Lives of all saints commemorated on June 13

On the second Sunday after Pentecost, each local Orthodox Church commemorates all the saints, known and unknown, who have shone forth in its territory. Accordingly, the Orthodox Church in America remembers the saints of North America on this day.

Saints of all times, and in every country are seen as the fulfillment of God’s promise to redeem fallen humanity. Their example encourages us to “lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily besets us” and to “run with patience the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1). The saints of North America also teach us how we should live, and what we must expect to endure as Christians

Although it is a relatively young church, the Orthodox Church in America has produced saints in nearly all of the six major categories of saints: Apostles (and Equals of the Apostles); Martyrs (and Confessors); Prophets; Hierarchs; Monastic Saints; and the Righteous. Prophets, of course, lived in Old Testament times and predicted the coming of Christ.

The first Divine Liturgy in what is now American territory (northern latitude 58 degrees, 14 minutes, western longitude 141 degrees) was celebrated on July 20, 1741, the Feast of the Prophet Elias, aboard the ship Peter under the command of Vitus Bering. Hieromonk Hilarion Trusov and the priest Ignatius Kozirevsky served together on that occasion. Several years later, the Russian merchant Gregory I. Shelikov visited Valaam monastery, suggesting to the abbot that it would be desirable to send missionaries to Russian America.

On September 24, 1794, after a journey of 7,327 miles (the longest missionary journey in Orthodox history) and 293 days, a group of monks from Valaam arrived on Kodiak Island in Alaska. The mission was headed by Archimandrite Joasaph, and included Hieromonks Juvenal, Macarius, and Athanasius, the Hierodeacons Nectarius and Stephen, and the monks Herman and Joasaph. Saint Herman of Alaska (December 13, August 9), the last surviving member of the mission, fell asleep in the Lord in 1837.

Throughout the Church’s history, the seeds of faith have always been watered by the blood of the martyrs. The Protomartyr Juvenal was killed near Lake Iliamna by natives in 1799, thus becoming the first Orthodox Christian to shed his blood for Christ in the New World. In 1816, Saint Peter the Aleut was put to death by Spanish missionaries in California when he refused to convert to Roman Catholicism.

Missionary efforts continued in the nineteenth century, with outreach to the native peoples of Alaska. Two of the most prominent laborers in Christ’s Vineyard were Saint Innocent Veniaminov (March 31 and October 6) and Saint Jacob Netsvetov (July 26), who translated Orthodox services and books into the native languages. Father Jacob Netsvetev died in Sitka in 1864 after a life of devoted service to the Church. Father John Veniaminov, after his wife’s death, received monastic tonsure with the name Innocent. He died in 1879 as the Metropolitan of Moscow.

As the nineteenth century was drawing to a close, an event of enormous significance for the North American Church took place. On March 25, 1891, Bishop Vladimir went to Minneapolis to receive Saint Alexis Toth (May 7) and 361 of his parishioners into the Orthodox Church. This was the beginning of the return of many Uniates to Orthodoxy.

Saint Tikhon (Bellavin), the future Patriarch of Moscow (April 7, October 9), came to America as bishop of the diocese of the Aleutians and Alaska in September 1898. As the only Orthodox bishop on the continent, Saint Tikhon traveled extensively throughout North America in order to minister to his widely scattered and diverse flock. He realized that the local church here could not be a permanent extension of the Russian Church. Therefore, he focused his efforts on giving the American Church a diocesan and parish structure which would help it mature and grow.

Saint Tikhon returned to Russia in 1907, and was elected as Patriarch of Moscow ten years later. He died in 1925, and for many years his exact burial place remained unknown. Saint Tikhon’s grave was discovered on February 22, 1992 in the smaller cathedral of Our Lady of the Don in the Don Monastery when a fire made renovation of the church necessary.

