January 31: St. Nikita of the Kiev Caves

First of all, although Nikita ends with an 'a', it's a male name, the Russian version of Nicetas. Hence Nikita Krushchev, St. Nikita the Goth, etc. Several other Russian male names end with 'a.'

More importantly, this guy's life presents quite a lesson for those of us who struggle with pride! Never give up too much prayer in favor of 'study,' nor 'bite off more than you can chew'!

January 26: A Sainted Family

Parents Xenophon and Maria of Constantinople and their sons Arcadius and John (5th century).

January 15: Another Saint in the Family

6th-century hermitess and foster-mother of saints,* Ita (Ida) of Killeedy in Southwest Ireland, was born into the ruling clan of the regional kingdom of Decies in Munster Province (Irish Deise Mumhan), which at its height covered roughly County Waterford and much surrounding territory. (Killeedy is actually in County Limerick, well northwest of The Decies.)

Weirder yet, I stumbled across the icon depicted at the OCA link, at the bookstore at St. Tikhon's Monastery and Seminary in Pennsylvania, while visiting there once. Never know what you'll find ... or what will find you! ["In Russia, Party find you!" Sorry, I couldn't resist!]

(*--Most prominent, St. Brendan the Navigator, leader of the first known / recorded / semi-legendary voyage from Europe/Africa/Asia to the Americas, half a millennium before the Vikings and a millennium before Columbus, who researched Brendan's voyage in Ireland before "sailing the ocean blue" himself.)

January 12: St. Tatiana of Rome, Deaconess and Martyr

Yes, Rome, not Russia. I don't know why her name is exclusively associated with the latter today!

January 3: St. Genevieve of Paris

A famous 5th-century French Orthodox nun.

January 2: Wife, Mother, Lay Saint (non-martyr)

Righteous Juliana of Lazarevo, Russia (16th century).

(BTW, Happy New Year!)