and Aithala. Deacons. Joseph, error in costume. Torture, suspension. Joseph and Aithala hang upside down on posts. (Hutter, II, p. 8, fig. 26).

Vatican, gr. 1156, fol. 264r. Acepsimas. Bishop, holding book. Joseph. Priest, holding book. Aithala. Deacon, holding censer and pyxis. (BiblSS I, fig. cols. 151-2).

Vatican, gr. 1613, p. 157. 1) Acepsimas. Bishop. Martyrdom, beheading. 2) Joseph and Aithala. Torture, suspension. Martyrdom, stoning. Joseph and Aithala, wearing loin cloths, are suspended upside-down from rings with ropes tied around their ankles, while an executioner stones them. (Menologio, I, p. 42, II, fig. p. 157).

Venice, Marciana, gr. Z 351, fol. 22v. Triumph. Initial E. The Persian king Saborius, in profile, is being strangled by a rope. His tongue hangs out. (Ševčenko, N., Metaphrastian Menologion, p. 170, fig. 4G5).

Cozia. Narthex, vault, north side. Martyrdom, beheading. (Mijović, Menolog, p. 352, fig. 63).

Dečani. Narthex, center aisle, north wall. 1) Joseph. Bishop, holding book. Error in costume. Half-figure. 2) Aithala. Deacon, holding cross and pyxis. Half-figure. 3) Acepsimas. Martyrdom, beheading. (Babić et al, Dečani, no. 70, fig. T IV 19; Mijović, Menolog, pp. 324-325, fig. 42).

Staro Nagoričino. Narthex, center aisle, north wall, impost. 1) Aithala. Martyr, holding cross. Half-figure. 2) Joseph. Deacon. Error in costume. Half-figure. 3) Acepsimas. Bishop, holding book. Half-figure. (Mijović, Menolog, p. 267, fig. 15, pl. 42).

SEE ALSO: Joannicius of Bithynia, November 4