Dec. 23 The Holy Ten Martyrs of Crete

The Ten Holy Martyrs of Crete: Theodulus, Saturninus, Euporus, Gelasius, Eunician, Zoticus, Pompous, Agathopus, Basilides, and Evaristus suffered for Christ during the 3rd century under the emperor Decius (249-251). The governor of Crete fiercely persecuted the Church, and arrested anyone who believed in Christ. Once, ten Christians were brought before him from various cities of […]

Dec. 22 The Holy Great Martyr Anastasia

The holy great martyr Anastasia was born into a senatorial family in Rome, and she was a Christian from a tender age. Forced by her father to marry a pagan landowner, she refused to have marital relations with him. For this, her husband has her tortured and imprisoned. When her husband drowned during a business […]

Dec. 20 The Holy Priest Martyr Ignatius the God-bearer

The holy martyr Ignatius the God-bearer was a bishop and a disciple of St. John the Apostle. He ruled the Church of Antioch second after St. Peter. He was condemned to the beasts under the Emperor Trajan, and was sent to Rome and there he was crowned in martyrdom in the year 107. On his […]

Dec. 19 The Holy Martyr Boniface

The holy martyr Boniface was a servant to a wealthy and wicked woman in Rome, and was her paramour. His mistress decided that she wanted to have some relics of a Christian martyr in her house to use as an amulet to ward off evil, and dispatched Boniface to buy what she desired. In the […]

Dec. 18 The Holy Martyr Sebastian and his Companions

The holy martyr Sebastian was born in Italy and brought up in the city of Milan where he intended to be a soldier. The emperor Diocletian made him captain of the imperial guard. During this time, Sebastian professed the Faith and was greatly persecuted for it. After many of his converts were martyred, the emperor […]

Dec. 17 The Holy Prophet Daniel and the Three Holy Children: Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael

The holy prophet Daniel and the 3 Holy Children: Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael: all four of these young men were members of the tribe of Judah, deported to Babylon after the fall of Jerusalem. Daniel is counted as one of the 4 major prophets along with Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekial. The Holy Youths Ananais (“God […]

Sunday Bulletin 12/17/23

WEEKLY SCHEDULE Saturday, Dec 16  –  Haggai, Prophet         5:00 PM          Santa Paula Outreach Divine Liturgy 5:30 PM          Reader Vespers Sunday, Dec 17  –  Sunday of the Forefathers           8:30 AM          Matins 9:30 AM          Divine Liturgy Monday, Dec 18  –  Sebastian and Others, Martyrs        5:30 PM          Akathist* for those suffering Addictions & Mental Illness […]

Dec. 16 The Holy Prophet Haggai

The holy prophet Haggai was the 10th of the 12 minor prophets. He was of the Tribe of Levi and he prophesied during the times of the Persian emperor Darius Hystaspis (prior to 500 B.C.). Upon the return of the Jews from the Babylonian Captivity, he persuaded the people to build the Second Temple at […]