Lives of the Saints

Second Day of the Nativity of our Lord

Second Day of the Nativity of our Lord

On the day after the Nativity of Christ we celebrate the Synaxis of the Most Holy Theotokos, and come together to give her glory and praise. This is the second day of the three-day Winter Pascha. Combining the hymns of the Nativity with those celebrating the Mother of God, the Church points to…

Synaxis of the Most Holy Mother of God

Synaxis of the Most Holy Mother of God

On the second day of the Feast of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Church has established the celebration of the Synaxis of the Most Holy Mother of God. The name of today's festival signifies the gathering of the faithful in order to praise and glorify the All-Holy Virgin, who gave birth…

Hieromartyr Euthymius, Bishop of Sardis

The Hieromartyr Euthymius, Bishop of Sardis, during the period of the reign of the Byzantine Emperor Constantine Porphyrogenitos (780-797) and the empress Irene (797-802), was chosen Bishop of Sardis because of his virtuous life. He was also present at the Seventh Ecumenical Council (787), at which…

Venerable Constantine of Synnada

Venerable Constantine of Synnada

Saint Constantine was a native of the city of Synnada and of Jewish descent. From his youth he was drawn to the Christian Faith. Careful study of the teachings of Christ set his heart aflame, and he left his parents to become a monk. He was baptized with the name Constantine and received monastic…

Venerable Evarestus of the Studion Monastery

Saint Evarestus, a native of Galatia, was the son of illustrious parents. From his youth he longed for the monastic life, and in particular he loved to read the books of Saint Ephraim the Syrian. He went to the Studion monastery, pursuing asceticism in strict fasting, vigil and prayer, and wearing…

Saint Νikodemos the Sanctified of Tismana, Romania

Our most holy and venerable Father Νikodemos (Νικόdēmos) the Sanctified was from Prilep, in southern Serbia. He was born in 1320, and his parents raised him in the Orthodox Faith. After receiving the holy and angelic monastic Schema and the grace of the priesthood, he wandered through many…

“Bethlehem” Icon of the Mother of God

“Bethlehem” Icon of the Mother of God

Within the magnificent Basilica of Christ’s Nativity in Bethlehem, the wonderworking icon of the Most Holy Theotokos, known as Bethlehemitissa, stands out. It is located in a prominent proskynitarion on the right side of the southern entrance of the Holy Cave of the Nativity. The infinite…

Icon of the Mother of God “the Blessed Womb”

There are at least four distinct types of the “Blessed Womb” Icon. The Barlov Icon is a variant of the Hodēgḗtria Icon. It appeared on December 26, 1392, and it is in the Annunciation Cathedral in Moscow. The second example is similar to the “Milk-Giver” Icon (January…

Venerable Isaac II of Optina

Saint Isaac II (Bobrikov) died as a martyr on December 26, 1938. The Moscow Patriarchate authorized local veneration of the Optina Elders on June 13, 1996, glorifying them for universal veneration on August 7, 2000.