Troparion \u2014 Tone 8<\/strong><\/p>\n The image of God was truly preserved in you, O Mother, \/ for you took up the Cross and followed Christ. \/ By so doing, you taught us to disregard the flesh, for it passes away, \/ but to care instead for the soul, since it is immortal. \/ Therefore your spirit, O Holy Mother Macrina, rejoices with the Angels!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Saint Basil the Great was born in the year 330, in Caesarea of Cappadocia, to devout and wealthy parents, Saints Basil and Emmelia. A lover of learning, the young Basil studied at the schools of his native city, then at those of Constantinople, and later went to Athens, where the highest school of his time was located and where he met Saint Gregory the Theologian, with whom he formed a close and holy friendship.<\/p>\n After completing his studies, he explored the monastic life in Egypt and Palestine, eventually becoming a monk himself and founding a monastery in Pontus. In the year 370, he was called to the dignity of Archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia, today Kayseri, T\u00fcrkiye, during difficult times for the Church, since the Arian heretics enjoyed the support of Emperor Valens himself. Saint Basil the Great drew the emperor\u2019s anger upon himself and endured many persecutions for defending the dogma of the Holy Trinity, the foundation of the Christian faith. He founded hospitals and shelters beside churches for the benefit of the poor and the sick, urging the wealthy to give from their possessions in order to help those in need.<\/p>\n He maintained a special bond with the Church north of the Danube, in Dacia, on the territory of present-day Romania, sending missionaries to bring the Goths to Christianity and requesting from there the relics of the Holy Martyr Sabbas of Buz\u0103u. He reposed in the Lord at the age of 49, on 1 January 379, mourned both by Orthodox Christians and by pagans, who loved and honoured him for his kindness and wisdom. He bequeathed to the Church numerous theological writings, including On the Holy Spirit<\/em>, Against Eunomius<\/em>, Homilies on the Hexaemeron<\/em>, the Monastic Rules<\/em>, more than 300 letters, and other spiritual writings and prayers, as well as the Divine Liturgy that bears his name and is celebrated ten times each year.<\/p>\n Saint Macrina the Elder, the grandmother of the Holy Hierarch Basil, was born in Neocaesarea of Pontus and received Christian teaching from Saint Gregory the Wonderworker. She married a Christian whose name has not been preserved. Together with him, during the persecution of Diocletian between 303 and 305, she was forced to take refuge for seven years and suffered the confiscation of her property. After the persecution against Christians had ceased, she returned and lived in poverty. She instilled in her grandchildren the courage to confess the true faith and was their first teacher of letters and an example of virtue.<\/p>\n Saint Basil, the father of the great hierarch who bore the same name, was a renowned teacher of rhetoric and a Christian who showed great mercy towards the poor. His wife, Saint Emmelia, was the daughter of a believer who had died as a martyr for Christ. They had ten children, whom they raised in the true faith and in a virtuous Christian way of life.<\/p>\n Saint Gregory of Nyssa was the younger brother of Saint Basil the Great. He was born in the year 332 and studied at the schools of his native city, Caesarea of Cappadocia. Through his thirst for knowledge and the great brilliance of his thought and writings, he became a great teacher, Father of the Church, and outstanding theologian of Orthodox spiritual life. In his youth, he entered the service of the Church as a reader and later became a teacher. During the reign of the Arian Emperor Valens, from 364 to 378, Saint Basil the Great, who was Archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia, called upon his brother Gregory to fight against Arianism, ordained him bishop, and entrusted him with the see of the city of Nyssa in Cappadocia, today Nev\u015fehir, T\u00fcrkiye.<\/p>\n It was not an important city, but Saint Basil wanted to have around him bishops of unwavering Orthodox faith. \u201cIt is better for the bishop to bring honour to his see than for the bishop to receive honour from the see,\u201d he would say. During this struggle, Saint Gregory was driven from his see by the Arians for four years. Yet the welcome he received from the faithful upon his return showed how deeply he was loved by his flock. The Synod of Antioch in 379 sent him to Arabia and Palestine to restore peace to Churches troubled by heretics. He took part in the Second Ecumenical Council in the year 381, strengthening the faith in the divinity of the Holy Spirit.