Orthodox saints

Translation of the Image “Not-Made-By-Hands” of our Lord Jesus Christ from Edessa to Constantinople; †) New Martyrs King Constantine Brancoveanu of Wallachia and his four sons Constantine, Stephen, Radu, and Matthew, and his counsellor Ianache; †) Ven. Joseph of Varatec; Martyr Diomedes

1. The righteous and loving Christ ruling prince of Wallachia, Constantine Brâncoveanu, was born in 1654, to outstanding parents; from his father’s side, he came from Ruler Prince Matei Basarab (1632-1654), and from his mother’s side he was nephew of the sister of Ruler Prince Şerban Cantacuzino (1678-1688), in whose time, in 1688, the Holy…

Aug 16, 2017Iulian Dumitraşcu

(†) The Dormition of Our Most Holy Lady the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary

The Dormition of our Most Holy Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary: After the Ascension of the Lord, the Mother of God remained in the care of the Apostle John the Theologian, and during his journeys She lived at the home of his parents, near the Mount of Olives. She was a source of consolation and…

Aug 15, 2017Iulian Dumitraşcu

Forefeast of the Dormition; Prophet Micah

1. Forefeast of the Dormition 2. The Prophet Micah, the sixth of the Twelve Minor Prophets, was descended from the Tribe of Judah and was a native of the city of Moresheth, to the south of Jerusalem. His prophetic service began around the year 778 before Christ and continued for almost 50 years under the…

Aug 14, 2017Iulian Dumitraşcu

Apodosis of the Transfiguration; Translation of the relics of St. Maximus the Confessor; Ven. Dorotheus and Dositheus; 10th Sunday after Pentecost (Cure of the lunatic)

Saint Maximus the Confessor was born in Constantinople around 580 and raised in a pious Christian family. He received an excellent education, studying philosophy, grammar, and rhetoric. He was well-read in the authors of antiquity and he also mastered philosophy and theology. When Saint Maximus entered into government service, he became first secretary (asekretis) and…

Aug 13, 2017Iulian Dumitraşcu

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

Venerable Paphnutius the Iconographer has officially been declared a Saint

Metropolitan Laurentiu of Transylvania on Sunday officially declared Venerable Paphnutius – Pârvu the Iconographer a Saint of the Orthodox Church in front of thousands of believers at Robaia Monastery within the Archdiocese of Argeş and Muscel. His Eminence Metropolitan Laurenţiu presided over the Divine Liturgy at which concelebrated several hierarchs of the Romanian Orthodox Church:…

Aug 7, 2017Aurelian Iftimiu

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