Sept. 14 The Exaltation of the Honorable and Life-giving Cross

The Exaltation of the Precious, Holy, and Life-Creating Cross, which is exalted and honored the day after the dedication of the basilica of the Resurrection built over the tomb of Christ, just as the trophy and sign of his paschal victory would appear in heaven, at last foretelling his second advent to all.   Troparion […]

Sept. 13 The Commemoration of the Dedication of the Holy Church of the Resurrection of Our Lord in Jerusalem; Prefestive of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross; The Holy Bishop-Martyr Cornelius

The commemoration of the dedication of the Church of the Resurrection of Our Lord in Jerusalem: When St. Helen found the Lord’s cross in Jerusalem, she stayed longer in the city and built churches in Gethsemane, in Bethlehem, on the Mount of Olives, and in other places connected to the life and death of the […]

Sept. 12 The Holy Priest-Martyr Autonomous

The holy bishop martyr Autonomous fled Italy during the Diocletian persecution and settled in Asian Bithynia at a place called Soreoi. There, he converted many to Christianity, and built a church for them dedicated to the holy Archangel Michael. Autonomous lived in the home of a devout Christian, Cornelius, whom he first ordained as a […]

Sept. 11 Our Venerable Mother Theodora of Alexandria

Our venerable mother Theodora of Alexandria who, as a young woman committed adultery on the advice of a fortune-teller. She was accused by her conscience, and left the world, cutting off her hair and dressing as a man in order to enter the monastery of Octodecatos, assuming the name of Theodore. Falsely accused of having […]

Sept. 10 The Holy Martyrs Menodora, Mitrodora, and Nymphodora; Saturday before the Exaltation of the Cross

The holy martyrs Menodora, Mitrodora, and Nymphodora were sisters from Bythinia. Brought up as Christians, they withdrew from the city into the desert to live for Christ alone, and gave themselves up to fasting, prayer, and work. They became famous as a source of healing illness, which brought them to the attention of the governor. […]

Sept. 9 The Synaxis of the Holy and Just Grandparents of God Joachim and Anna; The Holy Martyr Severian

The Synaxis of the holy and just Grandparents of God, Joachim and Anna, parents of Mary the immaculate Virgin mother of God, the names of whom were preserved by the ancient traditions of Christians from the Jews. The couple lived at Nazareth in Galilee. They were childless into their old age and all their life […]

Sept. 8 The Nativity of Our Most Holy Lady, The Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary

The nativity of the Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary, of the seed of Abraham, born from the tribe of Judah, from the line of King David. The Holy Theotokos was born of the elderly parents, Joachim of the lineage of David, and Anna of the lineage of Aaron. Therefore, Mary was of royal birth by her […]

Sept. 7 The Holy Martyr Sozon; Prefestive Day of the Nativity of the Theotokos

The holy martyr Sozon was a shepherd of Lycaonia who taught his family and friends the law of God. Sozon destroyed an idol, and was tortured and then burned for his Christian faith in the year 304 in Popeiopolis in Cilicia.  Troparion – Prefestive Today is born to us from the root of Jesse and […]

Sept. 6 Memory of the Miracle of the Holy Archangel Michael at Colossae in Chionia; The Holy Martyr Eudoxius and His Companions

The commemoration of the miracle of the Holy Archangel Michael at Colossae in Chionia: the archangel Michael worked a miracle of conversion and healing in Colossae, as well as a miracle of preservation of the site from flood. It is remembered each year on this date. The holy martyr Eudoxius and his companions Carterius, Styriacus, […]

Sept. 5 The Holy Prophet Zachary, Father of the Forerunner and His Wife, the Holy and Venerable Elizabeth

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 […]