Lives of the Saints

Leavetaking of the Dormition of the Mother of God

Leavetaking of the Dormition of the Mother of God

The Leavetaking of the Feast of the Dormition falls on August 23. The office of the Feast is repeated, except for the entrance, readings, and Litya at Vespers; and the polyeleos and Gospel of the Feast at Matins.

Martyr Lupus, slave of Saint Demetrius of Thessalonica

Martyr Lupus, slave of Saint Demetrius of Thessalonica

The Martyr Lupus lived at the end of the third century and beginning of the fourth century, and was a faithful servant of the holy Great Martyr Demetrius of Thessalonica (October 26). Being present at the death of his master, he soaked his own clothing with his blood and took a ring from his hand.…

Hieromartyr Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyons

Hieromartyr Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyons

The Hieromartyr Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyons, was born in the year 130 in the city of Smyrna (Asia Minor). He received there the finest education, studying poetics, philosophy, rhetoric, and the rest of the classical sciences considered necessary for a young man of the world. His guide in the truths…

Saints Eutychius and Florentius of Nursia

Saints Eutychius and Florentius of Nursia

Saints Eutychius and Florentius were monks living an ascetical life in a monastery of the Valcastoria region of Nursia in Italy during the VI century. Saint Eutychius converted many to God by his teaching, and when the Igoumen of a nearby monastery died, they asked Eutychius to become its Superior.…

Saint Callinicus, Patriarch of Constantinople

Saint Callinicus, Patriarch of Constantinople

Saint Callinicus, Patriarch of Constantinople (693-705), was at first a presbyter in the temple of the Most Holy Theotokos at Blachernae, but in 693 with the death of Patriarch Paul (686-693), he was elevated to the episcopal throne of Constantinople. The cruel Justinian II (685-695) reigned at…

Prousiotissa Icon of the Mother of God

High upon the fir-covered mountain peaks of southwestern Eurytania, wedged between vertical grayish rocks in savage majesty, is the Holy Monastery of Proussos. It is an historic stauropegial monastery, with magnificent three-storey buildings. There among them a cave has been carved out, inside of…