Saint Raphael of Brooklyn (February 27) was the first Orthodox bishop to be consecrated in North America. Archimandrite Raphael Hawaweeny was consecrated by Bishop Tikhon and Bishop Innocent (Pustynsky) at Saint Nicholas Cathedral in New York on March 13, 1904. As Bishop of Brooklyn, Saint Raphael was a trusted and capable assistant to Saint Tikhon in his archpastoral ministry. Saint Raphael reposed on February 27, 1915.

The first All American Council took place March 5-7, 1907 at Mayfield, PA, and the main topic was “How to expand the mission.” Guidelines and directions for missionary activity, and statutes for the administrative structure of parishes were also set forth.

In the twentieth century, in the aftermath of the Russian Revolution, countless men, women, and children received the crown of martyrdom rather than renounce Christ. Saints John Kochurov (October 31) and Alexander Hotovitzky (December 4 and August 7) both served the Church in North America before going back to Russia. Saint John became the first clergyman to be martyred in Russia on October 31, 1917 in Saint Petersburg. Saint Alexander Hotovitzky, who served in America until 1914, was killed in 1937.

In addition to the saints listed above, we also honor those saints who are known only to God, and have not been recognized officially by the Church. As we contemplate the lives of these saints, let us remember that we are also called by God to a life of holiness.

The Holy Martyr Aquilina, a native of the Phoenician city of Byblos, suffered under the emperor Diocletian (284-305). Her parents raised her in Christian piety. When the girl was only twelve years old, she persuaded a pagan friend to convert to Christ. One of the servants of the imperial governor Volusian accused her of teaching others not to follow the religion of their fathers. The girl firmly confessed her faith in Christ before the governor and said that she would not renounce Him. Volusian tried to influence the young confessor through persuasion and by flattery, but seeing her confidence, he ordered her to be tortured.

They struck her upon the face, then they stripped her and beat her with whips. The torturer asked, “Where then is your God? Let Him come and take you out of my hands”.

The saint answered, “The Lord is here with me invisibly, and the more I suffer, the more strength and endurance will He give me.”

They drilled through the martyr’s ears with heated metal rods. The holy virgin fell down as if dead. The torturer thought that the girl had actually died, and he gave orders to throw her body outside the city to be eaten by dogs.

By night a holy angel appeared to Saint Aquilina, roused her and said, “Arise and be healed. Go and denounce Volusian, so that he and his plans may come to nothing.”

The martyr went to the court of the governor and stood before Volusian. Seeing Saint Aquilina, he called for his servants and ordered them to keep watch over her until morning.

In the morning he sentenced Saint Aquilina to death, saying that she was a sorceress who did not obey the imperial decrees. When they led the saint to execution, she prayed and gave thanks to God for allowing her to suffer for His Holy Name.

A voice was heard in answer to her prayer, summoning her to the heavenly Kingdom. Before the executioner could carry out the sentence, the martyr gave up her spirit to God (+ 293). The executioner feared to disobey the governor’s orders, so he cut off her head although she was already dead.

Christians piously buried the martyr’s body. Later, her relics were taken to Constantinople and placed in a church named for her.

Saint Tryphillius, Bishop of Leukosia, was born in Constantinople, and he received his education at Berit (Beirut, in Lebanon). He was very intelligent and eloquent. In spite of this, the saint chose as his guide a man neither bookish nor learned, but one of conspicuous holiness: Saint Spyridon of Tremithos (December 12).

The emperor Constantine II (337-340) fell grievously ill, and receiving no help from the doctors, he turned to God. In a dream he saw an angel, directing him to a group of hierarchs. Pointing out two of them, the angel said that only through them could he receive healing.

Constantine issued an imperial edict, commanding the bishops to assemble. Saint Spyridon also received this order, and went to the emperor with his disciple Saint Tryphillius. The sick one immediately recognized them as the healers indicated by the angel. He bowed to them and asked them to pray for his health. Saint Spyridon with a prayer touched the head of the emperor, and he became well.

Saint Tryphillius was charmed by the beautiful palace, the majestic figure of the emperor, and the pomp of palace life. Saint Spyridon said, “Why are you astonished? Does all this make the emperor any more righteous? All of them, emperors and dignitaries alike, will die and stand together with the very poorest before the judgment seat of God. One should seek eternal blessings and heavenly glory.”

