Christianfeast day:
Arcangelo Tadini, BlessedAdílio DaronchandManuel Gómez González, BlessedFranz Jägerstätter, Earliest day on whichCorpus Christican fall, while June 24 is the latest; held on Thursday afterTrinity Sunday(often locally moved to Sunday). (Roman Catholic Church), Emperor Constantine I, Eugène de Mazenod, Helena of Constantinople, also known as "Feast of the Holy Great Sovereigns Constantine and Helen,Equal-to-the-Apostles." (Eastern Orthodox Church,Anglican Communion), John Elliot(Episcopal Church), Saints of the Cristero War, includingChristopher Magallanes, May 21 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
May 21 is observed as a Christian feast day with multiple commemorations, including saints and liturgical celebrations across Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, and Episcopal traditions.
On May 21, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, and Episcopal traditions honor a variety of saints and blessings. Saint Arcangelo Tadini, founder of the Congregation of the Holy Family, is remembered for his charitable work in Italy. Blessed Adílio Daronch and Manuel Gómez González are commemorated for their missionary service and martyrdom in Brazil. Blessed Franz Jägerstätter is honored for his conscientious objection during World War II. The feast of Emperor Constantine I and his mother Helena, Equal-to-the-Apostles, is celebrated in Eastern Christianity for their role in promoting Christianity. In the Roman Catholic Church, the date can also mark Corpus Christi when it falls early in the calendar. Saints of the Cristero War, including Christopher Magallanes, are remembered for their faith and sacrifice in Mexico. Local parishes may adjust the observance to the following Sunday when needed.
feast day
Arcangelo Tadini
Blessed
Adílio Daronch
Manuel Gómez González
Franz Jägerstätter
Corpus Christi
Trinity Sunday
Roman Catholic Church
Emperor Constantine I
Eugène de Mazenod
Helena of Constantinople
Equal-to-the-Apostles
Eastern Orthodox Church
Anglican Communion
John Elliot
Episcopal Church
Saints of the Cristero War
Christopher Magallanes
May 21 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
Arcangelo Tadini
Saint Arcangelo Tadini's feast on May 21 honors the Italian priest who established educational and charitable institutions.
Arcangelo Tadini was born in 1846 in Castelli Calepio, Italy, and devoted his life to serving the poor and working classes. He founded the Congregation of the Holy Family to provide education and social support to young women and their families. Tadini's initiatives included vocational training centers and charitable workshops, empowering thousands with skills and spiritual guidance. Pope John Paul II beatified him in 1999 and canonized him in 2009 for his unwavering faith and service. The feast day on May 21 invites the faithful to reflect on his legacy of compassion and social justice. Parishes dedicated to his name hold special liturgies and community outreach programs in his honor.
Arcangelo Tadini
BlessedAdílio DaronchandManuel Gómez González
Commemorates Blessed Adílio Daronch and Manuel Gómez González, martyrs beatified for their unwavering faith.
On May 21, the Catholic Church honors Blessed Adílio Daronch and Manuel Gómez González, two Salesian missionaries recognized as martyrs for their unwavering commitment to faith. Adílio Daronch, a Brazilian seminarian, and Manuel Gómez González, a Spanish priest, were attacked and killed while serving in Brazil in 1924. Their courage in the face of persecution inspired many and highlighted the cost of missionary work in turbulent times. They were beatified by Pope John Paul II in 2007, acknowledging their sacrifice. Their legacy endures in Salesian communities worldwide. This feast day invites the faithful to reflect on selfless service and sacrifice.
Blessed
Adílio Daronch
Manuel Gómez González
BlessedFranz Jägerstätter
Honors Blessed Franz Jägerstätter, an Austrian farmer who resisted the Nazi regime and was martyred for his conscience.
Blessed Franz Jägerstätter was an Austrian peasant who refused military service for the Nazi regime, guided by his Catholic conscience. Born in 1907, he openly objected to the regime's ideology and refused to take an oath of loyalty to Hitler. Arrested in 1943, Jägerstätter was declared a traitor and executed by guillotine. His steadfast conviction and moral courage inspired later movements for peace and conscientious objection. Beatified by the Catholic Church in 2007, he is remembered as a model of integrity and faith. His feast day encourages reflection on moral responsibility and the power of individual conscience.
Franz Jägerstätter
Earliest day on whichCorpus Christican fall, while June 24 is the latest; held on Thursday afterTrinity Sunday(often locally moved to Sunday). (Roman Catholic Church)
A solemn feast celebrating the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist, observed on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday.
