Lives of the Saints

Forefeast of the Transfiguration of our Lord

Forefeast of the Transfiguration of our Lord

The Lord had begun warning his disciples about the dangers they would face, and also about His Passion and death. He also told them that they would be persecuted by pagans and enemies of the Gospel. He explained that these things pertain to the present life, but what is essential is eternal life.…

Martyr Eusignius of Antioch

Martyr Eusignius of Antioch

The Martyr Eusignius was born at Antioch in the mid-third century. For sixty years he served in the Roman armies of the emperors Diocletian, Maximian Hercules, Constantius Chlorus, Constantine the Great and his sons. Saint Eusignius was a companion of Saint Basiliscus (March 3 and May 22), and he…

Venerable Job of Ushchelsk

Saint Job the Gorge-dweller was a monk of the Solovki Monastery (his father's name was Patrick Mazovsky). On November 10, 1608 Venerable Job was ordained as a Hieromonk by Metropolitan Isidore of Novgorod. In 1614 Saint Job was sent to the Mezen region, where at the confluence of the Rivers Ezeg…

Hieromartyr Antherus (Antheros) Pope of Rome

Hieromartyr Antherus (Antheros) Pope of Rome

Saint Antherus was elected Bishop of Rome in place of Saint Pontian, and he too soon accepted suffering and death for Christ in the year 236.

Hieromartyr Fabian, Pope of Rome, and Martyr Pontious

Hieromartyr Fabian, Pope of Rome, and Martyr Pontious

Saint Fabian, as a presbyter, fearlessly gave burial to the bodies of martyrs. After the death of Hieromartyr Antherus (Antheros) Pope of Rome, Saint Fabian succeeded him as Pope. Saint Fabian loved Saint Pontius as though he were his own son. Saint Pontius distributed with Saint Fabian all his…

Martyrs Cantidius, Cantidian, and Sibelius (Sobel) of Egypt

Martyrs Cantidius, Cantidian, and Sibelius (Sobel) of Egypt

Saints Cantidius and Cantidian were brothers who lived in Egypt during the fourth century. They were put to death by stoning. Saint Sibelius (Soleb) was shot with arrows. All three suffered martyrdom because they were Christians who refused to deny Christ.

Righteous Nonna, mother of Saint Gregory the Theologian

Righteous Nonna, mother of Saint Gregory the Theologian

Saint Nonna, the mother of Saint Gregory the Theologian (January 25, 389), was the daughter of Christians named Philotatos and Gorgonia, who raised her in Christian piety. Saint Nonna was also an aunt of Saint Amphilochius, Bishop of Iconium (November 23). Saint Nonna entered into marriage with…

Saint Theoctistus, Bishop of Chernigov

Saint Theoctistus, Bishop of Chernigov, before assuming the episcopal office, pursued an ascetic life at the Kiev Caves monastery. He was one of the great Elders, healing Saint Nikḗtas, the future Bishop of Novgorod (January 31), by his prayers. In the year 1103, Saint Theoctistus was made igumen…

Martyr Pontius

The Martyr Pontius lived during the third century, the son of the pagan Roman senator Marcus and his wife Julia. While with child, Julia had gone with her husband to the temple of Jupiter. The devil, inhabiting the temple, shouted through the lips of the pagan priest that the boy in Julia’s…

Saint Oswald, king and martyr

Saint Oswald, king and martyr

Saint Oswald was born around 605, the second of the seven sons of the Anglo-Saxon king Aethelfrith, who was the first ruler to unite the provinces of Bernicia and Deira into the kingdom of Northumbria. King Edwin of Deira refused to accept the Bernician control of both provinces, so he attempted a…

Saint John Jacob the Chozebite

Saint John Jacob the Chozebite

Saint John the Chozebite, the son of Maxim and Catherine Jacob, was born July 23, 1913 in the Horodistea district of Moldavia. He was named for the holy prophet Elias (July 20). In 1914, his father died in the war, and his mother succumbed to a disease, leaving Elias as an orphan. His grandmother…