The holy thirty-three martyrs at Melitene: Heiron was a devout Christian who cared diligently for his blind mother, Stratonica. He was forcibly impressed into the army, where he refused to worship idols. He was brought before the local governor with thirty-two other Christians in the year 298. They went to their death singing the psalm, […]
Tag Archives: daily saint
Nov. 6 Our Father among the saints, Paul the Confessor, Archbishop of Constantinople
Our father Paul the Confessor, archbishop of Constantinople, was frequently exiled by the Arians because of his adherence to the Nicene faith, and was as often restored to dignity. Finally, he was sent by Constantius the emperor to Cucusum, a small village in Cappadocia. There, it is said, he was strangled in a conspiracy of […]
Nov. 5 The Holy Martyrs Galaction and Episteme
The holy martyrs Galaction and Episteme were husband and wife who joined nearby monasteries immediately after their marriage. They did not see each other for many years, until the persecution of Christians which brought them both to court and saw them die on the same day in the year 253. Troparion Your martyrs, O […]
Nov. 4 Our Venerable Father Joannicus the Great; The Holy Martyr Nicander, Bishop of Myra; The Priest Hermas
Our venerable father Joannicus the Great left the military after more than twenty years in arms to live as a monk and pursue solitary life in different forests of Mt. Olympus. He was accustomed to end his prayer with these words: “God my hope, Christ my refuge, Holy Spirit my protector. He fell asleep in […]
Apr. 6 The Falling Asleep of Our Holy Father Methodius, Bishop and Teacher to the Slavs
After the death of St. Cyril in Rome, our holy father Methodius returned to Moravian and labored there among the Slavs, preaching the Gospel and establishing the Christian faith there. Troparion Send your mercy from heaven, O Christ, to those who keep the feast of your pastor’s death. Through the intercession of your holy disciple […]
Apr. 2 Our Venerable Father Titus the Wonder-worker
From his youth, our venerable father Titus loved Christ the Lord and detested the vanities of the world. Because of this, he retreated from the world, entered a monastery and received the angelic habit. Without regret, he dedicated himself to the somber and narrow path of monasticism. Through great patience, he attained two basic virtues: […]
Mar. 31 Our Venerable Father Hypatius, Bishop of Gangra
Our venerable father Hypatius was born in Cilicia and was the bishop of Gangra. He was present at the First Ecumenical Council (Nicea, 325) and was renowned by all for his pious life and miracle-working. The Emperor Constantius ordered that a likeness of Hypatius be made during the saint’s lifetime. The emperor kept the likeness […]
Mar. 30 Our Venerable Father John Climacus, Author of “The Ladder”
Our venerable father John Climacus is the author of The Ladder of Divine Ascent. John came to Mount Sinai as a sixteen year old youth and remained there, first as a novice, later as a recluse, and finally as abbott of Sinai until his eightieth year, when he reposed, in about the year 649. After […]
Mar. 29 Our Venerable Father Mark, Bishop of Arethusa; the Deacon Cyril and his Companions
Our venerable hieromartyr Mark, Bishop of Arethusa, suffered for his faith in Christ under the emperor Julian the Apostate (361-363). By order of the emperor Constantine, St. Mark had once destroyed a pagan temple and built a Christian church. When Julian came to the throne, he persecuted Christians and tried to restore paganism. Some citizens […]
Mar. 28 Our Venerable Father Hilary the Younger; The Holy Stephen the Wonder-worker
Our venerable father Hilarion (Hilary) the New, Heguman of Pelekete Monastery, who from his youth devoted himself to the service of God and spent many years as a hermit. Because of his holy and blameless life he was ordained to the holy priesthood, and later he was made igumen of the Pelekete monastery, near the […]