The holy martyr Boniface was a servant to a wealthy and wicked woman in Rome, and was her paramour. His mistress decided that she wanted to have some relics of a Christian martyr in her house to use as an amulet to ward off evil, and dispatched Boniface to buy what she desired. In the […]
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Dec. 18 The Holy Martyr Sebastian and his Companions
The holy martyr Sebastian was born in Italy and brought up in the city of Milan where he intended to be a soldier. The emperor Diocletian made him captain of the imperial guard. During this time, Sebastian professed the Faith and was greatly persecuted for it. After many of his converts were martyred, the emperor […]
Dec. 17 The Holy Prophet Daniel and the Three Holy Children: Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael
The holy prophet Daniel and the 3 Holy Children: Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael: all four of these young men were members of the tribe of Judah, deported to Babylon after the fall of Jerusalem. Daniel is counted as one of the 4 major prophets along with Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekial. The Holy Youths Ananais (“God […]
Dec. 15 The Holy Priest Martyr Eleutherius; Our Venerable Father Paul of Latra; Our Father among the saints Stephen the Confessor, Archbishop of Surozh
The holy martyr Eleutherius was born of noble and eminent parents in Rome. Eleutherius was the fruit of the people who heard the Gospel from the apostles. He became bishop of Illyria, and was a model shepherd. He was arrested and martyred by the emperor Hadrian in the year 120. Our venerable father Paul of […]
Dec. 14 The Holy Martyrs Thyrsus, Leucas, Philemon, Appolonius, and Callinicus
The holy martyrs Thyrsus, Leucas, and Callinicus suffered for Christ under the emperor Decius (249-251) at Caesarea in Bithynia. St. Leucas, having reproached the prefect for his unjust persecution of Christians, was executed after being tortured. St. Thyrsus, who was still a catechumen, was nonetheless eager for martyrdom. He was sentenced to cruel tortures and […]
Dec. 13 The Holy Martyrs Eustratius, Auxentius, Eugene, Mardarius, and Orestes; The Holy Martyr Lucy, the Virgin
The holy martyrs Eustratius, Auxentius, Eugene, Mardarius, and Orestes gave their lives for Christ in Armenia during the reign of Diocletian (284-305). St. Eustratius was a Roman commander in the city of Satalionus; Eugene was his companion in the army; Orestes was likewise a distinguished soldier; Auxentius was a priest; and Mardarius was an ordinary […]
Dec. 11 Our Venerable Father Daniel the Stylite
Our venerable father Daniel the Stylite was born in the village of Bethara, near the city of Samosata in Mesopotamia. His mother Martha was childless for a long while and in her prayers she vowed that if she had a child, she would dedicate him to the Lord. Her prayers were heard, and Martha soon […]
Dec. 10 The Holy Martyrs Menas, Hermogenes, and Eugraphus
The holy martyrs Menas, Hermogenes, and Eugraphus: Menas and Hermogenes were born in Athens and moved to Constantinople in the 4th century. Both were pagans. Menas was sent by Emperor Maximian to calm the strife between pagans and Chrsitians in Alexandria. While there, he became a Christian. The emperor sent Hermogenes to Alexandria to punish […]
Dec. 9 Our Venerable Father Patapius
Our venerable father Patapius was born at Thebes into a pious Christian family. Reaching the age of maturity, he scorned the vanities of the world and so went into the Egyptian desert where he became known for his ascetic deeds. Though he wished to dwell in silence, people began to come to him for advice. […]
Dec. 8 The Feast of the Maternity of Anna
The Feast of the Maternity of the Holy Anna, mother of Our Blessed Lady, the Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary: According to tradition, Joachim and Anna were childless for fifty years of their married life. In their old age, they were promised that a daughter would be born to them. After nine months, St. […]