Soon Saint Tryphillius was made Bishop of Leukosia on Cyprus. He often visited with Saint Spyridon. Once, they passed through an area of vineyards and gardens of special beauty and abundance, named Parimnos. Saint Tryphillius, attracted by the beauty of nature, considered how they might explore this land. Saint Spyridon discerned the thoughts of Saint Tryphillius and said, “Why do you always think about earthly and transitory blessings? Our habitation and riches are in Heaven, for which we ought to strive.” Thus did Saint Spyridon lead his disciple toward spiritual perfection, which Saint Tryphillius attained through the prayers of his instructor. Saint Tryphillius had a charitable soul, a heart without malice, right faith and love towards all, and many other virtues.

Once, a Council of bishops assembled on Cyprus. The Fathers of the Council requested that Saint Tryphillius, known for his erudition and eloquence, address the people. Speaking about the healing of the paralytic by the Lord (Mark 2:11), in place of the word “cot” he used the word “bed”. Impatient with the imprecise rendering of the Gospel text, Saint Spyridon said to Saint Tryphillius, “Are you better than He who said “cot”, that you should be ashamed of His wording?” and abruptly he left the church.

In this way Saint Spyridon gave Saint Tryphillius a lesson in humility, so that he would not become proud of his own eloquence. Saint Tryphillius wisely shepherded his flock. From the inheritance left him by his mother, he built a monastery at Leukosia. The saint died in old age in about the year 370.

The Russian pilgrim Igumen Daniel saw the relics of Saint Tryphillius on Cyprus at the beginning of the twelfth century.

Saint Andronikos (Andrónikos), a native of Rostov, began his spiritual life under the guidance of the great luminary Saint Sergius of Radonezh. He was a lover of the spiritual life, so Metropolitan Alexei chose Andronikos to be the Igoumen of the new Monastery of the All-Merciful Savior, which he hoped to build, with God's help, in honor of the Icon of the Savior not made by hands, in order to fulfill a vow he made after he was delivered from a great storm at sea when he sailed from Constantinople.

A site was chosen on the Yauza River, the same place where Prince Vsevolod Yurievich engaged the hordes of Batu in a bloody battle. Saint Sergius went there to pray for the new Monastery. In 1361 construction was completed, and Saint Andronikos assumed the duties entrusted to him.

Father Igoumen set an example for the brethren by his strict fasting, meekness, and humility, and these qualities drew many people to the Monastery. They came to learn the Law of God, and some of them even became monks. With the blessing of Saint Alexei, a dormitory was built in the Monastery. Saint Sergius did not neglect to visit his disciple and inspire him to greater ascetical contests (podvigs).

In 1365, Saint Sergius came to venerate the Icon of the Savior not made by hands before setting off on a long journey to Nizhny Novgorod to visit Prince Boris. Then he spoke with Andronikos for a long time. At the place of their farewell a chapel was built. Metropolitan Alexei and Great Prince Demetrios also stayed at the Savior–Andronikov Monastery to pray before the icon of the Savior prior to the Prince's campaign against the Horde (1381).

The spiritual life flourished at the Savior–Andronikov Monastery under the supervision of its vigilant Igoumen. Saint Joseph of Volokolamsk wrote: "Saint Andronikos shone with great virtues. His disciples Savva and Alexander lived with him, and were accomplished iconographers, also Daniel, his disciple Andrew, and many other iconographers were so distinguished by their zeal for fasting and the monastic life that they were honored with Divine grace. Their minds and thoughts were turned to the Divine light, and their eyes looked lovingly at the painted faces of Christ, the Most Pure Mother of God, and of all the Saints."

