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 […]
Tag Archives: martyr
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 […]
Nov. 30 The Holy and Glorious Apostle Andrew, the First-Called
The holy and glorious apostle Andrew, the first-Called. Born in Bethsaida, he was the brother of Simon Peter and a fisherman with him. He was called first from the disciples of John the Baptist at the Jordan by the Lord Jesus. Andrew followed him and even brought his brother to the Lord. After Pentecost it […]
Nov. 28 The Holy Venerable Martyr Stephen The Younger; The Holy Martyr Irenarchus
The holy venerable martyr Stephen the Younger was a monk and martyr, who, under Constantine Copronymus, was tortured by various punishments for the cult of sacred images and confirmed the Catholic truth by his shed blood. (767) The holy martyr Irenarchus was a torturer in Sebaste in Armenia. He was converted to Christ by the […]
Nov. 27 The Holy Martyr James the Persian; Our Venerable Father Palladius
The holy martyr James was a noble at the Persian court at the end of the 4th century. He offered sacrifice to idols despite his baptism. His mother and wife reproached him, begging him to repent. Moved by their plea, James repented bitterly and returned to Christ. The king sentenced him to death by being […]
Nov. 24 The Great Martyr Catherine; The Holy Great Martyr Mercury
The holy great martyr Catherine was an Alexandrian and a martyr, filled with sharpness of mind and wisdom no less than with strength of soul. Her body is honored in pious veneration in a famous coenobium on Mt. Sinai. (310) The holy great martyr Mercury was an Armenian soldier in the army of the emperor Decius. […]
Nov. 14 The Holy and All-praiseworthy Apostle Philip; Our Holy Father Gregory Palamas, Archbishop of Thessalonica
The holy and illustrious apostle Philip, like Peter and Andrew, was from Bethsaida in Galilee. He had become a disciple of John the Baptist, and was called by the Lord to follow him. He preached in Phrygia with John the Theologian and Bartholomew. Philip was crucified there upside down on a tree. When our holy […]
Nov. 12 Our Father among the Saints, John the Merciful, Patriarch of Alexandria; Our Venerable Father Nilus; The Holy Priest Martyr Josaphat, Archbishop of Polotsk
Our venerable father John the Merciful, also called “the Almsgiver”, died at Amathus in the island of Cyprus in the year 620. He was famous for his compassion to the poor. Filled with love toward all, he built many churches, hospitals, orphanages, and worked with great care to relieve every misfortune of the city. To […]
Nov. 04 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 […]
Nov. 03 The Holy Martyrs Acepsimas the Bishop, Joseph the Priest, and Aeithalas the Deacon; The Dedication of the Church of the Holy Great Martyr George in Lydda
The holy martyrs Acepsimas the bishop, Joseph the priest, and Aeithalas the deacon: Acepsimas was eighty years old when the Persian king Sapor began the persecution of Christians in which Acepsimas was seized. He was interrogated, thrown into prison with Joseph and Aeithalas, and were killed when they refused to worship pagan idols in the […]