Orthodox calendar April 12 Martyr Sava the Goth The Martyr was a Goth who lived during the fourth century. At this time the Arian bishop Wulfilas preached Christianity among the Goths, and Saint Sava was among those who were baptized. Saint Sava led a virtuous life, devout, peaceful, temperate, simple, and quiet. He avoided women,…
Orthodox Calendar, April 5 Holy Martyr Victorinus and those with him Troparion of Saints Claudius, Diodoros, Victor, Victorinus, Pappios, Serapion, and Nikephoros — Tone 4 Your holy martyrs, O Lord, / through their sufferings have received incorruptible crowns from You, our God. / For having Your strength, they laid low their adversaries, / and shattered…
Orthodox Calendar, December 11 Saint Daniel the Stylite He was born in the village of Bethara, near the city of Samosata in Mesopotamia. His mother Martha was childless for a long while and in her prayers she vowed that if she had a child, she would dedicate him to the Lord. Her prayers were heard,…
Orthodox Calendar, November 5 Martyr Galacteon and his wife Episteme at Emesa There was a rich and distinguished couple named Kletophon and Leukippe, who lived in the Syrian city of Emesa, and for a long time they were childless. They gave much gold to the pagan priests, but still they remained childless. The city of…
Orthodox Calendar, October 11 Apostle Philip, one of the 7 deacons He is not to be confused with St Philip one of the Twelve Apostles (November 14). This Philip was born in Palestine, was married and had children. After the Descent of the Holy Spirit, the Twelve Apostles made Philip a deacon in the Church…
Orthodox Calendar May 7 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 May 6 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 February 29 Saint John Cassian the Roman and Saint Germanus of Scythia Minor St. John Cassian was born around 360 in today’s Dobrudja, former Dacia Pontica ( in the region known as Scythia Minor, or Lesser Scythia). His pious Christian parents gave him an excellent classical education, and also instructed him in the…
Saint Simon was from Cana in Galilee, and was known to the Lord and His Mother. Tradition says that he was the bridegroom at the wedding where the Savior performed His first miracle. After witnessing the miracle of the water which had been turned into wine, he became a zealous follower of Christ. For this…
Saint Eudocimus, a native of Cappadocia (Asia Minor), lived during the ninth century during the reign of Emperor Theophilus (829-842). He was the son of the pious Christians Basil and Eudokia, an illustrious family known to the emperor. They raised their son “in discipline and admonition of the Lord” (Eph. 6: 4), planting in his…
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 the celebration of the beginning: it is the “birthday”…
