Category Archives: Daily Devotionals

Paul of Thebes was a disciple of St. Anthony the Great. He is one of the earliest of the “desert fathers” and lived as a hermit in Theibaid in Egypt during the middle of the fourth century. John the hut-deller lived in Constantinople during the fifth century. He left home, and returned 6 years later […]

There were two occasions when the monks and hermits of Sinai and Raitho were murdered by the barbarians. The first took place in 312 when forty Fathers were killed at Mt. Sinai, and thirty-nine were slain at Raitho the same day. The second massacre occurred nearly a hundred years later.    Troparion God of our […]

  The Emperor Licinius raised a great persecution of Christians. St. Hermolaus, a Christian and a deacon in the Church, was arrested and brought to trial. When Hermolaus was informed that he was being led away to be tortured, he greatly rejoiced. In vain did the emperor threaten him. Hermolaus openly confessed his faith in […]

The Holy Martyr Tatiana was a Roman whose parents were from the nobility. She was a Christian and a deaconess in the church. After the death of Emperor Heliogabalus, there reigned the Emperor Alexander, whose mother, Mammaea, was a Christian. Alexander himself was wavering and indecisive in his faith, for he kept statues of Christ, […]

Our Venerable Father Theodosius, founder of the Common Life lived during the fifth and sixth centuries, and was the founder of cenobitic monasticism. He was born in Cappadocia to pious parents. Endowed with a splendid voice, he zealously toiled at church readings and singing. Yearning for a solitary life, St. Theodosius settled in Palestine into […]

  Our Holy Father Gregory of Nyssa, brother of St. Basil the Great, one of the great theologians of the Byzantine Church (c. 395)   The Venerable Dometian, Bishop of Melitene, who lived under Emperors Justinian the Lesser and Maurice, was known for his remarkable intelligence, prudence, and spiritual zeal, and for his love of […]

The Holy Martyr Polyeuctus The Armenian city of Melitene was drenched with the blood of Christians, as was the entire country of Armenia. The first blood shed for Christ in this city was that of St. Polyeuctus in the year 259, during the reign of Valerian. In Melitene were two friends: Nearchus and Polyeuctus. Both […]

  Our Venerable Father George the Chozebite, a Cypriot monk at the Monastery of the Mother of God at Chozeba near Jericho (614) Our Venerable Father Emilian the Confessor, a native of Vannes, in what is now France, was a recluse (767) Troparion Come, O people and piously honor the memory of George. Sing praises […]

Synaxis of the Holy, Glorious Prophet, Forerunner, and Baptist John. A “synaxis” feast follows one of the great feasts, and highlights a major personage of yesterday’s celebration. We remember today the work of the Forerunner, John, who baptized Christ.  Troparion The memory of the righteous is celebrated with praise, but for you, O Forerunner, the […]

The Theophany of Our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ. Since the second century, the Church has celebrated the Baptism of Christ in the Jordan River for our sanctification. Troparion At your baptism in the Jordan, O Lord, worship of the Trinity was revealed; for the Father’s voice bore witness to You, calling You His […]