Our venerable father Basil the Confessor, Bishop of Parium, lived during the eighth century. He was elected as bishop by the inhabitants of Parium, who venerated the saint as a true pastor of the flock of Christ. When the Iconoclast heresy broke out, St. Basil resolutely came out on the side of icon veneration and […]
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April 11 The Holy Priest Martyr Antipas, Bishop of Pergamum
The Hieromartyr Antipas, a disciple of the holy Apostle John the Theologian, was bishop of the Church of Pergamum during the reign of the emperor Nero (54-68). During these times, everyone who would not offer sacrifice to the idols lived under threat of either exile or execution by order of the emperor. By his personal […]
April 10 The Holy Martyrs Terence, Pompey, and their Companions
The holy martyrs Terence and his companions suffered under the emperor Decius (249-251). The emperor issued an edict commanding all subjects to offer sacrifices to the pagan idols. When Fortunianus, the governor of Africa, received this edict, he gathered the people in the city square, set out cruel instruments of torture and declared that everyone […]
April 9 The Holy Martyr Eupsychius
The holy martyr Eupsychius was of noble birth and was well instructed in pious beliefs. During the reign of Julian the Apostate, when St. Basil the Great governed the Church of God in Caesarea, Eupsychius entered into marriage with a prominent maiden. But alas, it was not given to him to live even one day […]
April 8 The Holy Apostles Herodion, Agabus, Rufus, and Companions
The holy apostles Herodion, Agabus, Rufus, Asyncritus, Phlegon, and Hermas were among the Seventy Apostles. St. Paul mentions them in his epistles. Herodion was a kinsman of Paul. He helped the Apostle Peter in Rome, and was beheaded along with many other Christians the day that St. Peter was crucified. Agabus had a spirit of […]
April 7 Our Venerable Father George, Bishop of Mitylene
Our venerable father George was chosen and installed as Metropolitan of Mitylene for his great virtues, which he attained through ascetic labors. This saint governed his spiritual flock prudently and zealously to a great old age. When a persecution began under Leo the Armenian, who destroyed the holy icons, this saintly elder was summoned to […]
April 6 The Falling Asleep of Our Holy Father Methodius, Bishop and Teacher to the Slavs
After the death of St. Cyril in Rome, our holy father Methodius returned to Moravia and labored there among the Slavs, preaching the Gospel and establishing the Christian faith there. Troparion Send your mercy from heaven, O Christ, to those who keep the feast of your pastor’s death. Through the intercession of your holy […]
April 5 The Holy Martyrs Theodulus and Agathopodes & their companions
The holy martyr Agathopodes was a deacon and the holy martyr Theodulus was a reader in the church at Thessalonica. Agathopodes was adorned with the grey hairs of old age and Theodulus with youthful chastity. At the time of Diocletian’s pursuit of Christians these two were summoned to court. They responded with rejoicing, and, holding […]
April 4 Our Venerable Fathers Joseph the Hymnographer and George of Maleon
Our venerable father Joseph the Hymnographer, priest, who, was a monk, when the destroyers of holy icons were raging in the later part of the 9th century, was sent to Rome to seek the protection of the Apostolic See, and, after he had been afflicted with many trials, finally took custody of the holy vessels […]
April 03 Our Venerable Father and Confessor Nicetas, Hegumen of Medikon Monastery
Our venerable father Nicetas the Confessor was born in Bithynian Caesarea (northwest Asia Minor) to a pious family. His mother died eight days after his birth, and his father Philaretos became a monk. The child remained in the care of his grandmother, who raised him in a true Christian spirit. From his youth St. Nicetas […]