Feasts and Saints

Holy Prophet Zacharias and Righteous Elizabeth, parents of St. John the Forerunner

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 Zachariah, son of Barach, was a priest in the Jerusalem Temple, and Saint Elizabeth was the sister of Saint Anna,…

Sep 5, 2025basilica.ro

(†) Holy Trinity

Orthodox Calendar – The Holy Trinty On the day after every Great Feast, the Orthodox Church honors the one through whom the Feast is made possible. On the day following the Nativity of the Lord, for example, we celebrate the Synaxis of the Most Holy Theotokos (December 26). On the day after Theophany, we commemorate…

Jun 9, 2025basilica.ro

Descent of the Holy Spirit (Pentecost); 8th Sunday after Pascha

Orthodox Calendar – Descent of the Holy Spirit (Pentecost) In the Church’s annual liturgical cycle, Pentecost is “the last and great day.” It is the celebration by the Church of the coming of the Holy Spirit as the end—the achievement and fulfillment—of the entire history of salvation. For the same reason, however, it is also…

Jun 8, 2025basilica.ro

Martyrs Hermias, Eusebius and Haralambos

Orthodox Calendar May 31 Holy Martyr Hermias He suffered for Christ in the city of Comana during the persecution under the emperor Antoninus Pius (138-161). The governor Sebastian, who was in Cappadocia to arrest Christians, urged the saint to offer sacrifice to the pagan gods, promising him honors and mercy from the emperor. The old…

May 31, 2025basilica.ro

(†) The Ascension of our Lord (Heroes Day)

Orthodox Calendar – 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 wept”…

May 29, 2025basilica.ro

Midfeast of Pentecost; Martyr Isidore of Chios; Hieromartyr Therapontus, Bishop of Cyprus (Fish allowed)

Orthodox Calendar, May 14 Holy Martyr Isidore of Chios He lived during the III Century on the Island of Chios, and was a native of Alexandria. During the first year of rule of the emperor Decius (249-251) there was issued an edict to make a census of all those capable to serve in the armies…

May 14, 2025basilica.ro

Holy Pascha

Orthodox Calendar, April 21 Holy Pascha Enjoy ye all the feast of faith; receive ye all the riches of loving-kindness. (Sermon of Saint John Chrysostom, read at Paschal Matins) The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is the center of the Christian faith. Saint Paul says that if Christ is not raised from the…

Apr 21, 2025basilica.ro

Great and Holy Thursday (Matins); Hieromartyr Simeon, Bishop in Persia, and those with him

Orthodox Calendar April 17 Great and Holy Thursday Two events shape the liturgy of Great and Holy Thursday: the Last Supper of Christ with His disciples, and the betrayal of Judas. The meaning of both is in love. The Last Supper is the ultimate revelation of God’s redeeming love for man, of love as the…

Apr 17, 2025basilica.ro

Martyr Sava the Goth; Saint Basil the Confessor, Bishop of Parium (Lazarus Saturday. Memorial Saturday)

Orthodox calendar April 12 Martyr Sava the Goth The Martyr was a Goth who lived during the fourth century. At this time the Arian bishop Wulfilas preached Christianity among the Goths, and Saint Sava was among those who were baptized. Saint Sava led a virtuous life, devout, peaceful, temperate, simple, and quiet. He avoided women,…

Apr 12, 2025basilica.ro

Holy Martyr Victorinus and those with him; Martyrs Theodulus and Agathopodes (Memorial Saturday)

Orthodox Calendar, April 5 Holy Martyr Victorinus and those with him Troparion of Saints Claudius, Diodoros, Victor, Victorinus, Pappios, Serapion, and Nikephoros — Tone 4 Your holy martyrs, O Lord, / through their sufferings have received incorruptible crowns from You, our God. / For having Your strength, they laid low their adversaries, / and shattered…

Apr 5, 2025basilica.ro

Sts. Daniel the Stylite of Constantinople and Luke the New Stylite of Chalcedon

Orthodox Calendar, December 11 Saint Daniel the Stylite He was born in the village of Bethara, near the city of Samosata in Mesopotamia. His mother Martha was childless for a long while and in her prayers she vowed that if she had a child, she would dedicate him to the Lord. Her prayers were heard,…

Dec 11, 2024basilica.ro