November 23

Holidays & Observances

Christianfeast day:

Alexander Nevsky(Repose,Russian Orthodox Church), BlessedMiguel Agustín Pro– one ofSaints of the Cristero War(Roman Catholic Churchand theLutheran Church), Columbanus, Felicitas of Rome, Paulinus of Wales, Pope Clement I(Roman Catholic Church, theAnglican Communion, and theLutheran Church), Trudo(or Trond), Wilfetrudis (or Vulfetrude)

A Christian feast day commemorating multiple saints including Alexander Nevsky, Blessed Miguel Agustín Pro, and others across various denominations.
Christian churches mark this feast to honor the lives and legacies of saints celebrated on November 23. Alexander Nevsky is remembered for his defense of Russian lands and his canonization in the Russian Orthodox Church. Blessed Miguel Agustín Pro is honored as a martyr of the Cristero War in Mexico. Columbanus is revered for founding monastic communities across Europe in the 6th century. Felicitas of Rome and Paulinus of Wales are venerated for their early Christian witness and missionary efforts. Pope Clement I, Trudo, and Wilfetrudis also feature in liturgical calendars of Catholic, Anglican, and Lutheran traditions. This collection of saints reflects the rich tapestry of Christian history and the diverse ways faith communities commemorate holy figures.
feast day Alexander Nevsky Russian Orthodox Church Blessed Miguel Agustín Pro Saints of the Cristero War Roman Catholic Church Lutheran Church Columbanus Felicitas of Rome Paulinus of Wales Pope Clement I Roman Catholic Church Anglican Communion Lutheran Church Trudo Wilfetrudis (or Vulfetrude)

Labor Thanksgiving Day(Japan)

A national holiday in Japan dedicated to honoring labor, production, and community, rooted in ancient harvest festivals.
Observed annually on November 23, Labor Thanksgiving Day celebrates the achievements of workers and the importance of production for society. Its origins lie in the Niiname-sai, an imperial ceremony giving thanks for a bountiful harvest. After World War II, the holiday was established by law to highlight human rights and labor. Japanese people mark the day with events that promote mutual appreciation between producers and consumers. Schools and community groups often hold ceremonies and performances to express gratitude for daily work. The holiday encourages reflection on the value of cooperation and the dignity of labor.
Labor Thanksgiving Day Japan

Repudiation Day(Frederick County, Maryland,United States)

Local observance in Frederick County commemorating the 1765 protest against the British Stamp Act.
Repudiation Day is celebrated each November 23 in Frederick County, Maryland, to honor the Sons of Liberty’s 1765 protest against the Stamp Act. Colonists convened on the town green to publicly reject the unpopular British tax on printed materials. This act of defiance became an early symbol of colonial resistance leading up to the American Revolution. The annual commemoration includes historical reenactments, lectures, and ceremonies at local landmarks. Teachers and community leaders use the day to educate residents about the county’s role in America’s struggle for independence. Repudiation Day fosters local pride in Frederick County’s patriotic heritage.
Repudiation Day Frederick County, Maryland United States

Rudolf Maister Day(Slovenia)

Memorial day in Slovenia honoring General Rudolf Maister’s defense of Maribor in 1919.
Rudolf Maister Day is observed on November 23 to remember the actions of General Rudolf Maister, who secured the city of Maribor for the newly formed State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs in 1919. Maister’s leadership during the tense post-World War I period prevented the annexation of the region by neighboring forces. His dedication to Slovenian national identity made him a key figure in the country’s history. Schools and civic groups commemorate the day with lectures, exhibitions, and wreath-laying ceremonies. The observance highlights themes of patriotism, sovereignty, and the struggle for cultural preservation. It serves as an opportunity to reflect on Slovenia’s journey to nationhood.
Rudolf Maister Day Slovenia

St George's Day (Georgia)orGiorgoba(Georgia)

Major religious feast in Georgia celebrating St. George, patron saint of the country.
St. George’s Day, known as Giorgoba in Georgia, is celebrated on November 23 in honor of St. George, the country’s patron saint. The Georgian Orthodox Church holds special liturgies and processions to venerate the saint’s martyrdom and miraculous deeds. Throughout Georgia, churches display icons of St. George adorned with flowers and candles. Many believers visit shrines and monasteries linked to his cult, seeking blessings and protection. The day also features folk music, dancing, and communal feasting in rural areas. Giorgoba underscores the deep intertwining of faith, national identity, and cultural tradition in Georgia.
St George's Day (Georgia) Georgia

Alexander Nevsky(Repose,Russian Orthodox Church)