<\/p>\n His writings made him a \u201cFather of the Fathers\u201d and a \u201cpillar of Orthodoxy\u201d. They are works of profound theological thought, Christian philosophy, and lofty inner spiritual experience, including The Great Catechetical Oration<\/em>, On the Making of Man<\/em>, The Life of Moses<\/em>, Commentary on the Song of Songs<\/em>, On the Beatitudes<\/em>, The Christian Institution<\/em>, and others. He reposed in the Lord in the year 395, on 10 January, leaving us the testimony of the full measure of his great gifts. A portion of his holy relics is also preserved in Romania, at the Domni\u021ba B\u0103la\u0219a Church, a Patriarchal Chapel in Bucharest.<\/p>\n Saint Peter of Sebaste was the youngest of the children of Saints Basil and Emmelia. He was born in the year 340, in Caesarea of Cappadocia. Saint Macrina the Younger, his elder sister, took care of his formation, instilling in him love for prayer, ascetic struggle, and almsgiving. Renouncing the study of secular sciences, Saint Peter devoted himself to the study of Holy Scripture and to growth in the spiritual life.<\/p>\n Shortly after his brother Basil was ordained Archbishop of Caesarea in the year 370, Peter was ordained by him to the priesthood. His spiritual qualities made him worthy of being entrusted with a higher dignity in the Church, but Saint Peter avoided this as much as he could, loving instead the peace of solitude and the ascetic labours of fasting, vigil, and the study of sacred writings.<\/p>\n After the death of his father, Saint Peter helped his sister and mother organise a monastic community in which they devoted themselves to the Church\u2019s mission and charitable work. He later transformed the family home into an ecclesiastical establishment for virgins. When the provinces of Pontus and Cappadocia were struck by a severe drought, the monastic and charitable institutions administered by Saint Peter and his family provided grain and other supplies to all who were hungry and in need. Around the year 378, after repeated insistence from Basil the Great, Saint Peter accepted the high ministry of the episcopate as Bishop of Sebaste, in the province of Armenia, today Sivas, T\u00fcrkiye.<\/p>\n With great zeal and worthiness, Saint Peter restored the Orthodox faith in the diocese after the death of the Arian bishop Eustathius and participated in the Second Ecumenical Council of Constantinople in the year 381, at which the text of the Orthodox Creed was brought to completion.<\/p>\n Saint Gregory of Nyssa said of his brother that \u201che seemed in no way inferior to Basil the Great in virtue\u201d. Although none of the writings of the Holy Hierarch Peter have been preserved, it was at his urging that Saint Gregory of Nyssa wrote his great work Against Eunomius<\/em>. Saint Peter peacefully reposed in the year 391.<\/p>\n Saint Macrina the Venerable was the elder sister of Saint Basil the Great. From her youth, she dedicated her life to the service of God and to helping the poor. Endowed with physical beauty and a noble character, she was betrothed to a young man of similar qualities, but he died shortly afterwards.<\/p>\n Many others later came seeking to marry her, but the blessed woman chose virginity, assisting her mother, Saint Emmelia, with the household duties and with raising her younger brothers and sisters, becoming like a second mother to them. The saint devoted herself to reading the divine Scriptures, diligently guiding her siblings along the path of following Christ and transforming the family home into a school of good works.<\/p>\n Together with her brother, Saint Basil the Great, she founded two monasteries in Pontus, one for women and another for men. The men\u2019s monastery was guided by Saint Basil the Great, while the other was led by Abbess Macrina, who, after the repose of their mother, Saint Emmelia, distributed her wealth among the poor. She lived with great dignity, labour, and prayer, earning by her own work what was necessary for life until her final breath.<\/p>\n When Saint Gregory of Nyssa visited his sister shortly before her repose, he found her completely weakened by fever and lying upon a wooden board. The poverty in the monastery of virgins was so great that an old veil could barely be found to cover Macrina\u2019s body when she was taken to the tomb.<\/p>\n Saint Gregory then placed his own mantle over her. During her lifetime, Saint Macrina also worked many miracles, bringing healing to the sick and to those tormented by demons through her prayers. The blessed woman peacefully reposed in the year 380 and was buried in the Church of the Holy Forty Martyrs, beside the tomb of her mother, Saint Emmelia. Her commemoration is observed on 19 July.<\/p>\n Saint Naucratius was born in the year 332. He received an excellent education and, from his youth, distinguished himself through his physical beauty and strength. He also displayed profound learning, so that, at the age of 22, he publicly read works of his own composition, astonishing his listeners with the skill of his oratory.<\/p>\n Nevertheless, the young Naucratius fled from worldly life and, together with his servant Chrysaphius, withdrew to the wooded banks of the River Iris. There he found a place of ascetic struggle, where he devoted himself to fasting, vigils, the reading of sacred books, and the salvation of his soul. With his own hands, he cared for several elderly people who lived nearby in poverty and weakness.