In 1405 Saint Andrew Rublev painted the walls of the church of the Annunciation, and other icons; in 1408, together with Daniel the Black, he adorned the cathedral church at Vladimir. Then they painted the Savior–Andronikov Monastery. At Saint Nikon's request, their last works were dedicated to the memory of Saint Sergius. The Chronicle says: "Venerable Andronikos hastily gathered painters, excellent men, perfect in virtue, Daniel, his companion Andrew, and their assistants. With God's help, they set to work diligently and adorned the churches with wondrous icons, which remain astonishing to this day.

After living until a ripe old age, Saint Andronikos handed over the administration of the Monastery to his disciple Saint Savva, while he, following the example of his Elder Sergius, began preparing for his departure to everlasting life by his profond silence. The great ascetic reposed in 1404, and was buried in the Cathedral of the Savior–Andronikov Monastery.

In 1812, the French looted the Monastery, yet the relics remained intact. The head disappeared, however. After 1917, the rest of the relics also disappeared.

In 1993, as a result of archaeological research under the ancient altar of the Savior–Andronikov Cathedral, the oldest burials in the Monastery were discovered. Professor Oleg Ulyanov, the scientific director of the excavations, attributed the relics to the founders of the Savior–Andronikov Monastery: Saints Andronikos and Savva of Moscow.

Saint Andronikos is commemorated on June 13 (his blessed repose); on July 6 (Synaxis of the Radonezh Saints); on the second Sunday after Pentecost (All Saints of Russia); and on the Sunday before August 26 (Synaxis of the Moscow Saints).

Saint Savva of Moscow succeeded Saint Andronicus as the igumen of the monastery of the Savior, dedicated to the Icon of Christ Not-Made-By Hands (August 16) in 1395. He died in 1410.

The Holy Martyr Antonina suffered during the third century under Diocletian (284-305) in the city of Nicea. They tortured her in various ways: they burned her with fire, they put her on a red-hot plate, they bored into her hands and feet with red-hot rods and they threw her in prison, where she languished for two days.

These torments did not break Saint Antonina’s spirit, and to her very death she confessed her faith in Christ. They threw the holy martyr into the sea.

Saint Anna and her son Saint John lived in the ninth century. Saint Anna was the daughter of a deacon of the Blachernae church in Constantinople. After the death of her husband, she dressed in men’s clothing and called herself Euthymianus. She and her son Saint John lived in asceticism in one of the Bythinian monasteries near Olympus.

Saint Anna died in Constantinople in 826. Her memory is also celebrated on October 29.

Saint James had so much love for Christ, and so little regard for the things of this world, that he sold all of all his possessions, and distributed the money to the poor, keeping none for himself. Unfortunately, he was overcome with pride. He said to himself, “Who knows better than I do, concerning my salvation?”

Following his own will and personal inclinations, he lived in solitude, undertaking difficult spiritual struggles without first seeking the advice of wiser, more experienced ascetics. Because of his pride, he fell away from God's grace. Therefore, Satan was able to enter his soul.

One day he was visited by a demon who had assumed the appearance of an Angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14). He told James that Christ was very pleased by his labors, and would come that night to reward him. “Clean your cell,” he said, “and make ready by lighting the lamps and burning incense.”

James, blinded by his delusion, accepted these words without question. When the Antichrist appeared at midnight, James opened his door and fell down in worship before him. The devil struck him on the head, and then vanished. Only then did the deceived monk realize the truth.

He awoke at dawn and went to visit a certain Elder to tell him what had happened, and to ask how he might atone for his sin. Before James could utter a single word, the Elder said, “You must leave this place, for you have been deceived by Satan.”

James was heartbroken and wept bitter tears. The Elder advised him to go to a cenobitic monastery in order to acquire humility, the cornerstone of all the virtues. There he observed all the rules of the Monastery and persevered in his assigned obedience in the trapeza. Then for another seven years, he sat in his cell working at some handicraft, and performing his Prayer Rule.

After some time, Saint James was restored to grace, acquiring the gift of discernment, following God's straight and narrow path, and becoming a great worker of miracles. After living the rest of his life in all righteousness and humility, he reposed in peace. No one knows where he lived, or when.

