saints of the day

†) St. Anthony the Great; St. Anthony the New, of Berrhia in Macedonia

Orthodox Calendar January 17 Saint Anthony the Great He is known as the Father of monasticism, and the long ascetical sermon in The Life of Saint Anthony by Saint Athanasius (Sections 16-34), could be called the first monastic Rule. He was born in Egypt in the village of Coma, near the desert of the Thebaid,…

Jan 17, 2026basilica.ro

Veneration of the Precious Chains of the Holy and All-Glorious Apostle Peter; Martyr Danax the Reader, in Macedonia

Orthodox Calendar, January 16 Veneration of the Honorable Chains of the Holy and All-Praised Apostle Peter In about the year 42, on the orders of Herod Agrippa, the Apostle Peter was thrown into prison for preaching about Christ the Savior. In prison, he was held secure by two iron chains. During the night before his…

Jan 16, 2026basilica.ro

Saints Paul of Thebes and John Calabytes “the Hut-Dweller”

Orthodox Calendar, January 15 Saint Paul of Thebes Saint Paul of Thebes was born in Egypt around 227 in the Thebaid of Egypt. Left orphaned, he suffered many things from a greedy relative over his inheritance. During the persecution against Christians under the emperor Decius (249-251), Saint Paul learned of his brother-in-law’s insidious plan to…

Jan 15, 2026basilica.ro

Leavetaking of the Theophany of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; Fathers slain at Sinai and Raithu; St. Nina, Equal of the Apostles and Enlightener of Georgia

Orthodox Calendar, January 14 Leavetaking of the Feast of Theophany It takes place on January 14. The entire office of the Feast is repeated except for the Entrance, festal readings, Litya, Blessing of Loaves at Vespers, and the Polyeleos and festal Gospel at Matins. The festal Antiphons are not sung at Liturgy, and the Epistle…

Jan 14, 2026basilica.ro

Martyrs Hermylus and Stratonicus; St. James the Bishop of Nisibis

Orthodox Calendar, January 13 Holy Martyrs Hermylus and Stratonicus Slavs by origin, lived at the beginning of the fourth century during a persecution against Christians by the emperor Licinius (311-324). Saint Hermylus served as a deacon in the city of Singidunum (Belgrade). Condemned by Licinius to imprisonment, he was long and cruelly tortured for Christ,…

Jan 13, 2026basilica.ro

Martyr Polyeuctus of Melitene, in Armenia; St. Peter the Bishop of Sebaste, in Armenia

Orthodox Calendar, January 9 Saint Polyeuctus He was the first martyr in the Armenian city of Meletine. He was a soldier under the emperor Decius (249-251) and he later suffered for Christ under the emperor Valerian (253-259). The saint was friend also of Nearchos, a fellow-soldier and firm Christian, but Polyeuctus, though he led a…

Jan 9, 2026basilica.ro

Venerable George the Chozebite; Venerable Domnica of Constantinople

Orthodox Calendar, January 8 Venerable George the Chozebite He was born on the island of Cyprus toward the end of the sixth century. After the death of his parents, he went to Palestine to worship at the holy places. Here he entered into the monastic community of Chozeba between the River Jordan and Jerusalem, and…

Jan 8, 2026basilica.ro

† Synaxis of the Holy Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John (Fish allowed)

Orthodox Calendar, January 7 Synaxis of the Holy Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John In the Orthodox Church it is customary, on the day following the Great Feasts of the Lord and the Mother of God, to remember those saints who participated directly in the sacred event. So, on the day following the Theophany of…

Jan 7, 2026basilica.ro

(†) Feast of the Theophany of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

Orthodox Calendar, January 6 Feast of the Theophany of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Theophany is the Feast which reveals the Most Holy Trinity to the world through the Baptism of the Lord (Mt.3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22). God the Father spoke from Heaven about the Son, the Son was baptized by the Saint…

Jan 6, 2026basilica.ro

Synaxis of the Seventy Apostles; Ven. Theoctistus; Ven. Apolinaria; Saint Nikēphóros the Leper; Forefeast of the Theophany

Orthodox Calendar, January 4 The Synaxis of the Seventy Apostles The Synaxis was established by the Orthodox Church to indicate the equal honour of each of the Seventy. They were sent two by two by the Lord Jesus Christ to go before Him into the cities He would visit (Luke 10:1). Besides the celebration of…

Jan 4, 2026basilica.ro

Prophet Malachi; Martyr Gordius at Caesarea, in Cappadocia

Orthodox Calendar January 3 Prophet Malachi The Holy Prophet Malachi lived 400 years before the Birth of Christ, at the time of the return of the Jews from the Babylonian Captivity. Malachi was the last of the Old Testament prophets, therefore the holy Fathers call him “the seal of the prophets.” Manifesting himself an image…

Jan 3, 2026basilica.ro