Holidays

Porphyry of Gaza died around 420 CE.

Porphyry of Gaza died around 420 CE. He's remembered today, February 26, in the Eastern Orthodox Church. He was bishop of Gaza for 25 years and spent most of them trying to shut down pagan temples. He traveled to Constantinople twice to get imperial permission. Emperor Arcadius finally said yes. Porphyry returned with soldiers and destroyed the Marneion, Gaza's main temple to Zeus. He built a church on the ruins and named it after Empress Eudoxia. The city's pagans called it "the church of shame." Christians called him a saint for it.

The Eastern Orthodox Church marks February 26 as the feast day of Saint Porphyrios of Gaza, a fifth-century bishop wh…

The Eastern Orthodox Church marks February 26 as the feast day of Saint Porphyrios of Gaza, a fifth-century bishop who spent his first 25 years as a monk living in a cave. He owned nothing but a cloak. When he became bishop, he convinced the Byzantine empress to fund the destruction of Gaza's massive temple to Marnas — the city's patron god for 800 years. He built a church on the exact foundation. The locals rioted. He stayed anyway. Today, Orthodox Christians worldwide remember him not for the temple he destroyed, but for reportedly healing the sick by simply standing near them. The church he built stood for 1,200 years.

Isabel of France turned down three marriage proposals — including one from the Holy Roman Emperor — to stay single an…

Isabel of France turned down three marriage proposals — including one from the Holy Roman Emperor — to stay single and build a monastery. She was a princess, sister to King Louis IX, with full access to the French treasury. She chose poverty instead. Founded an abbey for Poor Clares in 1260, wrote their rule herself, but never took vows. She wanted to serve without the obedience part. The Church canonized her anyway, six centuries later.

Alexander of Alexandria became patriarch in 312 CE, but he's remembered for what he didn't do: back down.

Alexander of Alexandria became patriarch in 312 CE, but he's remembered for what he didn't do: back down. His deacon Arius started teaching that Jesus was created, not eternal. Alexander called it heresy. Arius had followers, momentum, political backing. Alexander excommunicated him anyway. The controversy split the entire Christian world. Constantine had to call the Council of Nicaea in 325 to settle it. Three hundred bishops showed up. They sided with Alexander. The Nicene Creed — still recited in churches today — came directly from that fight. Alexander died two years later. His secretary Athanasius spent the next forty-seven years defending what his boss refused to compromise.

Saint Nestor was a Christian martyr executed in Thessaloniki around 251 AD.

Saint Nestor was a Christian martyr executed in Thessaloniki around 251 AD. He'd been arrested for refusing to sacrifice to Roman gods. In prison, he met a gladiator named Lyaeus who'd been terrorizing Christians in the arena. Nestor challenged him. The authorities agreed, thinking they'd get a public execution either way. Nestor won. The crowd went silent. The prefect had him beheaded immediately — not for killing the gladiator, but for embarrassing Rome. His feast day marks the moment a prisoner beat the empire's champion and chose execution over apostasy.

Kuwait celebrates Liberation Day on February 26, the day coalition forces freed the country from Iraqi occupation in …

Kuwait celebrates Liberation Day on February 26, the day coalition forces freed the country from Iraqi occupation in 1991. Seven months earlier, Saddam Hussein had invaded, claiming Kuwait as Iraq's "19th province." Iraqi troops looted the national museum, set 700 oil wells on fire, and dumped millions of barrels of crude into the Persian Gulf. When coalition forces arrived, those oil fires burned for nine months. The smoke was visible from space. Kuwait still marks two national days in a single week: Independence Day on February 25, Liberation Day the next day. One for freedom from Britain in 1961, one for getting their country back thirty years later.

Bahá'ís get four or five extra days that don't belong to any month.

Bahá'ís get four or five extra days that don't belong to any month. They fall between the 18th and 19th months of the Bahá'í calendar — intercalary days, outside the structure. The faith's calendar has 19 months of 19 days each. That's 361 days. Ayyám-i-Há fills the gap before the new year. Followers use it for gift-giving, hospitality, and preparing for the 19-day fast that follows. Time set aside specifically for generosity. Days that exist in the margin.

Wallace Fard Muhammad appeared in Detroit in 1930, went door-to-door in Black neighborhoods selling silk, and started…

Wallace Fard Muhammad appeared in Detroit in 1930, went door-to-door in Black neighborhoods selling silk, and started teaching that Black Americans were the original people of the earth. He founded the Nation of Islam. Three years later, he vanished. Nobody knows what happened to him. His follower Elijah Muhammad declared him God incarnate. Every February, the Nation celebrates Savior's Day on what they claim was his birthday. The date itself is uncertain — like everything about him.

The Bahá'í calendar has nineteen months of nineteen days each.

The Bahá'í calendar has nineteen months of nineteen days each. That's 361 days. Four or five days left over. They're called Ayyám-i-Há — the Days of Há. Not a religious festival. Not a commemoration. Just extra days that don't belong to any month. Bahá'ís use them for hospitality, giving gifts, and service to others. Preparing the spirit before the last month, which is a fast. The calendar was designed in the 1840s by the Báb, who wanted time itself to reflect unity — equal months, equal days, and then these few days outside the structure entirely. A built-in reminder that generosity doesn't need a reason or a date.