Saint Antipater’s life is not to be found in the Synaxaristes. From other sources, we know that he was the Bishop of Bostra in Arabia, and he lived in the second half of the fifth century. He was esteemed highly by his contemporaries. His best known work was a book refuting the doctrines of Origen, which has been lost, and only a few fragments of it have been preserved in the Acts of the Seventh Ecumenical Council. He is known to have composed a treatise against the Apollonarians, but we possess only a few fragments of it. Two of his sermons have survived, however: one on the Annunciation, and another on Saint John the Baptist.

Saint Antipater reposed in peace.

Saint Anthimus of Iberia was one of the most highly educated people of his time. He was fluent in many languages, including Greek, Romanian, Old Slavonic, Arabic, and Turkish and well-versed in theology, literature, and the natural sciences. He was unusually gifted in the fine arts—in painting, engraving, and sculpture in particular. He was famed for his beautiful calligraphy. Finally, Saint Anthimus was a great writer, a renowned orator, and a reformer of the written Romanian language.

Little is known about the youth of Saint Anthimus. He was a native of the Samtskhe region in southern Georgia. His parents, John and Mariam, gave him the name Andria at Baptism. He accompanied King Archil to Russia and helped him to found a Georgian print shop there, but after he returned he was captured by Dagestani robbers and sold into slavery. Through the efforts of Patriarch Dositheus of Jerusalem, Anthimus was finally set free, but he remained in the patriarch’s service in order to further his spiritual education.

Already famed for his paintings, engravings, and calligraphy, Anthimus was asked by Prince Constantine Brincoveanu (1688-1714) of Wallachia (present-day Romania) to travel to his kingdom around the year 1691. After he had arrived in Wallachia, he began to manage a local print shop. The printing industry in that country advanced tremendously at that time, and the chief inspiration and driving force behind the great advances was the Georgian master Anthimus. He succeeded in making Wallachia a center of Christianity and a major publisher of books for all the East.

In 1694 Anthimus was enthroned as abbot of Snagov Monastery (in present-day Romania), where he soon founded a print shop. In the same year his new print shop published Guidelines for the Divine Services on May 21, All Saints’ Day. The book was signed by Subdeacon Michael Ishtvanovich, future founder of the first Georgian print shop.

In 1705 Anthimus, “the chosen among chosen abbots of Wallachia,” was consecrated bishop of Rimnicu Vilcea, and in 1708 he was appointed metropolitan of Hungro-Wallachia. The whole country celebrated his elevation. As one abbot proclaimed: “The divine Anthimus, a great man and son of the wise Iberian nation, has come to Wallachia and enlightened our land. God has granted him an inexhaustible source of wisdom, entrusted him to accomplish great endeavors, and helped to advance our nation by establishing for us a great printing industry.”

Under the direct leadership of Saint Anthimus, more than twenty churches and monasteries were erected in Wallachia. Of particular significance is All Saints’ Monastery, located in the center of Bucharest. The main gates of this monastery were made of oak and carved with traditional Georgian motifs by Saint Anthimus himself. The metropolitan also established rules for the monastery and declared its independence from the Church of Constantinople.

From the day of his consecration, Metropolitan Anthimus fought tirelessly for the liberation of Wallachia from foreign oppressors. On the day he was ordained he addressed his flock: “You have defended the Christian Faith in purity and without fault. Nevertheless, you are surrounded and tightly bound by the violence of other nations. You endure countless deprivations and tribulations from those who dominate this world.... Though I am unworthy and am indeed younger than many of you—like David, I am the youngest among my brothers— the Lord God has anointed me to be your shepherd. Thus I will share in your future trials and griefs and partake in the lot that God has appointed for you.”

His words were prophetic: In 1714 the Turks executed the Wallachian prince Constantine Brincoveanu, and in 1716 they executed Stefan Cantacuzino (1714-1716), the last prince of Wallachia.

