Feasts and Saints

Martyr Galacteon and his wife Episteme at Emesa

Orthodox Calendar, November 5 Martyr Galacteon and his wife Episteme at Emesa There was a rich and distinguished couple named Kletophon and Leukippe, who lived in the Syrian city of Emesa, and for a long time they were childless. They gave much gold to the pagan priests, but still they remained childless. The city of…

Nov 5, 2024basilica.ro

Apostle Philip, one of the 7 deacons; Holy Hierarch Theophanes the Confessor, bishop of Nicea

Orthodox Calendar, October 11 Apostle Philip, one of the 7 deacons He is not to be confused with St Philip one of the Twelve Apostles (November 14). This Philip was born in Palestine, was married and had children. After the Descent of the Holy Spirit, the Twelve Apostles made Philip a deacon in the Church…

Oct 11, 2024basilica.ro

Leave-taking of Nativity of Birthgiver of God; Hieromartyrs Autonomus, Macedonius & Theodulus

Orthodox Calendar, September 12 Hieromartyrs Autonomus, Macedonius & Theodulus The Hieromartyr Autonomus was a bishop in Italy. During the time of the persecution against Christians under the emperor Diocletian (284-305), Saint Autonomus left his own country and resettled in Bithynia, in the locality of Soreus with a man named Cornelius. Saint Autonomus did his apostolic…

Sep 12, 2024basilica.ro

Hieromartyr Babylas, bishop of Antioch; Holy Prophet and God-seer Moses; Martyr Petronius

Orthodox Calendar – September 4 Hieromartyr Babylas, bishop of Antioch Bishop Babylas and with him the three youths Urban, Prilidian, Epolonius and their mother Christodoula died as martyrs under the emperor Decius (249-251). During his stay in their city of Antioch, the emperor arranged for a large festival in honour of the pagan gods. At…

Sep 4, 2024basilica.ro

Holy Pascha

Orthodox Calendar May 7 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…

May 7, 2024basilica.ro

Holy Pascha

Orthodox Calendar May 6 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…

May 6, 2024Sorin Ioniţe

Sts. John Cassian and Germanus from Dobrogea

Orthodox Calendar February 29 Saint John Cassian the Roman and Saint Germanus of Scythia Minor St. John Cassian was born around 360 in today’s Dobrudja, former Dacia Pontica ( in the region known as Scythia Minor, or Lesser Scythia). His pious Christian parents gave him an excellent classical education, and also instructed him in the…

Feb 29, 2024basilica.ro

Midfeast of Pentecost; Apostle Simon the Zealot (Fish allowed)

Saint Simon was from Cana in Galilee, and was known to the Lord and His Mother. Tradition says that he was the bridegroom at the wedding where the Savior performed His first miracle. After witnessing the miracle of the water which had been turned into wine, he became a zealous follower of Christ. For this…

May 10, 2023basilica.ro

Forefeast of the Procession of the Honorable and Lifegiving Cross of the Lord; Righteous Eudocimus of Cappadocia; Righteous Joseph of Arimathea (The Dormition Fast begins tomorrow); 7th Sunday after Pentecost

Saint Eudocimus, a native of Cappadocia (Asia Minor), lived during the ninth century during the reign of Emperor Theophilus (829-842). He was the son of the pious Christians Basil and Eudokia, an illustrious family known to the emperor. They raised their son “in discipline and admonition of the Lord” (Eph. 6: 4), planting in his…

Jul 31, 2022Sorin Ioniţe

Descent of the Holy Spirit; 8th Sunday after Pascha (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 the celebration of the beginning: it is the “birthday”…

Jun 12, 2022Gheorghe Anghel

(†) Holy Pascha; St. Elijah Iorest, Simeon Stephan and Sava Brancovici, metropolitans of Transylvania; St. Joseph the Confessor of Maramureș; Martyrs Cyril, Kindeas and Dasius of Axiopolis

The service of St. Elijah Iorest, Simeon Stephan and Sava Brancovici, metropolitans of Transylvania, and St. Joseph the Confessor of Maramureș is celebrated on the Bright Tuesday.

Apr 26, 2022Iulian Dumitraşcu