The Holy Martyrs Theopemptus and Theona, of Nicomedia in Bithynia, who met martyrdom in the persecution of the Emperor Diocletian (c. 350) Our Venerable Mother Syncletica of Alexandria in Egypt, virgin, who is to have led a solitary life that influenced many women of her day. (4th century) The Holy Prophet Micah, who in the […]
Category Archives: Daily Devotionals
Jan. 4 Synaxis of the Holy 70 Apostles; Our Venerable Father Theoctistus
Synaxis of the Holy 70 Apostles, whose names were recorded by St. Dorotheus. In addition to the Twelve Apostles, our Lord chose seventy other apostles and sent them out to preach (cf. Luke 10: 1-5) Our Venerable Father Theoctistus, Hegumen at Cuomo in Sicily founded a monastery in the city of Kucuma on the island […]
Jan. 3 The Holy Prophet Malachi; The Holy Martyr Gordius
The Holy Prophet Malachi, who after the return from the Babylonian Captivity announced the great day of the Lord and his coming to his temple, and that always and everywhere a pure offering should be made to his name. The Holy Martyr Gordius, praised in the writings of St. Basil the Great, a centurion who […]
Jan. 2 Our Holy Father Sylvester, Pope of Rome
Our holy father Sylvester, Pope of Rome who piously ruled the Church for many years. During his pontificate, Constantine the Emperor built basilicas worthy of veneration and the Nicene Council of 325 acclaimed Christ the Son of God. On this day in Rome in the cemetery of Priscillia his body was laid to rest in […]
Jan. 1 The Circumcision of Our Lord and the Commemoration Our Holy father Basil the Great, Archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia
The circumcision of Our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ. Coming eight days after the birth of Christ, this feast commemorates his naming and his becoming a member of the Covenant of Moses. Our Holy father Basil the Great, Archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia, who is called “great” in learning and wisdom. He taught meditation […]
Dec. 31 Our Venerable Mother Melany of Rome
Our venerable mother Melany the Younger of Rome set out with her husband, St. Pinianus, for the Holy City of Jerusalem in the 5th century. There she lived among the women consecrated to God and her husband among the monks. They practiced the religious life and both came to rest in a holy death. […]
Dec. 27 The Holy Apostle, First Martyr, and Archdeacon Stephen; Our Venerable Father Theodore the Branded
The holy apostle, proto-martyr, and archdeacon Stephen was a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit. First of the seven deacons whom the Apostles chose to be fellow-laborers in the ministry, he was also the first of the disciples of the Lord to pour out his own blood at Jerusalem. He provided testimony for […]
Dec. 26 The Synaxis of the Most Holy Theotokos; The Holy Martyr Euthymius, Bishop of Sardis
The synaxis of the Theotokos: On the second day of the Christmas feast, the Church gives glory and praise to the most holy Theotokos, who bore our Lord, God, and Savior, Jesus Christ. The holy martyr Euthymius, Bishop of Sardis in Lydia, was forced into exile on account of his veneration of the Holy Images […]
Dec. 25 The Nativity of Our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ
Christ is Born! Glorify Him! Christos Rozdajetsja! Slavite Jeho! The Nativity in the Flesh of Our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ: “When the fullness of time was come, God sent his only-begotten Son” (Galatians 4:4) to save the human race. Nine months after his conception in the womb of the Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary, […]
Dec. 24 The Holy Great Martyr Eugenia
The holy great martyr Eugenia’s father was Eparch of All Egypt. Eugenia ministered to the Christians who had been forced to flee the city of Alexandria due to persecution, and was then baptized. She assumed men’s clothing and lived in a monastery. She was betrayed to the Eparch, who then found his daughter (who he […]