Our father Paul the Confessor, archbishop of Constantinople, was frequently exiled by the Arians because of his adherence to the Nicene faith, and was as often restored to dignity. Finally, he was sent by Constantius the emperor to Cucusum, a small village in Cappadocia. There, it is said, he was strangled in a conspiracy of […]
Author Archives: maryadmin
The Holy Place (reverence ii)
(Part II in a series of posts encouraging reverence of the Holy things) When the priest stands at the royal doors and blesses the altar at the end of the Little Entrance (the one where he or the deacon carries the Gospel book), he says “Blessed is the entrance into your holy of holies…”. He […]
Sunday Bulletin 11/06/22
WEEKLY SCHEDULE Saturday, Nov. 5 – Galaction and Episteme, Martyrs 5:00 PM Outreach Divine Liturgy in Santa Paula 6:30 PM Reader Vespers Sunday, Nov. 6 – 22nd Sunday after Pentecost 8:30 AM Matins 9:30 AM Divine Liturgy Monday, Nov. 7 – 33 Martyrs of Melitene […]
Nov. 05 The Holy Martyrs Galaction and Episteme
The holy martyrs Galaction and Episteme were husband and wife who joined nearby monasteries immediately after their marriage. They did not see each other for many years, until the persecution of Christians which brought them both to court and saw them die on the same day in the year 253. Troparion Your martyrs, O […]
Nov. 04 Our Venerable Father Joannicus the Great; The Holy Martyr Nicander, Bishop of Myra; The Priest Hermas
Our venerable father Joannicus the Great left the military after more than twenty years in arms to live as a monk and pursue solitary life in different forests of Mt. Olympus. He was accustomed to end his prayer with these words: “God my hope, Christ my refuge, Holy Spirit my protector. He fell asleep in […]
Nov. 03 The Holy Martyrs Acepsimas the Bishop, Joseph the Priest, and Aeithalas the Deacon; The Dedication of the Church of the Holy Great Martyr George in Lydda
The holy martyrs Acepsimas the bishop, Joseph the priest, and Aeithalas the deacon: Acepsimas was eighty years old when the Persian king Sapor began the persecution of Christians in which Acepsimas was seized. He was interrogated, thrown into prison with Joseph and Aeithalas, and were killed when they refused to worship pagan idols in the […]
Nov. 02 The Holy Martyrs Akindynos, Pegasius, Apthonius, Elpidiphor, and Anempodistus
The holy martyrs Akindynos, Pegasius, Apthonius, Elpidiphor, and Anempodistus, and very many companions in Persia were martyred under the emperor Licinius and suffered under King Shapur II. The first three were servants at the court of King Shapur II but secretly served Christ their Lord. When they were accused and brought to trial before the […]
Nov. 01 The Holy Unmercenary Wonder-workers Cosmas and Damian
The holy wonder-workers and Unmercenary Physicians Cosmas and Damian and their mother, St. Theodota, were natives of Asia Minor (some sources say Mesopotamia). Their pagan father died while they were still quite small children. Their mother raised them in Christian piety. Through her own example, and by reading holy books to them, St. Theodota preserved […]
Oct. 31 The Holy Apostles Stachys, Amplius, and their Companions; The Holy Martyr Epimachus
The holy apostles Stachys, Amplius, and their companions were members of the Seventy Apostles. Stachys was the helper of St. Andrew the First Called, who made him bishop of Byzantium. Amplius and Urban were also fellow-workers with St. Andrew, and were made bishops of Lydda and Macedonia, respectively. Narcissus was made Bishop of Athens by […]
The Beauty of Your House (reverence i)
(Part one in a series of posts encouraging reverence of the Holy things) At the end of the Divine Liturgy, during the Ambon Prayer, the priest asks God to “sanctify those who love the beauty of your house…”. This reference comes from Psalm 25:8 (26:8 in most bibles) which says “Lord, I love the beauty […]