Prophet
Nehemiah
Prophet Nehemiah
New Calendar December 13 Old Calendar December 26
Why they are a saint
Orthodox Christians honor Nehemiah as a prophet whose memory the services still name. Nehemiah is the central figure of the Book of Nehemiah, which describes his work in rebuilding Jerusalem during the Second Temple period as the governor of Yehud Medinata, the autonomous province of Judea within the Achaemenid Empire, under Artaxerxes I. Nehemiah is remembered for the rebuilding of Jerusalem's wall after the exile; the Church numbers him with the righteous of Israel.
Patronage / why chosen as patron
Orthodox Christians usually take Nehemiah as a patron when they bear the name Nehemiah at baptism, or were born or baptized near the feast on December 13. As a prophet, he is also honored by those who seek to hear and keep God's word.
Prayer
O holy Nehemiah, 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.