Many of the hymns of Pentecost are repeated in the postfestal services of this week, and references to the Holy Spirit, and to fire, abound. In particular, we are reminded of the Unburnt Bush (Exodus 3:2), the zealous Prophet Elias who ascended to Heaven in a chariot of fire, the three youths in…
The Holy Martyr Agrippina, was by birth a Roman. She did not wish to enter into marriage, and totally dedicated her life to God. During the time of persecution against Christians under the emperor Valerian (253-259) the saint went before the court and bravely confessed her faith in Christ, for…
Holy Righteous Artemius of Verkola was born in the village of Dvina Verkola around the year 1532. The son of pious parents, Artemius was a child who was courageous, meek and diligent for every good deed. On June 23, 1545 the twelve-year-old Artemius and his father were taken by surprise in a field…
Today we commemorate the second translation of the relics of Saint Herman, Archbishop of Kazan, in 1714. St Herman is also commemorated on November 6 (his repose) and on September 25 (transfer of his relics in 1595).
The Holy Martyrs Eustochius, Gaius, Probus, Lollia and Urban suffered for Christ during the time of a persecution under the emperor Maximian (286-310). Saint Eustochius was a pagan priest, but seeing the unyielding courage of the Christian martyrs, and the miracles worked by them, he converted to…
The Synaxis of the Saints of Vladimir was established in 1982 with the blessing of Patriarch Pimen on the Feast Day of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God. Martyrs: Abram the Bulgarian (+ March 6, 1229) Archbishop Mētrophánēs (+ February 4, 1238) Holy Martyr Patrick (+ 1411) Monks:…
Today the church celebrates the miracle of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, which led to the saving of Moscow from the invasion of Khan Achmed in 1480. The Vladimir Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos is also commemorated on May 21 and August 26.
According to Tradition, a copy of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God was painted in 1521 by the devout Hieromonk Arsenios Khitrosh. Between 1529-1570 the Icon was brought to the Pskov Caves Monastery by the merchants Basil and Theodore, when Saint Cornelius († February 20, 1571) was the…
Saint Nikḗtas of Thebes was a resident of the seven-gated (Επτάπυλη) city of Thebes in Boetia. At the age of sixteen, he was tonsured as a monk, and other ascetics were drawn to him by reports of his spiritual character and moral purity. Among these were the monks Daniel, Theodore, and…
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The Most Holy Theotokos first appeared to Igoumen Evangelos, who was the Superior of the Monastery from 1864-1872. The late XIX century researcher I. Vinogradov dates the Icon's presence in the Monastery to that period. If he was correct in thinking that the Icon was painted during that time, then…