Lives of the Saints

3rd Sunday of Great Lent: Veneration of the Cross

3rd Sunday of Great Lent: Veneration of the Cross

The Third Sunday of Lent is that of the Veneration of the Cross. The cross stands in the midst of the church in the middle of the lenten season not merely to remind men of Christ’s redemption and to keep before them the goal of their efforts, but also to be venerated as that reality by which…

Martyr Nikon and 199 disciples with him in Sicily

Martyr Nikon and 199 disciples with him in Sicily

The Monk Martyr Nikon was born at Neapolis (Naples). His father was a pagan, and his mother a Christian. He was not baptized, but his mother secretly instructed him in the tenets of Christianity. Nikon was still a pagan when he reached adulthood. He served as a soldier, and showed unusual courage…

Venerable Nikon, Abbot of the Kiev Far Caves

Venerable Nikon, Abbot of the Kiev Far Caves

Saint Nikon of the Kiev Caves was the first disciple and fellow-ascetic of Saint Anthony (July 10), the founder of the Kiev Caves monastery, to which he came as a priest. At the monastery he tonsured all the new monks, and among their number was Saint Theodosius of the Caves (May 3 and August 14).…

Martyr Philetus the Senator, his wife and sons, and those with them in Illyria

Martyr Philetus the Senator, his wife and sons, and those with them in Illyria

Saint Philetus was a dignitary at the court of the emperor Hadrian (117-138), a persecutor of Christians. For openly confessing his faith in Christ the Savior, Saint Philetus was brought to trial with his wife Saint Lydia and their sons Macedonius and Theoprepius. By Hadrian’s order, Saint…

Righteous Basil of Mangazea in Siberia

Righteous Basil of Mangazea: Saint Basil was born in the town of Yaroslavl around 1587. His father was a merchant, but the family was very poor. As a child, Basil spent much of his time in church, praying fervently and participating in the divine services. When he was twelve, the boy set out to…