Orthodox Calendar July 8 Martyr Epictetus the Presbyter and Monkmartyr Astion The monastic martyrs Epictetus and Astion lived in Bithynia on the southwest coast of the Black Sea during the reign of the Roman emperor Diocletian (284-305). From his youth, Saint Epictetus had dedicated his life to God, and studied to acquire knowledge of the…
Orthodox Calendar July 7 Martyr Kyriake of Nicomedia Saint Kyriake was the only child of Dorotheus and Eusebia. Since she was born on a Sunday (Kyriake, in Greek), she was named Kyriake. One day a wealthy magistrate wished to betroth Kyriake to his son. Not only was she young and beautiful, but her parents were…
Orthodox Calendar, July 6 Saint Dometius the Merciful of Râmeț St Dometius the Merciful was born on 13 October 1924 in the commune of Bălănești, Buzău County, Romania, to devout Orthodox parents, receiving the name Stelian at Baptism. From early childhood, he showed a great love for serving God and compassion for those who were…
Orthodox Calendar July 5 Saint Athanasius of Athos Saint Athanasius of Athos, in holy Baptism named Abraham, was born in the city of Trebezond. He was orphaned at an early age, and being raised by a certain good and pious nun, he imitated his adoptive mother in the habits of monastic life, in fasting and…
Orthodox Calendar July 4 Saint Andrew, Archbishop of Crete He was born in the city of Damascus into a pious Christian family. Up until seven years of age the boy was mute and did not talk. However, after communing the Holy Mysteries of Christ he found the gift of speech and began to speak. And…
Orthodox Calendar, July 3 Martyr Hyacinth of Caesarea, in Cappadocia Saint Hyacinth, a native of Caesarea in Cappadocia, was raised in a Christian family. The emperor Trajan made the boy his “cubicularius” (chamberlain), unaware that he was a secret Christian. One day, while the emperor and his entourage were offering sacrifice to idols, the young…
Orthodox Calendar, July 2 The Placing of the Venerable Robe of the Most Holy Theotokos at Blachernae During the reign of the Byzantine Emperor Leo the Great (457-474), the brothers Galbius and Candidus, associates of the emperor, set out from Constantinople to Palestine to venerate the holy places. In a small settlement near Nazareth they…
Orthodox Calendar, July 1 Saint Leontius of Rădăuți He was born in Rădăuți, Moldavia in the fourteenth century. He was named Laurence when he received the monastic tonsure. In time he was found worthy of ordination to the holy priesthod, and founded a monastery near Rădăuți, which later became known as Saint Laurence’s Monastery. Among…
Orthodox Calendar, June 30 The Synaxis of the Glorious and All-Praiseworthy Twelve Apostles of Christ This appears to be an ancient Feast. The Church honors each of the Twelve Apostles on separate dates during the year, and has established a general commemoration for all of them on the day after the commemoration of the Glorious…
Orthodox Calendar, June 29 Sermon of Blessed Augustine, Bishop of Hippo, on the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul Today the Holy Church piously remembers the sufferings of the Holy Glorious and All-Praised Apostles Peter and Paul. St. Peter, the fervent follower of Jesus Christ, for the profound confession of His Divinity: “Thou art the Christ,…
Orthodox Calendar, June 28 Translation of the relics of the Unmercenary Wonderworking Doctor Saints Cyrus and John On June 28 we commemorate the translation of the relics of the Unmercenary Wonderworkers Saints Cyrus and John from the city of Konopa, near Alexandria (where they suffered in the year 311) to the nearby village of Manuphin,…