<\/p>\n One day, Saint Naucratius went fishing for the elderly people under his care and, after falling into the water, unexpectedly passed away in the year 358, at the age of 26.<\/p>\n The saints from the family of Saint Basil the Great have been honoured as protectors of Christian families and examples of holiness through a common liturgical service since the 19th century. The Orthodox Church of Greece officially established their common feast in the year 1998. By its decision of 1 July 2025, the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church established their commemoration on 19 July.<\/p>\n Troparion, Tone 4<\/p>\n Let us praise in hymns the Hierarchs of Christ: Basil the Great, Gregory of Nyssa, and Peter of Sebaste; the ascetic Naucratius and the Venerable Macrina, together with their parents, Basil and Emmelia, and their grandmother Macrina, as we solemnly celebrate their holy feast.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Saint Dius was born in Antioch, Syria towards the end of the fourth century into a pious Christian family. From his youth he was noted for his temperance. He ate food in small quantities, but not every day, and his flesh was humbled by vigil and unceasing prayer. For these deeds the Lord granted Saint Dius dispassion and the gift of wonderworking.<\/p>\n In a vision, the Lord ordered Saint Dius to go to Constantinople and there to serve both Him and the people. Saint Dius settled beyond the city in a solitary place, where people feared to live. Saint Dius bravely contended with the evil spirits which tried to expel him from this place. The Lord heard the prayer of His saint: his staff took root, began to grow and with time was transformed into an immense oak, which stood for a long time even after the death of Saint Dius.<\/p>\n The surrounding inhabitants began to come to the saint for advice and guidance, and they sought healing from illnesses of body and soul. Saint Dius doctored the infirm with prayer, and whatever was offered him he distributed to the poor, the homeless and the sick.<\/p>\n Reports of Saint Dius reached even the emperor Theodosius the Younger. He came to Saint Dius for a blessing together with Patriarch Atticus of Constantinople (406-425). The emperor wanted a monastery to be built on the place of Saint Dius\u2019 efforts, and he provided the means for its construction. The Patriarch ordained the monk as a priest and made him the igumen. Soon numerous monastic brethren gathered to Saint Dius. The monastery was in need of a well, and they dug for a long time without success. Through the prayers of the monk the Lord brought forth a spring of pure water, which soon filled up the entire well. Once, through his prayers, the monk raised up a drowned man. The Lord worked many other miracles through His saint.<\/p>\n In extreme old age Saint Dius became grievously ill. He took his leave of the brethren, received the Holy Mysteries, and lay upon his cot like one dead. At the monastery His Holiness Patriarch Atticus (Comm. on Cheesefare Saturday) came for the funeral service and also Patriarch Alexander of Alexandria, who was then at Constantinople. The holy Elder unexpectedly rose up from his death bed and said, \u201cThe Lord has granted me fifteen more years of life.\u201d Great was the joy of the brethren.<\/p>\n Saint Dius did live another fifteen years, helping all with guidance and counsel, healing the sick, and being concerned for the poor and homeless. Shortly before his death, a radiant man in priestly garb appeared to him in the altar of the church and told him of his impending death. Having given thanks to the Lord for this news, Saint Dius quietly died and was buried in his monastery.<\/p>\n Uncovering of the Relics of Saint Seraphim, Wonderworker of Sarov: The glorification of Saint Seraphim of Sarov (January 2), took place in 1903, seventy years after his repose. On July 3, 1903 Metropolitan Anthony of Saint Petersburg, assisted by Bishop Nazarius of Nizhni-Novgorod and Bishop Innocent of Tambov, transferred the saint\u2019s relics from their original burial place to the church of Saints Zosimus and Sabbatius. Tsar Nicholas II and Tsarina Alexandra provided a new cypress coffin to receive the relics. This cypress coffin was then placed inside an oak coffin and remained in the church until the day of the saint\u2019s glorification.<\/p>\n At noon on July 16, the first day of the festivities, Metropolitan Anthony offered a Memorial Service for the ever-memorable Hieromonk Seraphim in the Dormition Cathedral. Services also took place in the monastery\u2019s other churches.<\/p>\n The next day Metropolitan Anthony and Bishop Nazarius served a Memorial Liturgy in the Dormition Cathedral. At 5:00 that afternoon, the bells of Sarov began to ring, announcing the arrival of Tsar Nicholas and his family. Metropolitan Anthony greeted them and then led them to the Dormition Cathedral for a Service of Thanksgiving.