May 12 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)

In the Eastern Orthodox Church liturgical calendar, May 12th is a date which may feature commemorations of several saints and significant events, depending on the specific tradition (Julian or Revised Julian calendar) followed by the particular church. The following is a general overview:

Fixed Date Commemorations (Julian Calendar): For churches that follow the traditional Julian Calendar, May 12th corresponds to May 25th on the modern Gregorian Calendar. Saints commemorated on this date include:

• Saint Epiphanius, Bishop of Cyprus: A prominent Church Father and defender of Orthodoxy.
• Saint Germanus, Patriarch of Constantinople: Known for his hymnography and defense of icons during the Iconoclast controversy.
• Saint Pancratius, Bishop of Taormina: A missionary and martyr.
• Venerable Dionysius of Radonezh: A disciple of Saint Sergius of Radonezh, and Abbot of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra.

Moveable Feasts: This date can also fall within the period of Great Lent (before Pascha/Easter) or the Paschal Season (after Pascha/Easter), influencing which additional hymns and prayers are used. The specific observances will vary according to the date of Pascha in a given year.

Note: The Revised Julian Calendar (often referred to as the "New Calendar") is used by many Orthodox churches, and aligns with the Gregorian calendar for fixed dates. These churches would observe the above commemorations on May 12th of the Gregorian Calendar. However, the date of Pascha and related moveable feasts continues to be calculated according to the Julian Calendar by almost all Orthodox churches.