Lives of the Saints

Monastic Martyr and Confessor Stephen the New

Monastic Martyr and Confessor Stephen the New

The Monk Martyr and Confessor Stephen the New was born in 715 at Constantinople into a pious Christian family. His parents, having two daughters, prayed the Lord for a son. The mother of the new-born Stephen took him to the Blachernae church of the Most Holy Theotokos and dedicated him to God.…

Monastic Martyrs and Confessors Auxentius, Basil, Gregory, another Gregory, John, Andrew, Peter and many others

The Holy Martyrs Stephen, Basil, Gregory, another Gregory, John, Andrew, Peter, and many others suffered for the veneration of holy icons with the Monk Martyr Stephen the New, with whom they languished together in prison. After his martyric death, they were executed.

Martyr Anna

Saint Anna was a noblewoman who sold all her possessions and gave the money to the poor. She received the monastic tonsure from Saint Stephen the New while he was living on Mount Auxentius in Bithynia. He sent her to live in the women’s monastery called Trichinarion (Community of…

Martyr Irenarchus and Seven Women Martyrs at Sebaste

Martyr Irenarchus and Seven Women Martyrs at Sebaste

The Holy Martyr Irenarchus was from Sebaste, Armenia, and lived during the reign of Diocletian (284-305). When he was young, he would minister to the martyrs in prison after they were tortured. He once saw seven women being tortured for Christ, who bravely endured their torments. Saint Irenarchus…

Saint Theodore, Archbishop of Rostov

Saint Theodore, Archbishop of Rostov

Saint Theodore, Archbishop of Rostov (John in the world) was the son of Stephen (the brother of Saint Sergius of Radonezh), who occupied an important post under Prince Andrew of Radonezh. Left as a widower, Stephen became a monk, and along with his twelve-year-old son, he went to the Monastery to…

Martyr Timothy and his companions, at Tiberiopolis

Saint Timothy was a bishop who was imprisoned by Julian the Apostate (331-363) together with his fellow bishop Theodore; the priests Timothy, Peter, John, Sergius, Theodore, Nikēphóros; the deacons Basil and Thomas; the monks Hierotheus, Daniel, Chariton, Socrates, Comasius; and Etymasius. They…

Hieromartyr Metropolitan Seraphim (Chichagov)

Hieromartyr Metropolitan Seraphim (Chichagov)

Hieromartyr Seraphim (Chichagov), Metropolitan of Leningrad and Gdov. Preacher, spiritual writer, author of the Chronicle of Saint Seraphim-Diveyevo Monastery. Leonid Mikhailovich Chichagov came from a well-known aristocratic family, famed in Russian history for its outstanding figures, including…