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St. Michael the Confessor the Bishop of Synnada; Myrrh-Bearing Mary of Clopas

Orthodox Calendar, May 23 Saint Michael the Confessor From his youth he longed for the monastic life and was sent by Patriarch Tarasius (784-806) to a monastery on the coast of the Black Sea. Saint Theophylactus (March 8), the future Bishop of Nicomedia also entered the monastery together with him. At the monastery both monks…

May 23, 2026basilica.ro

Martyrs Basiliscus and Marcellus; Commemoration of the Holy Fathers of the Second Ecumenical Council (Fish allowed)

Orthodox Calendar, May 22 Holy Martyr Basiliscus He was a nephew of the Great Martyr Theodore the Recruit (February 17), and he suffered together with his brothers Eutropius and Kleonikos during the persecution of the emperor Maximian Galerius (305-311). The holy martyrs Kleonikos and Eutropius (March 3) were crucified, but the martyr Basiliscus was sent…

May 22, 2026basilica.ro

(†) The Ascension of our Lord (Heroes Day); Equal of the Apostles and Emperor Constantine with his Mother Helen

Orthodox Calendar May 21  The Ascension of our Lord I ascend unto My Father and your Father, and to My God, and Your God (John 20:17). In these words the Risen Christ described to Mary Magdalene the mystery of His Resurrection. She had to carry this mysterious message to His disciples, “as they mourned and…

May 21, 2026basilica.ro

Leavetaking of Pascha; Martyr Thallelaeus at Aegae in Cilicia; Ven. Talasius; St. Lydia of Philippisia

Orthodox Calendar, May 20 Martyr Thallelaeus The Martyrs Thallelaeus, Alexander and Asterius lived during the reign of Numerian (283-284). The prefect of the city of Aegea sent soldiers to seek out Christians. They brought to him Thallelaeus, an eighteen-year-old blond-haired youth. To the prefect’s questions Saint Thallelaeus replied, “I am a Christian, a native of…

May 20, 2026basilica.ro

Hieromartyr Patrick the Bishop of Prusa

Orthodox Calendar, May 19 Hieromartyr Patrick the Bishop of Prusa Saint Patrick lived during the first century and was bishop of the city of Prusa in Bythnia (Asia Minor). He openly and boldly preached Christ the Savior, and denounced the error of the pagans. Therefore, he and the priests, Acacius, Menander and Polyainus were arrested,…

May 19, 2026basilica.ro

Martyrs Peter, Dionysius and Paul

Orthodox Calendar, May 18 Holy Martyrs Peter, Dionysius, Andrew, Paul, Christina They suffered under emperor Decius (249-251). Saint Peter suffered in the city of Lampsaka. Brought to trial before the prefect Optimines, he bravely confessed his faith in Christ. They tried to force the youth to deny the Lord and worship the goddess Venus. The…

May 18, 2026basilica.ro

Apostle Andronicus and his wife Junia; Venerable Nectarios and Theophan; 6th Sunday after Pascha (of the Blind Man)

Orthodox Calendar, May 17 Saint Andronicus and his wife Junia Apostle of the Seventy and Saint Junia were relatives of the holy Apostle Paul. They labored much, preaching the Gospel to pagans. Saint Paul mentions them in his Epistle to the Romans: “Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen and fellow prisoners, who are of note…

May 17, 2026basilica.ro

Venerable Theodore the Sanctified; Ven. Silas, Paisios and Nathan from Sihăstria Putnei

Orthodox Calendar, May 16 Venerable Theodore the Sanctified Saint Theodore was called “Sanctified” because he was the first in his monastery ordained to the priesthood. Saint Theodore came from Egypt and was the son of rich and illustrious Christian parents. The yearning for monastic life appeared early in him. Once there was a large party…

May 16, 2026basilica.ro

St. Jacob of Putna, Metropolitan of Moldavia; Venerable Pachomius the Great (Fish allowed)

Orthodox Calendar May 15 Holy Hierarch Jacob of Putna, Metropolitan of Moldavia The future Metropolitan of Moldavia was born on 20 January 1719 in a family of believers from Bukovina. Growing up in the spirit of true godliness, he entered the monastic life when he was only 12 years old. His spiritual formation is linked…

May 15, 2026basilica.ro

Leavetaking of Mid-Pentecost; Virginmartyr Glyceria; Venerable Sergius (Fish allowed)

Orthodox Calendar, May 13 Virginmartyr Glyceria Saint Glyceria suffered as a martyr for her faith in Christ in the second century, during a persecution against Christians under the emperor Antoninus (138-161). She came from an illustrious family, and her father Macarius was a high-ranking Roman official. Later, the family moved to the Thracian city of…

May 13, 2026basilica.ro

Martyr John the Wallachian; St. Epiphanius the Bishop of Cyprus; St. Germanus the Patriarch of Constantinople

Orthodox Calendar, May 12 Saint John the Wallachian He was born into a poor family in Oltenia during the time of Prince Matthew Basarab. In 1659, when he was fifteen years old, a band of Turks was attacking the Olt Valley from Ardeal and seizing many young people as slaves, including Saint John. The Turks…

May 12, 2026basilica.ro