Orthodox Calendar, June 27 Saint Sampson the Hospitable He was the son of rich and illustrious Roman parents. In his youth he received an excellent education, he studied the medical arts and doctored the sick without charge. After the death of his parents, Saint Sampson generously distributed alms and set his slaves free, preparing himself…
Orthodox Calendar, June 26 St. David of Thessalonika Saint David of Thessalonica pursued asceticism at the monastery of the holy Martyrs Theodore and Mercurius. Inspired by the example of the holy stylites, he lived in an almond tree in constant prayer, keeping strict fast, and enduring heat and cold. He remained there for three years…
Orthodox Calendar June 25 Virgin-martyr Febronia of Nisibis The Virgin Martyr Febronia suffered during the reign of Diocletian (284-305). She was raised at a monastery in the city of Sivapolis (Assyria). The head of the women’s monastery was the abbess Bryaena, the aunt of Saint Febronia. Being concerned about her niece’s salvation, she assigned her…
Orthodox calendar June 24 Nativity of the Holy Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord, John The Gospel (Luke. 1: 5) relates that the righteous parents of Saint John the Baptist, the Priest Zachariah and Elizabeth (September 5), lived in the ancient city of Hebron. They reached old age without having children, since Elizabeth was barren.…
Orthodox Calendar June 23 Martyr Agrippina of Rome The Holy Martyr Agrippina was by birth a Roman. She did not wish to enter into marriage, and totally dedicated her life to God. During the time of persecution against Christians under the emperor Valerian (253-259) the saint went before the court and bravely confessed her faith…
Orthodox calendar, June 22 St. Gregory, Metropolitan of Wallachia The holy metropolitan Gregory the Teacher was born into a blessed family in Bucharest, in the year 1765, and was given the name Gheorghe (George). The young George (Minculescu) studied at the most famous schools of the time, such as the Saint Savva Royal Academy, acquiring…
Orthodox Calendar, June 21 Sunday of the Athonite Saints On the third Sunday after the Descent of the Holy Spirit, we celebrate the commemoration of all the Venerable Fathers who shone forth through asceticism on the Holy Mountain of Athos. The first Sundays following the feast of Pentecost show us that the purpose of the…
Orthodox Calendar June 20 Hieromartyr Methodius the Bishop of Patara The Hieromartyr Methodius, Bishop of Patara (Lycia in Asia Minor), was distinguished for his genuine monastic humility. Calmly and with mildness he instructed his flock, but he firmly defended the purity of Orthodoxy and he energetically contended against heresies, especially the widespread heresy of the…
Orthodox Calendar, June 19 Apostle Jude, the Brother of the Lord The Holy Apostle Jude, one of the twelve apostles of Christ, is descended from King David and Solomon, and was the son of Righteous Joseph the Betrothed (Sunday after the Nativity of the Lord) by his first wife. The Holy Apostle John the Theologian…
Orthodox Calendar, June 18 Holy Martyrs Leontius, Hypatius, and Theodulus They were Roman soldiers. Holy Martyr Leontius, a Greek by origin, served as a military-chief in the imperial army in the Phoenician city of Tripoli during the reign of Vespasian (70-79). Leontius was distinguished for his bravery and good sense, and the people of Tripoli…
Orthodox Calendar, June 17 The Holy Martyrs Manuel, Sabel and Ismael The Holy Martyrs Manuel, Sabel, and Ismael, brothers by birth, were descended from an illustrious Persian family. Their father was a pagan, but their mother was a Christian, who baptized the children and raised them with firm faith in Christ the Savior. When they…