<\/p>\n The royal family attended the early Liturgy on July 18th and received the Holy Mysteries. Later that morning, the final Memorial Service for the repose of Hieromonk Seraphim\u2019s soul was offered in the Cathedral. These would be the last prayers offered for him as a departed servant of God. From that time forward, prayers would be addressed to him as a saint. At 6 P.M. the bells rang for Vigil, the first service with hymns honoring Saint Seraphim, and during which his relics would be exposed for public veneration.<\/p>\n At the time of the Litia during Vespers, the saint\u2019s coffin was carried from the church of Saints Zosimus and Sabbatius and into the Dormition Cathedral. Several people were healed of various illnesses during this procession. During Matins, as \u201cPraise ye the Name of the Lord\u201d was sung, the coffin was opened. After the Gospel, Metropolitan Anthony and the other hierarchs kissed the holy relics. They were followed by the royal family, the officiating clergy, and all the people in the cathedral.<\/p>\n On July 19, the saint\u2019s birthday, the late Liturgy began at 8 o\u2019clock. At the Little Entrance, twelve Archimandrites lifted the coffin from the middle of the church, carried it around the altar, then placed it into a special shrine. The long awaited event was accompanied by numerous miraculous healings of the sick, who had gathered at Sarov in large numbers. More than 200,000 people came to Sarov from all across Russia.<\/p>\n The festivities at Sarov came to an end with the dedication of the first two churches to Saint Seraphim. The first church to be consecrated was over his monastic cell in Sarov. The second church was consecrated on July 22 at the Diveyevo convent.<\/p>\n In 1991, Saint Seraphim\u2019s relics were rediscovered after being hidden in a Soviet anti-religious museum for seventy years. Widely esteemed in his lifetime, Saint Seraphim is one of the most beloved saints of the Orthodox Church.<\/p>\n Troparion \u2014 Tone 4<\/strong><\/p>\n You loved Christ from your youth, O blessed one, \/ and longing to work for Him alone you struggled in the wilderness in constant prayer and labor. \/ With penitent heart and great love for Christ you were favored by the Mother of God. \/ Therefore we cry to you: \/ \u201cSave us by your prayers, venerable Seraphim, our father.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Matthew 9:27-35 (Gospel):<\/p>\n As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, \u201cHave mercy on us, Son of David!\u201d When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, \u201cDo you believe that I am able to do this?\u201d \u201cYes, Lord,\u201d they replied. Then he touched their eyes and said, \u201cAccording to your faith let it be done to you\u201d; and their sight was restored.<\/p>\n Jesus warned them sternly, \u201cSee that no one knows about this.\u201d But they went out and spread the news about him all over that region. While they were going out, a man who was demon-possessed and could not talk was brought to Jesus.<\/p>\n And when the demon was driven out, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowd was amazed and said, \u201cNothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.\u201d But the Pharisees said, \u201cIt is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons.\u201d<\/p>\n Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Orthodox Calendar, July 19 Venerable Macrina Saint Macrina was the sister of the holy hierarchs Basil the Great and Gregory of Nyssa, and was born in Cappadocia at the beginning of the fourth century. Her mother, Emilia, saw an angel in a dream, naming her unborn child Thekla, in honor of the holy Protomartyr Thekla.…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":580624,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[7913,6568,9801,9802,9800,9803],"class_list":["post-198543","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-feasts-and-saints","tag-feast-and-saints","tag-saints-of-the-day","tag-the-sister-of-st-basil-the-great","tag-venerable-dius","tag-venerable-macrina","tag-venerable-seraphim-of-sarov"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/basilica.ro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/sfanta-cuvioasa-macrina-sora-sfantului-vasile-cel-mare-sfantul-cuvios-die-aflarea-moastelor-sfantului-cuvios-serafim-de-sarov-35430.jpg\")
<\/p>\nThe Saints from the Family of Saint Basil the Great<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/basilica.ro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/familia-sfantului-vasile-cel-mare.jpg-587x890.jpeg\")
<\/p>\nVenerable Dius the Abbot of Antioch<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Uncovering of the Relics of Saint Seraphim<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/basilica.ro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Serafim-de-sarov-742x890.jpg\")
<\/p>\nScripture Reading – 7th Sunday after Pentecost<\/h3>\n