Emily Malbone Morgan founded the Society of the Companions of the Holy Cross in 1884 after watching wealthy women ign…

Emily Malbone Morgan founded the Society of the Companions of the Holy Cross in 1884 after watching wealthy women ignore poverty in their own neighborhoods. Her rule: members had to pray daily and give away money—specific amounts, tracked. No honorary memberships. No exceptions for the socially prominent. The society still exists. It's never had more than 800 members. Morgan insisted small numbers mattered more than influence. She died believing twelve committed people could change more than a thousand casual ones.

Azerbaijan marks the Khojaly massacre.

Azerbaijan marks the Khojaly massacre. February 25, 1992. Armenian forces overran the town during the Nagorno-Karabakh war. 613 civilians died in a single night. The survivors fled through snowy mountains. Some froze. Others were shot as they ran. The youngest victim was one year old. The oldest was 85. Azerbaijan made it a national day of mourning in 1997. The town itself was never rebuilt. It's still empty.

Papúa Nueva GuineaPapúa Nueva Guinea Papúa Nueva Guinea: Día Nacional del Recuerdo.

Papúa Nueva GuineaPapúa Nueva Guinea Papúa Nueva Guinea: Día Nacional del Recuerdo.

KuwaitKuwait Kuwait: Día de la Liberación.

KuwaitKuwait Kuwait: Día de la Liberación.

Guatemala Guatemala: Día del Patrimonio Cultural de la Nación de Guatemala.

Guatemala Guatemala: Día del Patrimonio Cultural de la Nación de Guatemala. Esta fecha conmemora la primera visita oficial a la ciudad maya de Tikal, en 1848.

Koweït : jour de la libération commémorant la libération du pays vis-à-vis de l'Irak voisin après la guerre du Golfe …

Koweït : jour de la libération commémorant la libération du pays vis-à-vis de l'Irak voisin après la guerre du Golfe en 1991 (et lendemain de la fête nationale du 25 février).

Robert Drury († 1606), bienheureux prêtre anglais martyr à Tyburn.

Robert Drury († 1606), bienheureux prêtre anglais martyr à Tyburn.

Calendrier Badí‘ : premier jour de la période intercalaire Ayyám-i-Há (en) / jours de Há, qui célèbre la transcendanc…

Calendrier Badí‘ : premier jour de la période intercalaire Ayyám-i-Há (en) / jours de Há, qui célèbre la transcendance de Dieu et permet en outre de se raccorder au calendrier grégorien.

Agricole de Nevers († 594), 7e évêque de Nevers.

Agricole de Nevers († 594), 7e évêque de Nevers.

André de Florence († IXe siècle), 10e évêque .

André de Florence († IXe siècle), 10e évêque .

Día Mundial del Pistacho.

Día Mundial del Pistacho.

El Salvador El Salvador: Día del Profesional en Laboratorio Clínico.

El Salvador El Salvador: Día del Profesional en Laboratorio Clínico.

Denis d'Augsbourg († 300), 1er évêque d'Augsbourg.

Denis d'Augsbourg († 300), 1er évêque d'Augsbourg.

Faustinien de Bologne († IVe siècle), 2e évêque de Bologne.

Faustinien de Bologne († IVe siècle), 2e évêque de Bologne.

Irène de Gaza († IIIe siècle), vierge à Gaza.

Irène de Gaza († IIIe siècle), vierge à Gaza.

Aux Koulfinid.

Aux Koulfinid.

Alexandre et ses variantes masculines : Alec, Aleck, Alessandro, Alex, Alexander, Alick, Alistair, Alister, Sacha ; e…

Alexandre et ses variantes masculines : Alec, Aleck, Alessandro, Alex, Alexander, Alick, Alistair, Alister, Sacha ; et féminines : Alexandra, Alejandra, Aleksandra, Alessandra, Alexandrie, Alexandrina, Alexandrine, Sandra (cf. 22 avril).

Santa Emerência, bisavó de Jesus

Santa Emerência, bisavó de Jesus

Ciriaco Sancha y Hervás

Ciriaco Sancha y Hervás

Jeremias da Valáquia

Jeremias da Valáquia

San Faustiniano de Bolonia.

San Faustiniano de Bolonia.

Christian feast day: Alexander of Alexandria

Christian feast day: Alexander of Alexandria

Beato Roberto Dru cubrory.

Beato Roberto Dru cubrory.

Beata Piedad de la Cruz.

Beata Piedad de la Cruz.

San Víctor eremita.

San Víctor eremita.

San Néstor de Magido.

San Néstor de Magido.

San Diodoro.

San Diodoro.

San Andrés de Florencia.

San Andrés de Florencia.

San Agrícola de Nevers.

San Agrícola de Nevers.

Namenstage Alexander, Ludger, Mechthild

Namenstage Alexander, Ludger, Mechthild

Sébastien de Pochekhonié († vers 1542), moine.

Sébastien de Pochekhonié († vers 1542), moine.

Kirchliche Gedenktage Mechthild von Magdeburg, deutsche Begine und Mystikerin (evangelisch)

Kirchliche Gedenktage Mechthild von Magdeburg, deutsche Begine und Mystikerin (evangelisch)

Milgite d'Anglie († v.

Milgite d'Anglie († v. 676), moniale.

Photine la Samaritaine (Ier siècle), rencontra Jésus au puits de Jacob.

Photine la Samaritaine (Ier siècle), rencontra Jésus au puits de Jacob.

Giuseppe Rossi († 1945), bienheureux prêtre italien mort martyr.

Giuseppe Rossi († 1945), bienheureux prêtre italien mort martyr.

Mathilde de Sponheim († 1154), bienheureuse recluse allemande.

Mathilde de Sponheim († 1154), bienheureuse recluse allemande.