Category: Saints

Ephraim the Syrian Saint Ephraim the Syrian, a teacher of repentance, was born at the beginning of the fourth century in the city of Nisibis (Mesopotamia) into the family of impoverished toilers of the soil. His parents raised their son in piety, but from his childhood he was known for his quick temper and impetuous…

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…

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,…

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,…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…