Lives of the Saints

Finding of the relics of Venerable Maximus the Greek  (July 4, 1996)

Finding of the relics of Venerable Maximus the Greek (July 4, 1996)

In 1988, during the Millennial Celebration of the Baptism of Russia, the Jubilee Council of the Russian Orthodox Church met at Holy Trinity-Saint Sergius Lavra, and glorified several saints. Among these was Venerable Maximus the Greek (January 21), whom the Council described as "a holy man, a…

Saint Andrew, Archbishop of Crete

Saint Andrew, Archbishop of Crete

Saint Andrew, Archbishop of Crete, was born in the city of Damascus into a pious Christian family. Up until seven years of age the boy was mute and did not talk. However, after communing the Holy Mysteries of Christ he found the gift of speech and began to speak. And from that time the lad began…

Venerable Andrew Rublev the Iconographer

Venerable Andrew Rublev the Iconographer

Saint Andrew Rublev, Russia’s greatest iconographer, was born near Moscow sometime between 1360 and 1370. While still very young, he went to the Holy Trinity Monastery, and was profoundly impressed by Saint Sergius of Radonezh (September 25). After the death of Saint Sergius in 1392, Saint…

Venerable Martha, mother of Venerable Simeon Stylites the Younger

Venerable Martha, mother of Venerable Simeon Stylites the Younger

Saint Martha, mother of Saint Simeon of Wonderful Mountain (May 24), lived during the sixth century and was a native of Antioch. From her early years she yearned for monasticism, but her parents persuaded her to marry. Her husband, John, soon died, and righteous Martha with all her strength devoted…

Burial of Saint Andrew the Prince

Burial of Saint Andrew the Prince

Holy Prince Andrew Bogoliubsky (1110-1174), a grandson of Vladimir Monomakh, was the son of Yurii Dolgoruky and a Polovetsian princess (in holy Baptism Maria). While still in his youth he was called “Bogoliubsky” (“God-loving”) for his profound attention to prayer, his…

Uncovering of the relics of Venerable Euthymius, Archimandrite of Suzdal

Uncovering of the relics of Venerable Euthymius, Archimandrite of Suzdal

Uncovering of the Relics of Saint Euthymius the Wonderworker of Suzdal, who died on April 1, 1405, occurred in the year 1507 during the construction of a new stone church when the monastery was headed by the igumen Cyril (later Bishop of Rostov). The incorrupt relics were the source of numerous…

Martyr Theodotus and Theodotia at Caesarea, in Cappadocia

Saints Theodotus and Theodotia suffered martyrdom during the reign of Trajan because they refused to sacrifice to idols.

Hieromartyr Theodore, Bishop of Cyrene in Libya, and those with him

The Hieromartyr Theodore, Bishop of Cyrene, lived during the reign of the emperor Diocletian (284-305). Skilled at writing, and having attained great skill in calligraphy, he transcribed many books for the churches. His son Leo denounced him to the district governor, Dignianus, saying that his…

Icon of the Mother of God of Galatea

Icon of the Mother of God of Galatea

The Galatea Icon of the Mother of God is found in Galatea (one of the districts of Constantinople), at Perge (in a tower). In honor of the holy icon a monastery was formed, which existed until the seventeenth century. An exact copy of the icon is located in Moscow, in the Church of Saint Tikhon, at…