Category: Saints

  • Saints – 2025-01-27

    Peter the Righteous of Egypt ca 300 AD The tenth-century historian Severus of Ashmumeen gives us an account of how during the Diocletianic Persecution the Patriarch was seized and thrown in prison. When the emperor was informed about this, he ordered Peter to be beheaded. This was hindered by a large number of Christians who…

  • Saints – 2025-01-26

    Xenophon & his Companions Saint Xenophon, his wife Maria, and their sons Arcadius and John, were noted citizens of Constantinople and lived in the fifth century. Despite their riches and position, they distinguished themselves by their simplicity of soul and goodness of heart. Wishing to give their sons John and Arcadius a more complete education,…

  • Saints – 2025-01-25

    Gregory the Theologian, Archbishop of Constantinople Saint Gregory the Theologian, Archbishop of Constantinople, a great Father and teacher of the Church, was born into a Christian family of eminent lineage in the year 329, at Arianzos (not far from the city of Cappadocian Nazianzos). Saint Gregory spent six years in Athens studying rhetoric, poetry, geometry,…

  • Saints – 2025-01-24

    Venerable Xenia of Rome, and her two female servants Saint Xenia of Rome, in the world Eusebia, was the only daughter of an eminent Roman senator. From her youth she loved God, and wished to avoid the marriage arranged for her. She secretly left her parental home with two servants devoted to her, and set…

  • Saints – 2025-01-22

    Timothy the Apostle of the 70 The Holy Apostle Timothy was from the Lycaonian city of Lystra in Asia Minor. Saint Timothy was converted to Christ in the year 52 by the holy Apostle Paul (June 29). When the Apostles Paul and Barnabas first visited the cities of Lycaonia, Saint Paul healed one crippled from…

  • Saints – 2025-01-23

    Hieromartyr Clement Bishop of Ancyra and Agathangelus the Martyr The Hieromartyr Clement was born in the Galatian city of Ancyra in the year 258, of a pagan father and a Christian mother. Saint Clement was made a reader, and later a deacon. When he was eighteen he was ordained to the holy priesthood, and at…

  • Saints – 2025-01-21

    Maximus the Confessor Saint Maximus the Confessor was born in Constantinople around 580. Saint Maximus soon realized that the emperor and many others had been corrupted by the Monothelite heresy, which was spreading rapidly through the East. In 638, the emperor Heraclius and Patriarch Sergius tried to minimize the importance of differences in belief, and…

  • Mysteries of the Jesus Prayer

    The Way of a Pilgrim The 19th century Russian spiritual classic on prayer, The Way of a Pilgrim, and its sequel, The Pilgrim Continues His Way, have long fascinated those who have stumbled on this winsome tale. First published in Russian in 1884 under the title, Candid Narratives of a Pilgrim to His Spiritual Father,…

  • Saints – 2025-01-19

    Macarius the Great of Egypt Saint Macarius the Great of Egypt was born in the early fourth century in the village of Ptinapor in Egypt. Saint Macarius repelled the attacks of the devil, defending himself with prayer and the Sign of the Cross. Once, while he was praying, Saint Macarius heard a voice: “Macarius, you…

  • Saints of the Day – 2025-01-18

    Athanasios and Cyril Patriarchs of Alexandria Saints Athanasius and Cyril were Archbishops of Alexandria. These wise teachers of truth and defenders of Christ’s Church share a joint Feast in recognition of their dogmatic writings which affirm the truth of the Orthodox Faith, correctly interpret the Holy Scripture, and censure the delusions of the heretics. OCA…

  • Saints of the Day – 2025-01-17

    Anthony the Great Saint Anthony the Great is known as the Father of monasticism, and the long ascetical sermon in The Life of Saint Anthony by Saint Athanasius (Sections 16-34), could be called the first monastic Rule. He was born in Egypt in the village of Coma, near the desert of the Thebaid, in the…

  • Saints of the Day – 2025-01-16

    Veneration of the Precious Chains of the Holy and All-Glorious Apostle Peter The Veneration of the Honorable Chains of the Holy and All-Praised Apostle Peter: In about the year 42, on the orders of Herod Agrippa, the Apostle Peter was thrown into prison for preaching about Christ the Savior. In prison he was held secure…

