Author Archives: maryadmin

Nov. 15 The Holy Martyrs and Confessors Gurias, Samonas, and Habibus

The holy martyrs and confessors Gurias, an ascetic, and Samonas suffered at Edessa in Osrhoene. They were condemned to death under Diocletian the emperor after a lengthy and savage torture, they were then beheaded by sword. Habibus was a deacon who suffered for the faith later. The martyrs endured everything with firmness and Samonas uttered […]

Nov. 14 The Holy and All-praiseworthy Apostle Philip; Our Holy Father Gregory Palamas, Archbishop of Thessalonica

The holy and illustrious apostle Philip, like Peter and Andrew, was from Bethsaida in Galilee. He had become a disciple of John the Baptist, and was called by the Lord to follow him. He preached in Phrygia with John the Theologian and Bartholomew. Philip was crucified there upside down on a tree.  When our holy […]

Nov. 13 Our Father among the saints, John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople

Our holy father John Chrysostom was born in Antioch, and was ordained to the priesthood and was found worthy of the title Chrysostom because of his golden eloquence. Chosen for the see of Constantinople, he showed himself to be the best pastor and teacher of the faith. He was forced into exile by his enemies. […]

Nov. 12 Our Father among the Saints, John the Merciful, Patriarch of Alexandria; Our Venerable Father Nilus; The Holy Priest Martyr Josaphat, Archbishop of Polotsk

Our venerable father John the Merciful, also called “the almsgiver”, died at Amathus in the island of Cyprus in the year 620. He was famous for his compassion to the poor. Filled with love toward all, he built many churches, hospitals, orphanages, and worked with great care to relieve every misfortune of the city. To […]

Nov. 11 The Holy Martyrs Menas, Victor, and Vincent; The Holy Martyr Stephanis; Our Venerable Father and Confessor Theodore the Studite

The holy martyr Menas was a soldier from Egypt. When ordered to worship pagan idols and arrest and persecute Christians, St. Menas refused and left the army to go into the wilderness and live an ascetic life. At the age of fifty, St. Menas had a vision that he regarded as a sign to follow […]

Nov. 10 The Holy Apostles Erastus, Olympas, Rodion, and their Companions

The holy apostles Erastus, Sosipater, Olympas, Rodion, Quartus, and Tertius were disciples of St. Paul. They all lived during the first century. The Apostle to the Gentiles speaks of them in the Epistle to the Romans, “And Erastus, the city treasurer, greets you, and Quartus, a brother” (Rom 16:23). St. Sosipater, a native of Achaia, […]

Nov. 9 The Holy Martyrs Onesiphorus and Porphyrius; Our Venerable Mother Matrona; The Venerable Theoctista of Lesbos

The holy martyrs Onesiphorus and Porphyrius of Ephesus suffered during the persecution of Christians by emperor Diocletian (284-305). They beat them and burned them. After this, they tied the saints to wild horses, which dragged them over stones, after which the martyrs died. Believers gathered the remains of the saints and reverently buried them. Our […]