Orthodox Calendar, September 7 Forefeast of the Nativity of the Mother of God The first lesson at Great Vespers (Genesis 28:10-17) describes Jacob’s dream of a ladder reaching from earth to heaven, and the angels…
Orthodox Calendar, September 6 Commemoration of the Miracle of the Archangel Michael at Colossae In Phrygia, not far from the city of Hieropolis, in a place called Cheretopos, there was a church named for the…
Orthodox Calendar, September 5 Holy Prophet Zachariah and the Righteous Elizabeth They were the parents of the Holy Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord, John. They were descended from the lineage of Aaron: Saint…
Orthodox Calendar – September 3 Venerables Neophyte and Meletios Venerable Neophyte lived in seclusion somewhere near Cozia Monastery on the river Olt Valley, in today’s Romania. He was born in the 16th centyury of pious…
Holy Great Martyr Mamas He was born in Paphlagonia, Asia Minor in the third century of pious and illustrious parents, the Christians Theodotus and Rufina. The parents of the saint were arrested by the pagans…
Beginning of Church Year (of the Indiction) The first day of the Church New Year is also called the beginning of the Indiction. The term Indiction comes from a Latin word meaning, “to impose.” It…
Orthodox Calendar August 31 The Placing of the Cincture (Sash) of the Most Holy Theotokos The Placing of the Cincture (Sash) of the Most Holy Theotokos in a church of Constantinople’s Chalcoprateia district took place…
Orthodox Calendar August 29 The Beheading of the Prophet, Forerunner of the Lord, John the Baptist: The Evangelists Matthew (Mt.14:1-12) and Mark (Mark 6:14-29) provide accounts about the martyric end of John the Baptist in…
Orthodox Calendar, August 28 Saint Moses Saint Moses lived in Egypt during the fourth century. He was an Ethiopian, and since he was black of skin he was called “Murin” (meaning “like an Ethiopian”). In…
Orthodox Calendar, August 27 Saint Pimen the Great Saint Pimen the Great was born about the year 340 in Egypt. He went to one of the Egyptian monasteries with his two brothers, Anoub and Paisius,…