Feasts and Saints

Martyr Julius the Veteran; Hieromartyr Therapon the Bishop of Sardis; St. John the Russian and Confessor (Fish allowed)

Orthodox Calendar, May 27 Martyr Julius the Veteran He lived in the 3rd-4th centuries, being a contemporary of Saints Pasicratus and Valentine. He received martyrdom at the time of the Great Persecution under Emperors Diocletian and Maximian. In year 304, he was brought to trial before the local prefect, named Maximus. The prefect Maximus was…

May 27, 2026basilica.ro

Apostles of the Seventy: Carpus & Alphaeus; Holy Martyrs Abercius and Helen

Orthodox Calendar, May 26 Sts. Carpus and Alphaeus Saint Carpus was one of the Seventy Apostles chosen and sent forth to preach by Christ (Luke 10:1). He was bishop of Verria in Macedonia. The Holy Apostle Alphaeus of the Seventy came from the Galilean city of Capernaum and was the father of the Apostles James…

May 26, 2026basilica.ro

† Third Finding of the Honorable Head of the Holy Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John

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…

May 25, 2026basilica.ro

St. Blandina of Iași; Venerable Simeon of the Wonderful Mountain; 7th Sunday after Easter (of the Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council)

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…

May 24, 2026basilica.ro

St. Michael the Confessor the Bishop of Synnada; Myrrh-Bearing Mary of Clopas

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…

May 23, 2026basilica.ro

Martyrs Basiliscus and Marcellus; Commemoration of the Holy Fathers of the Second Ecumenical Council (Fish allowed)

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…

May 22, 2026basilica.ro

(†) The Ascension of our Lord (Heroes Day); Equal of the Apostles and Emperor Constantine with his Mother Helen

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…

May 21, 2026basilica.ro

Leavetaking of Pascha; Martyr Thallelaeus at Aegae in Cilicia; Ven. Talasius; St. Lydia of Philippisia

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…

May 20, 2026basilica.ro

Hieromartyr Patrick the Bishop of Prusa

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,…

May 19, 2026basilica.ro

Martyrs Peter, Dionysius and Paul

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…

May 18, 2026basilica.ro

Apostle Andronicus and his wife Junia; Venerable Nectarios and Theophan; 6th Sunday after Pascha (of the Blind Man)

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…

May 17, 2026basilica.ro