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 September 3

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Anthimus of Nicomedia.

Bishop of Nicomedia in Bithynia. Martyred under Diocletian.

Synax.CP, Sept. 3, par. 1 (col. 9).

Simeon Metaphrastes, Sept. 3.

BHG 134y-135c; BiblSS II 60-1; DHGE III 530; Fedalto 94; Holweck 84; LCI V 199-200; ODB 110.

London, British Library, Add. 11870, fol. 44v. Bishop. 1) In center medallion, half-figure, holding book. 2) Arrest commanded by Maximian. 3) Arrest. Two men on horseback approach Anthimus, seated on a hillside, holding a book. 4) Torture, wheel. 5) Praying. Above, rays emerge from arc of Heaven. Martyrdom, beheading. Anthimus is represented twice in this medallion. (Ševčenko, N., Metaphrastian Menologion, p. 120, figs. 3D3-3D4; Walter, "London September Metaphrast," pp. 13-4, fig. 3).

Oxford, Bodleian Library, Barocci 230, fol. 3v. Bishop, holding book. (Hutter, I, pp. 49-50, fig. 172; Hutter, III, p. 331; Ševčenko, N., Metaphrastian Menologion, p. 17, fig. 1A3).

Oxford, Bodleian Library, Gr. th. f. 1, fol. 7v. Bishop. Martyrdom, beheading. (Hutter, II, p. 3, fig. 11).

Vatican, gr. 1156, fol. 243v. Bishop holding book, flanked by priest holding book, and deacon holding pyxis and censer.

Vatican, gr. 1613, p. 7. Bishop. Praying. Martyrdom, beheading. (Menologio, I, p. 5, II, fig. p. 7).

Venice, Marciana, gr. Z 586, fol. 46r. Bishop. Martyrdom, beheading (Ševčenko, N., Metaphrastian Menologion, p. 175, fig. 5B6).

Cozia. Narthex, vault, south side. Anthimus? Martyrdom, beheading. Fragmentary scene. (Mijović, Menolog, p. 349, fig. 64).

Dečani. Narthex, center aisle, south wall. Bishop, wearing polystavrion. Martyrdom, beheading. (Babić et al, Dečani, no. 3, fig. T II 1; Mijović, Menolog, p. 316, fig. 41).

Gračanica. Southeast pier, south face. Bishop. Martyrdom, beheading. (Mijović, Menolog, p. 285, fig. 18; Todić, Gračanica, p. 99; Živković, Gračanica, fig. VI southeast 10).

Theoctistus of Palestine.
Theoctistus the Faster.

Monk in the Judean desert in Palestine. Hermit. Disciple of Euthymius the Great. d. 467.

Synax.CP, Sept. 3, par. 2 (col. 9).

BiblSS XII 207-8; Holweck 956; LCI VIII 459.

Dečani. Narthex, center aisle, south wall. Theoctistus of Palestine and Euthymius the Great? Hermit and monk holding a closed scroll.⁸⁷ (Babić et al, Dečani, no. 3, fig. T II 1; Mijović, Menolog, p. 316, fig. 41).

⁸⁷ Not inscribed. Identification suggested by Babić et al, Dečani, no. 3. The Synaxarium entry names Theoctistus and and his {teacher} Euthymius.

Basilissa of Nicomedia.

Virgin. Child martyred at the age of nine at Nicomedia in Bithynia under Diocletian.

Synax.CP, Sept. 3, par. 3 (cols. 9-10).

BHG 2058-2059; BiblSS II 952-3; DHGE VI 1241-2; Holweck 138-9; LCI V 336.

Oxford, Bodleian Library, Gr. th. f. 1, fol. 7v. Woman saint, holding cross. Half-figure. (Hutter, II, p. 3, fig. 11).

Vatican, gr. 1613, p. 8. Miracle of spring. Wearing veil and diadem. Orant, standing beside a stream (BiblSS II, fig. cols. 955-6, with erroneous caption; Menologio, I, p. 5, II, fig. p. 8).

Gračanica. Southeast pier, east face. Sept. 4.⁸⁸ Holding cross. Three-quarter figure. (Mijović, Menolog, p. 286, fig. 19; Todić, Gračanica, p. 99; Živković, Gračanica, fig. VI southeast 11).

⁸⁸ Inscribed {Carica}, which is the equivalent of Basilissa in Old Church Slavonic. Identified by Mijović and Todić as Hermione of Ephesus, Sept. 4; not identified by Živković.

Aristion of Alexandria ad Issum.

Probably bishop of Alexandria ad Issum in Cilicia rather than Alexandria in Egypt. Martyr. 3rd cen.?

Synax.CP, Sept. 3, par. 4 (cols. 11-12).

BiblSS II 424-5; DHGE IV 191-2; Fedalto 764; Holweck 104; LCI V 245.

Vatican, gr. 1613, p. 9. Bishop. Martyrdom, burning. Standing in flames, praying to hand of God emerging from arc of Heaven (BiblSS II, fig. cols. 423-4; Menologio, I, p. 5, II, fig. p. 9).