Corpus Christi, Latin for Body of Christ, was established as a feast in 1264 by Pope Urban IV to honor the Eucharist. It is celebrated on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday, though some dioceses move it to the following Sunday. The feast emphasizes belief in Christ’s real presence under the appearances of bread and wine. Traditional observances include processions through town streets, displaying the consecrated host in a monstrance. Communities decorate church interiors and public ways with flowers, banners, and intricate carpets. Corpus Christi brings the faithful together in public witness to the central mystery of the Christian faith.
Corpus Christi
Trinity Sunday
Roman Catholic Church
Emperor Constantine I
Commemorates Emperor Constantine I, the first Roman ruler to legalize Christianity and founder of Constantinople.
Emperor Constantine I (c. 272–337 AD) transformed the Roman Empire by endorsing Christianity with the Edict of Milan in 313. He convened the First Council of Nicaea in 325, shaping foundational Christian doctrine. Under his rule, Christian communities gained freedom and imperial support. Constantine also founded Constantinople on the site of Byzantium, establishing a new capital for the Eastern Roman Empire. His policies and patronage played a pivotal role in Christianity's growth. This feast day honors his legacy as a protector of the faith and a key figure in church history.
Emperor Constantine I
Eugène de Mazenod
Honors Saint Eugène de Mazenod, founder of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate and advocate for the marginalized.
Saint Eugène de Mazenod (1782–1861) was a French priest who dedicated his life to serving marginalized communities. He founded the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate in 1816 to evangelize the rural poor in post-revolutionary France. Known for his zeal, compassion, and leadership, he expanded the order’s missionary work worldwide. De Mazenod was appointed Bishop of Marseille in 1837, continuing his efforts among the urban poor. Canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1995, he is celebrated for his missionary spirit and social commitment. His feast day inspires acts of charity and solidarity with those in need.
Eugène de Mazenod
Helena of Constantinople, also known as "Feast of the Holy Great Sovereigns Constantine and Helen,Equal-to-the-Apostles." (Eastern Orthodox Church,Anglican Communion)
Feast day of Saint Helena of Constantinople, mother of Emperor Constantine and Equal-to-the-Apostles.
Saint Helena of Constantinople (c. 250–330 AD), mother of Emperor Constantine I, is celebrated for her pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Tradition credits her with discovering fragments of the True Cross on Golgotha and bringing them to Constantinople. Her devotion helped shape imperial support for the early Church and its holy sites. Recognized as Equal-to-the-Apostles for her missionary influence, she founded churches and aided the poor. Her example of piety and pilgrimage has inspired generations. This observance highlights her role in the spread of Christianity and the veneration of sacred relics.
Helena of Constantinople
Equal-to-the-Apostles
Eastern Orthodox Church
Anglican Communion
John Elliot(Episcopal Church)
Commemorates John Elliot, the 'Apostle to the Indians,' for his missionary work among Native American communities.
John Elliot (1604–1690) was a Puritan missionary who learned the Massachusett language to share Christian teachings with Native American tribes. He translated the Bible into Massachusett, producing the first Bible printed in North America. Elliot established 'praying towns' where converted indigenous people could live, farm, and worship together. His dedication earned him the title 'Apostle to the Indians' and fostered cross-cultural dialogue. On May 21, the Episcopal Church honors his pioneering efforts in linguistics, education, and faith. His legacy continues to influence missionary approaches and respect for indigenous cultures.
John Elliot
Episcopal Church
Saints of the Cristero War, includingChristopher Magallanes
Honors the Saints of the Cristero War, including Blessed Christopher Magallanes, who died defending religious freedom in Mexico.
The Saints of the Cristero War were Catholic clergy and laypeople martyred during Mexico's Cristero War (1926–1929), when the government suppressed religious practice. Among this group is Blessed Christopher Magallanes, a priest arrested and executed in 1927 for his pastoral work. These martyrs refused to abandon their ministry despite persecution, demonstrating extraordinary courage. Over a hundred individuals were beatified or canonized, honoring their sacrifice and faith. On May 21, the Church commemorates these heroes who championed religious liberty. The feast day invites reflection on conviction, sacrifice, and the right to worship.
Saints of the Cristero War
Christopher Magallanes
May 21 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
Lists the saints and liturgical commemorations observed by the Eastern Orthodox Church on May 21.
May 21 in the Eastern Orthodox liturgical calendar includes numerous saints, martyrs, and esteemed church fathers recognized for their witness to the faith. Liturgical services feature hymns, readings, and prayers specific to each commemoration. Prominent figures on this day include the Holy Great Sovereigns Constantine and Helen, whose influence shaped early Christianity. Other martyrs and venerable ascetics are also honored, reflecting the diversity of the Church's heritage. These observances unite the faithful in remembering examples of holiness and sacrifice. The entry serves as a guide to the rites and remembrances marking May 21 in Orthodox tradition.
May 21 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)