Orthodox Calendar, March 30 Venerable John Climacus Saint John of the Ladder is honored by Holy Church as a great ascetic and author of the renowned spiritual book called “The Ladder”, from which he is also called “of the Ladder” (Climacus). There is almost no information about Saint John’s origins. One tradition suggests that he…
Orthodox calendar, March 29 Hieromartyr Mark, Bishop of Arethusa Hieromartyr Mark, Bishop of Arethusa, suffered for his faith in Christ under the emperor Julian the Apostate (361-363). By order of the emperor Constantine (May 21), Saint Mark had once destroyed a pagan temple and built a Christian church. When Julian came to the throne, he…
Orthodox Calendar, March 28 Venerable Hilarion Saint Hilarion the New, Igumen of Pelekete Monastery, from his youth devoted himself to the service of God and spent many years as a hermit. Because of his holy and blameless life he was ordained to the holy priesthood, and later he was made igumen of the Pelekete monastery…
Orthodox Calendar, March 27 Martyr Matrona of Thessalonica The Holy Martyr Matrona of Thessalonica suffered in the third or fourth century. She was a slave of the Jewish woman Pautila (or Pantilla), wife of one of the military commanders of Thessalonica. Pautila constantly mocked her slave for her faith in Christ, and tried to convert…
Orthodox Calendar, March 26 Synaxis of the Holy Archangel Gabriel On the Leavetaking of the Feast of the Annunciation, the Church commemorates the Archangel Gabriel, who announced the great mystery of the Incarnation of Christ to the Virgin Mary. There is no period of Afterfeast due to Great Lent. The Archangel Gabriel was chosen by…
The Feast of the Annunciation is one of the earliest Christian feasts, and was already being celebrated in the fourth century. There is a painting of the Annunciation in the catacomb of Priscilla in Rome dating from the second century. The Council of Toledo in 656 mentions the Feast, and the Council in Trullo in…
Orthodox Calendar, March 24 Forefeast of the Annunciation For spiritual preparedness of the faithful, all the Royal Feasts are preceded by a time of preparation, anticipation or introduction, called “Forefeast”. They also have a continuation of the feast period, called “Afterfeast”. Troparion — Tone 4 Today is the prelude of universal joy; / let us…
Orthodox Calendar, March 23 Martyr Nikon of Sicily & 199 disciples with him The Monk Martyr Nikon was born at Neapolis (Naples). His father was a pagan, and his mother a Christian. He was not baptized, but his mother secretly instructed him in the tenets of Christianity. Nikon was still a pagan when he reached…
Orthodox Calendar March 22 Hieromartyr Basil of Ancyra Hieromartyr Basil was a presbyter in Ancyra, Galatia. Fighting against the Arian heresy, he urged his flock to cling firmly to Orthodoxy. Because of this Saint Basil was deposed from his priestly rank by a local Arian council, but a Council of 230 bishops in Palestine reinstated…
Orthodox Calendar March 21 St. James the Confessor Saint James, Bishop and Confessor,was inclined toward the ascetic life from his early years. Saint James left the world and entered the Studite monastery, where he was tonsured. He led a strict life, full of works, fasting and prayer. Pious and well-versed in Holy Scripture, Saint James…
Orthodox Calendar March 20 Martyred Holy Fathers who were slain at the Monastery of St Sabbas Saints John, Sergius, Patrick and others were slain in the Monastery of Saint Sabbas. During the eighth century the area around Jerusalem was subjected to frequent incursions of the Saracens. The monastery of Saint Chariton was devastated and fell…
