The holy prophet Zachary and his wife, the holy venerable Elizabeth, were the parents of the Forerunner John the Baptist. When she took her cousin Mary into her home, Elizabeth –full of the holy spirit– hailed the mother of the Lord as blessed among women. Zachary, a priest full of the prophetic spirit, praised God […]
Tag Archives: byzantine
Sept. 4 The Holy Priest-Martyr Babylas, Bishop of Great Antioch; The Holy Prophet Moses, who saw God
St. John Chyrostom wrote of the holy priest-martyr Babylas, “this great and wonderful man–if one can call him a man.” He was archbishop of Antioch in the time of the evil emperor Numerian. St. Babylas forbade the emperor entrance into the church because he was an idolator. In response, the emperor threw him into prison, […]
Sept. 3 The Holy Priest-Martyr Anthimus, Bishop of Nicomedia; Our Venerable Father Theoctistus of Palestine
The holy martyr Anthimus, bishop of Nicomedia in Bithynia, and his companions, martyrs in the persecution of Diocletian the emperor in the year 303. In fact, a whole crowd followed St. Anthimus as he received the glory of martyrdom by beheading for the sake of his confession of Christ. Some of his companions were martyred […]
Sept. 2 The Holy Martyr Mammas; Our Venerable Father John the Faster, Patriarch of Constantinople
The holy martyr Mammas was born in Paphlagonia to Christian parents who were imprisoned for the name of Christ. He was dumb until the age of five, and his first word was ‘mama,’ and it is from this word that his name derives. At the age of fifteen, he was brought before the emperor Aurelian. […]
Sept. 1 The Beginning of the Church New Year; Our Venerable Father Simeon the Stylite and his Mother; The Synaxis of the most holy Theotokos of Miasena; The Holy Martyr Aeithalas; The Forty Holy Women martyred with their Instructor Ammon the Deacon; The Holy Martyr Callista and her two brothers, Evodius and Hermogenes; Joshua the Just, Son of Nun
The First Ecumenical Council (325) decreed that the Church’s year should begin on September 1. The lunar month corresponding to September on the Jewish calendar was the beginning of the civil year (cf Exodus 12:2); it was at this time that our Lord Jesus went into the synagogue at Nazareth and read the words of […]
Aug. 31 The Deposition of the Venerable Sash of the Theotokos
The placing of the Venerable Belt of the Most Holy Theotokos in a church of Constantinople’s Chalcoprateia district took place during the reign of the emperor Theosodius the Younger. Before this the holy relic, entrusted to the Apostle Thomas by Mary herself, was kept by pious Christians at Jerusalem after her Dormition. During the reign […]
Aug. 30 Our Holy Fathers Alexander, John, and Paul the Younger, Patriarchs of Constantinople
Our holy fathers Alexander, John, and Paul the Younger, patriarchs of Constantinople: Alexander took part in the First Ecumenical Council. John the Faster governed the Church in the days of the wicked emperor Anastasius. Paul IV governed the Church for five years and then took the Great Schema to repent for his early support of […]
Aug. 29 Beheading of the Holy Prophet, Forerunner, and Baptist John
Beheading of the Holy Prophet, Forerunner, and Baptist John: Because John had denounced Herod Antipas for putting away his own wife and marrying the wife of his brother Philip, Herod imprisoned John. At a feast held in honor of Herod’s birthday, his stepdaughter Salome danced for him. Herod promised her anything; her mother Herodias told […]
Aug. 23 The Holy Martyr Lupus; The Holy Martyr Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyons
The martyr Lupus was a servant of St. Demetrius of Salonica. When his master was beheaded by the emperor Maximian, Lupus dipped the hem of his garment and his ring into his master’s blood. Through these relics he worked many miracles, even though he was not yet baptized. Having miraculously received the Holy Mysteries, he […]
Aug. 22 The Holy Martyr Agathonicus and His Companions
The holy martyr Agathonicus was a citizen of Nicomedia and a Christian by faith. With great zeal he converted the Hellenes from idolatry and instructed them in the true Faith. At emperor Maximian’s orders, the regional governor cruelly persecuted Christians. The deputy captured St. Zoticus in a place called Carpe. He crucified Zoticus’ disciples and […]