Orthodox Calendar, October 13 † Translation of the relics of Apostle Andrew to Iași The relics of Saint Apostle Andrew, the First-Called, were for the first time in Romania in 1996. Troparion of Apostle Andrew, Tone 4: Andrew, first-called of the Apostles / and brother of the foremost disciple, / entreat the Master of all /…
Orthodox Calendar, October 12 Sunday of the Holy Fathers of the 7th Ecumenical Council Today the Church remembers the 350 holy Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council under the holy Patriarch Tarasius (February 25). The Synod of 787, the second to meet at Nicea, refuted the Iconoclast heresy during the reign of Empress Irene and…
Orthodox Calendar, October 10 Saints Eulampius and Eulampia They were brother and sister. They lived at the beginning of the fourth century in the city of Nicomedia. Eulampius became upset after reading the decree of the emperor Maximian (284-305) sentencing all Christians to execution. Eulampius was horrified that the emperor was taking up arms against…
Orthodox Calendar September 12 The Holy Hieromartyr Autonomus (+303) lived during the reign of the Roman Emperor Diocletian (284–305). He was a bishop in Italy, but because of the persecution against Christians begun by the Emperor, he departed from Italy and went into Bithynia, where he was received by a Christian named Cornelius. In Bithynia…
Orthodox Calendar – The Holy Trinty On the day after every Great Feast, the Orthodox Church honors the one through whom the Feast is made possible. On the day following the Nativity of the Lord, for example, we celebrate the Synaxis of the Most Holy Theotokos (December 26). On the day after Theophany, we commemorate…
Orthodox Calendar – Descent of the Holy Spirit (Pentecost) In the Church’s annual liturgical cycle, Pentecost is “the last and great day.” It is the celebration by the Church of the coming of the Holy Spirit as the end—the achievement and fulfillment—of the entire history of salvation. For the same reason, however, it is also…
Orthodox Calendar May 31 Holy Martyr Hermias He suffered for Christ in the city of Comana during the persecution under the emperor Antoninus Pius (138-161). The governor Sebastian, who was in Cappadocia to arrest Christians, urged the saint to offer sacrifice to the pagan gods, promising him honors and mercy from the emperor. The old…
Orthodox Calendar – 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 wept”…
Orthodox Calendar, May 14 Holy Martyr Isidore of Chios He lived during the III Century on the Island of Chios, and was a native of Alexandria. During the first year of rule of the emperor Decius (249-251) there was issued an edict to make a census of all those capable to serve in the armies…
Orthodox Calendar, April 21 Holy Pascha Enjoy ye all the feast of faith; receive ye all the riches of loving-kindness. (Sermon of Saint John Chrysostom, read at Paschal Matins) The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is the center of the Christian faith. Saint Paul says that if Christ is not raised from the…
Orthodox Calendar April 17 Great and Holy Thursday Two events shape the liturgy of Great and Holy Thursday: the Last Supper of Christ with His disciples, and the betrayal of Judas. The meaning of both is in love. The Last Supper is the ultimate revelation of God’s redeeming love for man, of love as the…
