Lives of the Saints

Martyr Nestor of Thessalonica

Martyr Nestor of Thessalonica

The holy Martyr Nestor was very young in age, handsome in appearance, and he was known to the holy Great Martyr Demetrios (October 26), for he had instructed Nestor in the faith. The Emperor was visiting Thessaloniki, and he built a high platform in the midst of the city so that a gigantic…

Venerable Nestor the Chronicler of the Kiev Caves

Venerable Nestor the Chronicler of the Kiev Caves

Saint Nestor the Chronicler, of the Kiev Caves, Near Caves was born at Kiev in 1050. He came to Saint Theodosius (May 3) as a young man, and became a novice. Saint Nestor took monastic tonsure under the successor to Saint Theodosius, the igumen Stephen, and under him was ordained a hierodeacon.…

Uncovering of the relics of Saint Andrew, Prince of Smolensk

Uncovering of the relics of Saint Andrew, Prince of Smolensk

The Uncovering of the relics of Saint Andrew, Prince of Smolensk at Pereslavl occurred in the year 1539 through the involvement of Saint Daniel of Pereslavl (April 7). The holy Prince Andrew was the son of the Smolensk prince Theodore Fominsky. While still in his youth, he was grieved by the…

Martyrs Capitolina and Eroteis of Cappadocia

Saints Capitolina (Καπιτωλίνη) and Eroteis (Ερωτηίς) lived during the reign of Emperor Diocletian, when Zilikinthios (Ζιλικίνθιος) was the magistrate of…

Saint Claudia Procula

Saint Claudia Procula

Saint Matthew is the only Evangelist to mention Pilate’s wife, who told him “Have nothing to do with that just man, because I have suffered many things in a dream today because of him” (Matthew 27:19). She is not identified by name, but the author of the apocryphal Acts of Paul…

Martyrs Mark, Soterikhos, and Valentine

Saints Mark, Soterikhos, and Valentine were from Asia. They were arrested by the idolaters in the year 304 because they were Christians. After enduring many tortures, they were dragged over sharp stones until they were dead. Later, their holy relics were brought to the island of Thasos, which lies…

“The Sign” Icon of the Mother of God

“The Sign” Icon of the Mother of God

The main commemoration of the Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos “of the Sign” is November 27.

Saint Demetrius of Basarabov

Saint Demetrius of Basarabov

Saint Demetrius of Basarabov in Bulgaria lived in the wilderness as an ascetic near the city of Ruschuk, Bulgaria. He died in 1685. On July 8, 1779 his relics were transferred to Bucharest.

Saint Nestor (not the Chronicler) of the Far Kiev Caves

Saint Nestor (not the Chronicler) of the Kiev Caves, who lived as an ascetic in the Far Caves, is to be distinguished from Saint Nestor the Chronicler of the Near Caves. His memory is celebrated October 27 it seems, because he was named for the Saint Nestor of Thessalonica. The name of Saint…

Hierarch Alexander, Bishop of Guria and Samegrelo

The holy hierarch Alexander (Alexi Okropiridze in the world) was born in 1824, in the village of Disevi in the Gori district, to the family of the village priest. Growing up around the church, he received his primary education at Gori Theological School and later continued his education at Tbilisi…