Orthodox Calendar, September 23 The Conception of the Venerable Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord, John The holy Prophet Malachi prophesied that before the Messiah’s birth His Forerunner would appear, and would indicate His coming. The Jews therefore in awaiting the Messiah also awaited the appearance of His Forerunner. In a city of the…
Orthodox Calendar, September 22 Hieromartyr Theodosius of Brazi He was born in Vrancea region, Romania, in the first half of the seventeenth century, and because he loved the monastic life from his youth, he acquitted himself worthily in the angelic state. Meditating day and night on the Law of God and learning all beneficial teachings…
Orthodox Calendar, September 21 Saint Quadratus, Apostle of the Seventy Saint Quadratus, Apostle of the Seventy, preached the Word of God at Athens and at Magnesia (eastern peninsula of Thessaly), and was Bishop of Athens. His biographer called him “a morning star” among the clouds of paganism. He converted many pagans to the true faith…
Orthodox Calendar, September 20 Greatmartyr Eustathius Placidas, his wife Theopistes and their children Agapius and Theopistus The Holy Great Martyr Eustathius was named Placidas before his Baptism. He was a military commander under the emperors Titus (79-81) and Trajan (98-117). Even before he came to know Christ, Placidas performed acts of charity, helping the poor…
Orthodox Calendar – September 19 Holy Martyrs Trophimus, Sabbatius and Dorymedon He suffered for Christ during the reign of the Roman emperor Probus (276-282). A pagan festival was being celebrated in the city of Antioch. Sacrificial offerings were brought, the wine was poured, and vile acts were performed. The Christians Trophimus and Sabbatius arrived in the city…
Orthodox Calendar September 18 Holy Priest-Martyr Hilarion Felea He was a Romanian priest who became the confessor of the youth in the Transylvanian city of Arad. He was sentenced by the communist regime to 20 years in prison for “intense activity against the working class and the revolutionary movement”, i.e. for not preaching in the…
Orthodox Calendar, September 17 Saint Dionysius the Bishop of Cetatea Alba and Ismail The worthy of remembrance Bishop Dionysius Erhan (1868-1943) is one of the most outstanding church personalities from Bessarabia of the first half of the 20th century. He was ordained to the Episcopate on July 22, 1918, the year when Romania’s Great Union took…
Orthodox Calendar, September 16 Confessor Saint Sofian of St Anthimos Monastery “Bucharest’s Spiritual Guide” was born in Bessarabia and was a first-grade student during primary and secondary schhol. He took the monastic vows at Dobrușa Monastery near the city of Soroca, when he was only 14 years old. He crossed the Prut River to Romania…
Orthodox Calendar, September 15 Saint Joseph the New of Partos, metropolitan of Banat Saint Joseph the New was born in 1568 at Raguza in Dalmatia, and was given the name Jacob at his Baptism. When he was very young, his father died, and he was raised by his mother. At the age of twelve, he…
Orthodox Calendar, September 14 (†) The Universal Exaltation of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross The Elevation of the Venerable and Life-Creating Cross of the Lord: The pagan Roman emperors tried to completely eradicate from human memory the holy places where our Lord Jesus Christ suffered and was resurrected for mankind. The Emperor Hadrian (117-138) gave…
Orthodox Calendar, September 13 Forefeast of Lifting of the Holy Cross The Dedication of the Temple of the Resurrection of Christ at Jerusalem celebrates the dedication of the Church of the Resurrection, built by Saint Constantine the Great and his mother, the empress Helen. After the voluntary Passion and Death on the Cross of our…
