The paschal season of the Church is preceded by the season of Great Lent, which is also preceded by its own liturgical preparation. The first sign of the approach of Great Lent comes five Sundays before its beginning. On this Sunday the Gospel reading is about Zacchaeus the tax-collector. It tells…
The Leavetaking of the Meeting of the Lord usually falls on February 9, but may be moved if the Feast falls during the period of the Triodion. In that case, the Typikon must be consulted for information on the Leavetaking. Usually, the entire office of the Feast is repeated except for the…
The Holy Martyr Nikephoros (Nikēphóros) lived in the city of Syrian Antioch. In this city lived also the presbyter Sapricius, with whom Nikephoros was very friendly, so that they were considered as brothers. They quarreled because of some disagreement, and their former love changed into enmity…
Saint Innocent, the first Bishop of Irkutsk, reposed on November 27, 1731. But because the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God is commemorated on that day, his Feast Day is celebrated on November 26. After the Saint's death, his persecutors received their just retribution. Archimandrite Anthony…
The holy hieromonk Pancratius performed the divine services with much grace, and received the gift of working miracles. He shared his gifts with those who asked, healing the sick with fasting, prayer, and anointing with holy oil.
Saint Nikēphóros of Vazhe Lake came to Saint Alexander of Svir (April 17) in the year 1510 and was warmly received by him. In 1518 he made a visit, with the blessing of his mentor, to Saint Cyril of New Lake (February 4). When Nikēphóros approached New Lake, he was fatigued by his long journey…
Saint Gennadius of Vazhe Lake was the son of rich parents but, giving away everything, he became a disciple of Saint Alexander of Svir and lived with him in asceticism as a hermit by the river Svira. Afterwards, with blessing of Saint Alexander, he went to Vazhe Lake, twelve versts from the Svir…
The Hieromartyrs Marcellus, Philagrius and Pancratius were disciples of the holy Apostle Peter and were made bishops by him: Saints Marcellus of Sicily, Philagrius of Cyprus, and Pancratius of Taormina. They were put to death for spreading the faith of Christ among the pagans.
Saint Shio was one of the twelve disciples of Saint John Zedazeni. They were holy Syrian (Cappadocian) ascetics, the founders of Georgian monasticism, who arrived in Georgia from Cappadocia in the mid-sixth century. The holy Thirteen Cappadocian Fathers were actually Georgians, who received their…
Saint Apollonia was an elderly virgin and deaconess of Alexandria, whose martyrdom was described by Saint Dionysius of Alexandria (October 5) in one of his letters. When Decius became emperor in 249, he launched the greatest attack upon Christianity up to that time, becoming the first emperor to…
Saint Romanós was from the city of Rosón in Cilicia, but he spent his anchoritic life in strict fasting in a cave near Antioch during the V century. There, at the foot of a mountain, he built a small cell, in which he struggled as an ascetic. He wore heavy chains under his hair shirt, and for…