  • Saints of the Day – 2025-01-15

    Paul of Thebes Saint Paul of Thebes was born in Egypt around 227 in the Thebaid of Egypt. Settling into a mountain cave, Saint Paul dwelt there for ninety-one years, praying incessantly to God both day and night. He sustained himself on dates and bread, which a raven brought him, and he clothed himself with…

  • Saints of the Day – 2025-01-14

    The Holy Fathers slain at Sinai and Raitho There were two occasions when the monks and hermits at Sinai and Raithu were murdered by the barbarians. The first took place in the fourth century when forty Fathers were killed at Mount Sinai, and thirty-nine were slain at Raithu on the same day. Mount Sinai, where…

  • Saints of the Day 2024-12-13

    Martyrs Eustratius, Auxentius, Eugene, Mardarius, and Orestes of Greater Armenia Circa 300 AD. Persecuted under the emperors Diocletian and Maximianus. Orthodox Christianity Then and Now Lucia the Virgin-martyr Orthodox Christianity Then and Now Herman the Wonderworker of Alaska & First Saint of America Orthodox Christianity Then and Now Gabriel the Hieromartyr, Archbishop of Serbia Orthodox…

  • Saints of the Day 2025-01-14

    The Holy Martyrs Hermylus and Stratonicus The Holy Martyrs Hermylus and Stratonicus, Slavs by origin, lived at the beginning of the fourth century during a persecution against Christians by the emperor Licinius (311-324). Saint Hermylus served as deacon in the city of Singidunum (Belgrade). Condemned by Licinius to imprisonment, he was long and cruelly tortured…

  • Saints of the Day 2025-01-12

    Tatiana the Martyr of Rome (200’s AD) The Holy Virgin Martyr Tatiana was born into an illustrious Roman family, and her father was elected consul three times. He was secretly a Christian and raised his daughter to be devoted to God and the Church. When she reached the age of maturity, Tatiana decided to remain…

  • Saints of the Day 2025-01-10

    Gregory of Nyssa In the year 372, Gregory of Nyssa was consecrated by Saint Basil the Great as bishop of the city of Nyssa in Cappadocia. Saint Gregory was an ardent advocate for Orthodoxy, and he fought against the Arian heresy with his brother Saint Basil. Gregory was persecuted by the Arians, by whom he…

  • Saints of the Day 2025-01-09

    Polyeuctus the Martyr of Melitene in Armenia Saint Polyeuktos went to the city square, and tore up the edict of Decius which required everyone to worship the idols. A few moments later, he met a procession carrying twelve idols through the streets of the city. Dashing the idols to the ground, he trampled them underfoot.…

  • Saints for Today – 2024-12-12

    Spyridon the Wonderworker of Trymithous Orthodox Christianity Then and Now Holy New Martyr Peter the Aleut Orthodox Christianity Then and Now John (or Joachim), Bishop of Zichni Orthodox Christianity Then and Now

  • Saints of the Day 2024-12-11

    Daniel the Stylite of Constantinople Luke the New Stylite of Chalcedon Martyrs Acepsius and Aeithalas Holy Martyrs Miracus and Barsabas Leontios the Righteous of Monemvasia The Glorious King Nikephoros Phokas

  • The Conception by St. Anna of the Most Holy Theotokos

    According to the ancient tradition of the Church, since Saint Anna, the Ancestor of God, was barren, she and her husband Joachim remained without children until old age. Therefore, sorrowing over their childlessness, they besought God with a promise that, if He were to grant them the fruit of the womb, they would offer their…

  • Saints of the Day 2024-12-07

    Ambrose, Bishop of Milan (339 – 397) Orthodox Christianity Then and Now Saint Ambrose, was a theologian and statesman who served as Bishop of Milan from 374 to 397. He expressed himself prominently as a public figure, fiercely promoting Roman Christianity against Arianism and paganism.[5] He left a substantial collection of writings, of which the…

  • Saints of the Day – 2014-12-06

    Saints of the Day – 2014-12-06

    Nicholas the Wonderworker, Archbishop of Myra Lived 15 March 270 – 6 December 343. His story. Account of his life from 400 AD. Thrown in prison, beaten and tortured for being a Christian. Set free by the Emperor Constantine when he made Christianity legal. He was at the First Great Ecumenical Council. Performed miracles. Not…