Lives of the Saints

HOLY PASCHA: The Resurrection of Our Lord

HOLY PASCHA: The Resurrection of Our Lord

Pascha (Easter) Enjoy ye all the feast of faith; receive ye all the riches of loving-kindness.(Sermon of Saint John Chrysostom, read at Paschal Matins) The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is the center of the Christian faith. Saint Paul says that if Christ is not raised from the dead,…

Venerable Theodore Trichinas “the Hair-Shirt Wearer” and Hermit Near Constantinople

Venerable Theodore Trichinas “the Hair-Shirt Wearer” and Hermit Near Constantinople

Saint Theodore Trichinas was born in Constantinople, the son of wealthy and pious parents. From childhood Saint Theodore was inclined toward monasticism, so he left his home, family, and former life in order to enter a monastery in Thrace. There he began his arduous ascetic struggles. He dressed in…

Venerable Alexander, Abbot of Oshevensk

Venerable Alexander, Abbot of Oshevensk

Saint Alexander of Oshevensk (+ 1479) was the founder of the Oshevensk Dormition Monastery and enlightener of the Kargopol area, and was tonsured in the White Lake Monastery. He appeared to Saint Diodorus of George Hill (November 27) in the seventeenth century when his Holy Trinity Monastery ran…

Childmartyr Gabriel of Bialystok

Childmartyr Gabriel of Bialystok

Child Martyr Gabriel of Bialystok (+ 1690) was killed in Poland when he was only six years old. One day when his parents were not home, he was lured out of his house by a man named Schutko, and then killed. After thirty years, the martyred child’s body was found to be incorrupt.

Venerable Anastasius, Abbot of Sinai

Venerable Anastasius, Abbot of Sinai

Saint Anastasius of Sinai lived in the seventh century, and was one of the great ascetics who flourished on Mt. Sinai. From his youth, he was raised in great piety and love for God. When he reached manhood, Saint Anastasius left the world and entered a monastery to take upon himself the yoke of…

Saint Theotimus, Bishop of Lesser Scythia

Saint Theotimus the Scythian was Bishop of Tomis in Scythia. He was a native of Dacia Pontica, and was part Roman. He is believed to have been the teacher of Saint John Cassian (February 29) and Saint Germanus, because he was once living in the same monastery as they were. Somewhere between…

Apostle Zacchaeus

Apostle Zacchaeus

The holy Apostle Zacchaeus was a rich publican at Jericho. Since he was short of stature, he climbed a sycamore tree in order to see the Savior passing by. After the Ascension of the Lord, Saint Zacchaeus accompanied Saint Peter on his travels. Tradition says he became the Bishop of Caesarea in…

Saint Athanasius of Meteora

Saint Athanasius of Meteora

Saint Athanasios, the son of wealthy parents, was born in 1302 at Hypátē, the well-known medieval town of New Patras, and was named Andronikos in Holy Baptism. His mother died during childbirth, and after a short time his father also reposed. Thus, young Andronikos lost both of his parents in a…