Commemoration of Prince Alexander Nevsky’s repose, a celebrated saint in the Russian Orthodox Church.
Alexander Nevsky was a 13th-century prince who defended Rus’ territories against foreign invaders and was later canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church. His feast on November 23 marks the anniversary of his death and honors his spiritual and military leadership. Iconography of Nevsky often depicts him holding a sword and shield, symbolizing his role as a warrior saint. Orthodox Christians attend divine liturgies and offer prayers for courage and protection. Churches in Russia and diaspora communities hold special services and bring out revered icons for veneration. The day reinforces Nevsky’s legacy as both a national hero and a model of Christian virtue.
Alexander Nevsky Russian Orthodox Church

BlessedMiguel Agustín Pro– one ofSaints of the Cristero War(Roman Catholic Churchand theLutheran Church)

Feast day of Blessed Miguel Agustín Pro, Mexican Jesuit martyr of the Cristero War.
Blessed Miguel Agustín Pro was a Jesuit priest executed in 1927 during Mexico’s Cristero War for his unwavering commitment to religious freedom. He ministered in disguise to persecuted Catholics and performed clandestine baptisms and Masses. On November 23, the Roman Catholic and Lutheran churches commemorate his martyrdom and celebrate his witness to faith under persecution. Services often include readings of his writings, prayers for the oppressed, and displays of his famous film footage. Pro’s life inspires discussions on conscience, justice, and the right to worship openly. His beatification in 1988 reaffirmed his status as a symbol of peaceful resistance to tyranny.
Blessed Miguel Agustín Pro Saints of the Cristero War Roman Catholic Church Lutheran Church

Columbanus

Feast of Saint Columbanus, the Irish missionary who shaped monastic life in Europe.
Saint Columbanus was a 6th-century Irish missionary whose travels across Europe founded monasteries in France, Switzerland, and Italy. He emphasized strict monastic discipline, scholarship, and missionary outreach, leaving a lasting impact on Western monasticism. November 23 marks his feast day in many Christian calendars, particularly in the Catholic and Anglican traditions. Monasteries and parishes honor him with liturgies, recitations of his Rule, and lectures on his journeys. Columbanus’s writings, including letters and penitential canons, continue to inform religious scholarship. Celebrations highlight his role as a cultural bridge between Celtic and continental Europe.
Columbanus

Felicitas of Rome

Feast day of Saint Felicitas, venerated as a martyr who offered steadfast faith in ancient Rome.
Saint Felicitas of Rome is remembered as a Christian martyr who, along with her seven sons, refused to renounce their faith under Roman persecution. Tradition holds that she encouraged her children to remain loyal to Christ, facing torture and execution with courage. Her feast on November 23 celebrates the virtues of faith, motherhood, and steadfastness in adversity. Churches honor her memory through liturgical prayers, readings of her story, and the veneration of relics. Felicitas’s example resonates with prayers for families facing challenges and for endurance in trials. Her cult spread widely in the early Church, influencing art and devotion throughout Christian history.
Felicitas of Rome

Paulinus of Wales

Commemoration of Saint Paulinus of Wales, early leader in the British Church.
Saint Paulinus of Wales was a 5th or 6th-century bishop who worked to organize the early Christian church in southwestern England and Wales. On November 23, his feast day is observed in some Anglican and Orthodox calendars with services celebrating his missionary efforts. Little is known about his life, but traditions credit him with establishing churches and guiding local believers. Worship services often include readings from Celtic Christian texts and prayers seeking spiritual guidance. Historians and faithful alike reflect on Paulinus’s role in spreading Christianity in post-Roman Britain. The day invites exploration of the region’s early ecclesiastical heritage and the blending of local and universal Christian traditions.
Paulinus of Wales

Pope Clement I(Roman Catholic Church, theAnglican Communion, and theLutheran Church)

Celebration of Pope Clement I, an early bishop of Rome and martyr revered across several Christian denominations.
Pope Clement I served as the Bishop of Rome in the late 1st century and is considered one of the Apostolic Fathers. He is credited with writing the First Epistle to the Corinthians, emphasizing unity and charity in the early Church. Tradition holds that he was exiled and martyred under Emperor Trajan around the year 99. His feast day on November 23 is observed by the Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion, and the Lutheran Church. Beloved for his pastoral care and letters, he remains a symbol of steadfast faith and leadership in Christian history.
Pope Clement I Roman Catholic Church Anglican Communion Lutheran Church

Trudo(or Trond)

Commemoration of Saint Trudo (also known as Trond), founder of the monastery at Sint-Truiden in the 7th century.
Saint Trudo was a Frankish nobleman who renounced his wealth to found an abbey in what is now Sint-Truiden, Belgium. He dedicated his life to prayer, scholarship, and caring for the poor in his community. Trudo’s leadership helped establish one of the region’s earliest centers of Christian learning and culture. His feast day on November 23 celebrates his role as a monastic founder and spiritual guide. Generations have honored his legacy through pilgrimages and local traditions that keep his memory alive.
Trudo