In his place they appointed the Phanariote (a member of one of the principal Greek families of the Phanar, the Greek quarter of Constantinople, who, as administrators in the civil bureaucracy, exercised great influence in the Ottoman Empire after the Turkish conquest) Nicholas Mavrokordatos, who concerned himself only with the interests of the Ottoman Empire.

During this difficult time, Anthimus of Iberia gathered around him a group of loyal boyar patriots determined to liberate their country from Turkish and Phanariote domination. But Nicholas Mavrokordatos became suspicious, and he ordered Anthimus to resign as metropolitan. When Anthimus failed to do so, he filed a complaint with Patriarch Jeremiah of Constantinople.

Then a council of bishops, which did not include a single Romanian clergyman, condemned the “conspirator and instigator of revolutionary activity” to anathema and excommunication and declared him unworthy to be called a monk. But Nicholas Mavrokordatos was still unsatisfied and claimed that to deny Anthimus the title of Metropolitan of Hungro-Wallachia was insufficient punishment. He ordered Anthimus to be exiled far from Wallachia, to Saint Catherine’s Monastery on Mt. Sinai. Metropolitan Anthimus, beloved of the Romanian people, was escorted out of the city at night since the conspirators feared the reaction of the people.

But Metropolitan Anthimus never reached Mt. Sinai. On September 14, 1716, a band of Turkish soldiers stabbed Saint Anthimus to death on the bank of the Tundzha (Tunca) River where it flows through Adrianople, not far from Gallipoli, and cast his butchered remains into the river.

Thus ended the earthly life of one more Georgian saint—a man who had dedicated all of his strength, talent, and knowledge to the revival of Christian culture and the strengthening of the Wallachian people in the Orthodox Faith.

In 1992 the Romanian Church canonized Anthimus of Iberia and proclaimed his commemoration day to be September 14, the day of his repose. The Georgian Church commemorates him on June 13.

Today we also commemorate 10,000 Martyrs, beheaded by the sword for Christ. The year of their death is not known.

Today we commemorate the finding of the relics of Saint Nicholas the Deacon at Karyes Monastery on Lesbos on June 13, 1960.

In April of 1960 he appeared to three women in the town of Thermi, telling them where his relics were to be found. They hesitated to ask the Metropolitan of Mytilene for permission to dig, lest the tomb should not be found and they become objects of derision. Finally, they went and told the Metropolitan about seeing Saint Nicholas in their dreams, and the Hierarch blessed them to dig.

Doukas Tsolakis was asked to dig where the women told him. He dug a little, and then stopped because the ground was hard. That night Doukas saw Saint Nicholas in a dream, sitting at the very place where he had been digging. The Saint said, "I am Nicholas. Why do you doubt that my grave is here?" Then he told Doukas that he would be punished if he did not dig at the spot indicated by the women.

On June 13, 1960, Mr. Tsolakis was helped by another workman, and after some difficulties, the Martyr's relics were found. That day was one of great rejoicing for the pious people, for many miracles took place. On that same day, a round Patriarchal Privelege Seal was found. It was made of lead and silver, and was from the XIV century. One side depicted the Mother of God, and the Archangel Michael on the other.

Other persons also saw Deacon Nicholas in their dreams, and he told them that he was a native of Thessaloniki, from an aristocratic family, and he was ordained as a Deacon. In 1454, Saint Nicholas accompanied Saint Raphael to Lesbos after the Turks invaded Thrace.

In 1463, the Turks invaded the Karyes Monastery and captured the monks, subjecting them to various torments. Then the Turks dragged Archimandrite Raphael by his hair and beard, and tied him to a tree. They beat him and struck him with their heated weapons. Finally, they sawed through his mouth, separating the jaw and his head. This took place on Bright Tuesday (April 9, 1463). Saint Nicholas died of heart failure after witnessing Saint Raphael's martyrdom.

Saint Nicholas is short and thin, with a small blond beard. Sometimes he appears in his vestments, holding a censer. He always stands before Saint Raphael with great respect.

Read more about Saints Raphael, Nicholas, and Irene