life of saints

Martyrs Photios & Anicetus (W,O)

The Martyrs Anicetus and Photius (his nephew) were natives of Nicomedia. Anicetus, a military official, denounced the emperor Diocletian (284-305) for setting up in the city square an implement of execution for frightening Christians. The enraged emperor ordered Saint Anicetus to be tortured, and later condemned him to be devoured by wild beasts. But the…

Aug 12, 2017Iulian Dumitraşcu

+) Holy Hierarch Niphon, patriarch of Constantinople; Martyr & Archdeacon Euplus

Saint Niphon, Patriarch of Constantinople, was a native of Greece, and accepted monasticism at Epidauros. After the death of his Elder Anthony, he went to Athos, where he occupied himself by the copying of books. The saint was later chosen Metropolitan of Thessalonica, and still later occupied the Patriarchal throne in Constantinople and was primate…

Aug 11, 2017Iulian Dumitraşcu

Apostle Matthias; Ten Holy Martyrs who suffered for the icon of Christ

The Holy Apostle Matthias was born at Bethlehem of the Tribe of Judah. From his early childhood he studied the Law of God under the guidance of Saint Simeon the God-Receiver (February 3). When the Lord Jesus Christ revealed Himself to the world, Saint Matthias believed in Him as the Messiah, followed constantly after Him…

Aug 9, 2017Iulian Dumitraşcu

St. Emilian the Confessor, Bishop of Cyzicus; St. Myron the Wonderworker and Bishop of Crete

Saint Emilian, Bishop of Cyzikus, lived during the reign of the Iconoclast emperor Leo the Armenian (813-820). He was summoned together with other bishops to the court of the emperor, who insistently urged the bishops to refrain from the veneration of holy icons. Saint Emilian was the first to tell the emperor firmly that the…

Aug 8, 2017Iulian Dumitraşcu

Translation of the relics of the Protomartyr Stephen the Archdeacon; Righteous Gamaliel; Emperor Justinian the Great

The Transfer of the Relics of the Holy Protomartyr Stephen from Jerusalem to Constantinople took place about the year 428 After the holy Protomartyr Archdeacon Stephen was stoned by the Jews, they left his holy body unburied to be devoured by the beasts and birds. After a day and a night the renowned Jewish teacher…

Aug 2, 2017Iulian Dumitraşcu

Forefeast of the Procession of the Honorable and Lifegiving Cross of the Lord; Righteous Eudocimus of Cappadocia; Righteous Joseph of Arimathea

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…

Jul 31, 2017Iulian Dumitraşcu

The Annunciation (fish allowed); 5th Sunday of Great Lent

The Feast of the Annunciation is one of the earliest Christian feasts, and was already being celebrated in the fourth century. There is a painting of the Annunciation in the catacomb of Priscilla in Rome dating from the second century. The Council of Toledo in 656 mentions the Feast, and the Council in Trullo in…

Mar 25, 2017Sorin Ioniţe