Orthodox Calendar, May 25 The Third Discovery of the Venerable Head of the Holy Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John occurred in about the year 850. The head of Saint John the Forerunner was found in the city of Emesia during a time of unrest at Constantinople connected with the exile of Saint John Chrysostom (November…
Orthodox Calendar, May 24 Saint Blandina the Confessor of Iași The Servant of God, Blandina Gobjilă, was born on February 24, 1906, in the village of Grușenți-Chelmești in Bessarabia, to devout parents, the priest Zaharia and Serafima, who from her infancy planted in her heart humility and love for the holy services. Therefore, with great…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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,…
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…
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…
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…
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…
