Lives of the Saints

Bright Monday

Bright Monday

On Bright Monday the Church commemorates the Sweet-Kissing (Glykophilousa) Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos. Like the Ivḗron Icon (March 31), the Sweet-Kissing Icon was also saved from the iconoclasts by a pious woman in the ninth century. It also traveled miraculously upon the sea, arriving at…

Icon of the Mother of God of Mt. Athos, “Sweet Kissing”

Icon of the Mother of God of Mt. Athos, “Sweet Kissing”

Like the Panagia Portaitissa, the Glykophilousa Icon is one of those which were saved during the iconoclastic period and brought miraculously to Mount Athos. It originally belonged to Victoria, the devout wife of the senator Symeon. Victoria was one who venerated the holy icons, especially that of…

Virgin Martyrs Agape, Irene and Chionia, in Illyria

Virgin Martyrs Agape, Irene and Chionia, in Illyria

The Holy Martyrs Agape, Irene, and Chionia were sisters who lived at the end of the third century to the beginning of the fourth century, near the Italian city of Aquilea. They were left orphaned at an early age. The young women led a pious Christian life and they turned down many offers of…

Martyrs Leonidas, Chariessa, Nice, Galina, Kalista, Nunechia, Basilissa, Theodora, and Irene, of Corinth

Martyrs Leonidas, Chariessa, Nice, Galina, Kalista, Nunechia, Basilissa, Theodora, and Irene, of Corinth

The Holy Martyr Leonidas and the Holy Martyrs Charissa, Nike (Nika, Victoria), Galina, Kalista (Kalida), Nunekhia, Basilissa, Irene, and Theodora suffered at Corinth in the year 258. They threw them into the sea, but they did not drown. Instead, they walked upon the water as if on dry land, singing…

Weeping “Ilyin Chernigov” Icon of the Mother of God

The Il'insk (Prophet Elias)-Chernigov Icon of the Mother of God was painted in 1658 by the iconographer Gregory Dubensky (Gennadios in monasticism). The history of the Icon's creation and its miracles are described by a witness of these events, Saint Demetrios, Metropolitan of Rostov, in the works…

Tambov (Utkino) Icon of the Mother of God

Tambov (Utkino) Icon of the Mother of God

In 1686, Saint Pitirim (July 28) came to Tambov and, along with other relics, he brought with him a copy of the Il'insk-Chernigov Icon of the Mother of God, considered to be the patroness of the southwestern region. For this reason, the Icon was placed at the southwestern gate of the city. Over…