Saint · 314
Sylvester
Venerable Sylvester of the Kiev Caves (12th C)
New Calendar January 2 Old Calendar January 15
Why they are a saint
Venerable Sylvester of the Kiev Caves (12th C) (314) is commemorated by the Orthodox Church on January 2. Venerated as a monastic saint, honored for a life of prayer and asceticism; little else about his life has come down to us.
Limited historical information is available about this saint.
Patronage / why chosen as patron
Orthodox Christians usually take Sylvester as a patron when they bear the name Sylvester at baptism, or were born or baptized near the feast on January 2. As a monastic, he is also asked for help in prayer, fasting, and repentance.
Prayer
O holy Sylvester, 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.