There is a belief that it is not worth calling babies the names of martyrs, as if it were a bad sign. In fact, it is a superstition widespread among low-church people. It is good when Anton will celebrate the birthday on the day of remembrance of the martyr. Such a person did not bend under life's difficulties, went through all the trials and carried through suffering the faith in God. The saint will always pray for someone who is named after him.
Name day named Anton January 30th. Anthony the Great
Rev. Anthony the Great born about 251 in a wealthy family in Egypt. When the young man was twenty years old, his parents died, leaving him a big inheritance and a little sister in charge. Soon after, entering one of the churches, Anthony heard a voice saying that he should give out all his wealth to the poor, because only in this way you can become perfect. The young man instructed the Christian virgins to raise a sister, and he himself became attached to an old man to serve God.
For a while Anthony was truly a novice. But soon he left the old man and secluded himself in a cave, first not far from his native village, and then further on the banks of the Nile. Here Anthony made vows. They were so difficult that the young man talked to people who came to him only through a narrow hole in the cave, continuing to perform minute prayers and observing strict fasting. Anthony lived twenty years in voluntary imprisonment until God appeared to him. Soon he had his followers and students.
About 70 years of his life, Anthony lived in prison, which interrupted only for a short time. At this time, he organized monastic life for his novices, spoke at meetings in Alexandria, where he gathered whole crowds of people who expected miracles and admonition from him.
Anthony died in the 105th year of his life. Two of his students followed the instructions of the elder and until his death did not open a secret place of his burial. Only after almost 200 years, the relics of Anthony the Great were found in the Egyptian desert and transferred to Alexandria. Since 1491, they rest in the city of Arles, in the southeast of France.
Name day Anton celebrates on the day of memory of St. Anthony the Great, which falls on January 30. The sayings and instructions of the saint have not lost their relevance today.
Anthony Pechersky. Memorial Days July 23 and September 15
Antipa (Anthony Pechersky Kievsky) was born in the Chernihiv region (the exact date of his birth is unknown). As a young man he went to Mount Athos ("Holy Mountain" in Eastern Greece) and lived there as a hermit. Here he was tonsured a monk. After the blessing, the abbot went to Kiev to preach the Orthodox faith.
At home, Anthony settled in one of the caves on Berestovaya Gora. Later, his companion, Hilarion, dug other caves, in which the monks began to settle. To the words of Anthony, the Kiev prince Izyaslav Svyatoslavovich listened. In 1062, at the request of a monk, he gave the whole mountain for the construction of a monastery and church.
Anthony Pechersky of Kiev died in 1073 on May 7 (20). Anton marks the birthday on this day, as well as on July 23 and September 15, when it is customary to remember the saint. These are the days of remembrance according to the Orthodox calendar.
Anton's birthday on August 22. Martyr Anthony of Alexandria
Another martyr Anthony was born and lived in Alexandria. The exact dates of his birth and death are unknown. Only information that he believed in God and preached the Christian faith has been preserved.
For the fact that he refused to renounce his beliefs, Anthony received a martyrdom. At first he was hung on a tree, beaten with iron sticks, and planed with guns. Even after that, he remained faithful to God. The martyr was sentenced to be burned. According to legend, the body of Anthony did not burn in the fire and did not have traces of injuries.
Anton celebrates the Orthodox birthday on August 22. This day is considered the memory date of the martyr Anthony of Alexandria.
Martyr Anthony Vilensky. Day of Death and Remembrance April 27
A young man named Kumets along with his older brother served as the court of the Lithuanian prince Olgerd (reign 1345–1377). Having married Princess Maria Yaroslavna of Vitebsk, the prince converted to Christianity himself and allowed her confessor, priest Nestor, to convert several of his subjects to the Orthodox faith. Among them were brothers. Kumets was baptized with the name Anthony, and his older brother - John.
After the death of Princess Algerd, under the pressure of the Gentiles, he renounced the Christian faith and forced his courtiers to do so. John and Anthony refused this, for which they were imprisoned. A year later, after the elder brother promised the prince to renounce the faith, Olgerd released both of his courtiers. But Anthony did not abandon God, for which he again fell into prison. Later, John was also in captivity.
For the Orthodox faith and their beliefs, which were contrary to the pagan faith of the prince and his entourage, the brothers suffered a martyrdom. Early in the morning of April 14 (27), Anthony was hanged on a high oak, and 10 days later, John. In the same year, another Christian, Eustathius, was martyred. Together they are called the Martyrs of Vilna.
Anton name day (Angel Day) is celebrated on the date of the death of the saint - April 27.
At present, the relics of the martyrs rest in the Holy Spirit Church, located in the city of Vilnius (Lithuania).