Lives of the Saints

Translation of the relics of the Protomartyr and Archdeacon Stephen from Jerusalem to Constantinople

Translation of the relics of the Protomartyr and Archdeacon Stephen from Jerusalem to Constantinople

The Transfer of the Relics of the Holy Protomartyr Stephen from Jerusalem to Constantinople took place about the year 428. After the holy Protomartyr Archdeacon Stephen was stoned by the Jews, they left his holy body unburied to be devoured by the beasts and birds. After a day and a night the…

Finding of the relics of Righteous Saint Νikόdēmos

Saint Νikόdēmos was a prominent Pharisee who believed in Christ. The Savior explained to him how man is regenerated through Baptism, but he did not understand how a man could be born again. When the Lord reproved him for his ignorance, he accepted it with humility (John 3:1-21). Νikόdēmos…

Finding of the relics of Saint Gamaliel

Saint Gamaliel was a Pharisee, a doctor of the Law (Acts 5:34), and the teacher of Saint Paul (Acts 22:3). In the year 415, Saint Gamaliel appeared to a priest named Lucian. He was a tall, venerable man with a long white beard. He was dressed in white clothing which was edged with gold and marked…

Finding of the relics of Saint Abibas

Saint Abibas was the twenty-year-old son of Saint Gamaliel, who died before his father. His relics were uncovered along with those of Saints Stephen, Gamaliel, and Νikόdēmos in 415. The relics of Saints Stephen, Gamaliel, Abibas, and Νikόdēmos were transferred from Jerusalem to Constantinople…

Blessed Basil of Moscow the Fool-For-Christ

Blessed Basil of Moscow the Fool-For-Christ

Saint Basil the Blessed, Wonderworker of Moscow, was born in December 1468 on the portico of the Elokhov church in honor of the Vladimir Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos outside Moscow. His parents were commoners and sent their son to be trained as a cobbler. During Basil’s apprenticeship,…

Holy Fool Basil of Kamen

Venerable Basil of Kamen, a holy fool for the sake of Christ (2nd half of the XVII – 1st half of the XVIII century?), was a monk in the Savior–Kamen Monastery, located on an island in Lake Kuben (near Vologda). At the shrine of his relics, later placed in the church dedicated to Saint Basil of…

Hieromartyr Stephen, Pope of Rome, and those with him

Hieromartyr Stephen, Pope of Rome, and those with him

The Hieromartyr Stephen, Pope of Rome, suffered in the year 257 during the reign of the emperor Valerian (253-259). Saint Stephen, occupying the throne (253-257) of the holy First Bishop of Rome, zealously contended against the heresy of Novatus, which taught that it is not proper to receive back…

Saint Photeine of Cyprus, Wonderworker

It is not known just when Saint Photeini [Photeinḗ - known on Cyprus as Saint Photou (Phótou) the wonderworker] lived, nor is there any information about her early life. Tradition tells us that she was born in Rizokarpaso to simple, but pious parents. From a young age, Photou stood out from her…