Martyr
Gorazd of Prague
Martyr Gorazd of Prague, Bohemia and Moravo-Cilezsk
New Calendar September 4 Old Calendar September 17
Why they are a saint
Gorazd of Prague, given name Matěj Pavlík, was the hierarch of the revived Orthodox Church in Czechoslovakia after World War I. During World War II, having provided refuge for the assassins of SS-Obergruppenfuhrer Reinhard Heydrich, called The Hangman of Prague, in the cathedral of Saints Cyril and Methodius in Prague, Gorazd took full responsibility for protecting the assassins after the Schutzstaffel found them in the crypt of the cathedral, hoping to minimize Nazi reprisals on his congregation.
Patronage / why chosen as patron
Orthodox Christians usually take Gorazd of Prague as a patron when they bear the name Gorazd at baptism, or were born or baptized near the feast on September 4. As a martyr, he is also asked for courage and faithfulness under trial.
Prayer
O holy Gorazd of Prague, pray to God for us.
A short general prayer to a saint, not a liturgical text. No public-domain troparion for this saint is included.