life of saints

(†) The Entry of the Most Holy Mother of God into the Temple (Fish permitted)

Orthodox Calendar, November 21 The Entry of the Most Holy Mother of God into the Temple According to Holy Tradition, the Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple took place in the following manner. The parents of the Virgin Mary, Saints Joachim and Anna, praying for an end to their childlessness, vowed that…

Nov 21, 2025basilica.ro

Forefeast of the Entry into the Temple of the Most Holy Theotokos; †) St. Gregory Decapolites; † Martyr Dasius of Dorostolum; St. Proclus, archbishop of Constantinople

Orthodox Calendar, November 20 The three Old Testament readings at Great Vespers refer to the Temple. The first lesson (Exodus 40:1-5, 9-10, 16, 34-35) refers to the arrangement of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation (a portable sanctuary which was carried by the Israelites in their wanderings). The second lesson (III Kings/I Kings…

Nov 20, 2025basilica.ro

Prophet Obadiah (Abdia); Martyr Barlaam of Caesarea in Cappadocia

Orthodox Calendar, November 19 Holy Prophet Obadiah (Abdia) He was the fourth of the Twelve Minor Prophets, and he lived during the ninth century B.C. He was from the village of Betharam, near Sichem, and he served as steward of the impious Israelite King Ahab. In those days the whole of Israel had turned away…

Nov 19, 2025basilica.ro

Saint Nectarius the Protopsaltis; Martyrs Platon of Ancyra, Romanus the Deacon of Caesarea, and Zacchaeus the Deacon of Caesarea in Palestine

Orthodox Calendar, November 18 Saint Nectarius the Protopsaltis He was born on the blessed soil of Romania, in the city of Huși, in 1804, receiving at Holy Baptism the name Nicolae. His parents, Vasile and Joița Crețu, had eight children: two sons, who embraced the monastic life at Neamț Monastery, and six daughters, three of…

Nov 18, 2025basilica.ro

St. Gregory the Wonderworker of Neocaesarea, and Gennadius, patriarch of Constantinople; St. Lazarus the iconographer

Orthodox Calendar, November 17 Saint Gregory the Wonderworker, Bishop of Neocaesarea He was born in the city of Neocaesarea (northern Asia Minor) into a pagan family. Having received a fine education, from his youth he strived for Truth, but the thinkers of antiquity were not able to quench his thirst for knowledge. Truth was revealed…

Nov 17, 2025basilica.ro

(†) The Ascension of our Lord (Heroes Day)

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”…

May 29, 2025basilica.ro

Great and Holy Thursday (Matins); Hieromartyr Simeon, Bishop in Persia, and those with him

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…

Apr 17, 2025basilica.ro

Martyr Sava the Goth; Saint Basil the Confessor, Bishop of Parium (Lazarus Saturday. Memorial Saturday)

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,…

Apr 12, 2025basilica.ro

Holy Martyr Victorinus and those with him; Martyrs Theodulus and Agathopodes (Memorial Saturday)

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…

Apr 5, 2025basilica.ro

Sts. Daniel the Stylite of Constantinople and Luke the New Stylite of Chalcedon

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,…

Dec 11, 2024basilica.ro

Midfeast of Pentecost; Apostle Simon the Zealot (Fish allowed)

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…

May 10, 2023basilica.ro