Holy New Martyr Manuel the Cretan, slain by the sword in Chios in 1792 Saint Manuel was a neomartyr originally from Sfakia, Crete. Refusing to change his faith, he was beheaded by the Turks in the year 1792. He was born in the village of Kallikratis in Sfakia and as a small child he was…

St. Rotislav-Michael, Prince of Kiev Saint Rostislav-Michael, Great Prince of Kiev, was the son of the Kievan Great Prince Saint Mstislav the Great (June 14), and the brother of holy Prince Vsevolod-Gabriel (February 11, April 22, and November 27). He was one of the great civil and churchly figures of the mid-twelfth century.  His name…

Holy Martyr Christina, flogged to death in Persia The Holy Martyr Christina of Persia was scourged to death for confessing her faith in Christ, during the fourth century. Troparion — Tone 4 Your lamb Christina calls out to You, O Jesus, in a loud voice: / “I love You, my Bridegroom, and in seeking You…

Venerable and God-Bearing Father Symeon the New Theologian Saint Simeon the New Theologian was born in the year 949 in the city of Galatea (Paphlagonia), and he was educated at Constantinople. His father prepared him for a career at court, and for a certain while the youth occupied a high position at the imperial court.…

St Sophronius, Patriarch of Jerusalem Saint Sophronius, Patriarch of Jerusalem, was born in Damascus around 560. From his youth he was distinguished for his piety and his love for classical studies. He was especially proficient in philosophy, and so he was known as Sophronius the Wise. The future hierarch, however, sought the true philosophy of…

Venerable Mother Anastasia the Patrician Saint Anastasia the Patrician of Alexandria lived in Constantinople and was descended from an aristocratic family. She was an image of virtue, and she enjoyed the great esteem of the emperor Justinian (527-565). Widowed at a young age, Anastasia decided to leave the world and save her soul far from…

Forty Holy and Glorious Martyrs of Sebaste In the year 313 Saint Constantine the Great issued an edict granting Christians religious freedom, and officially recognizing Christianity as equal with paganism under the law. But his co-ruler Licinius was a pagan, and he decided to stamp out Christianity in his part of the Empire. As Licinius…

St. Theophylactus, Bishop of Nicomedia Saint Theophylactus lived at Constantinople in the eighth century during the time of the Iconoclast heresy. After the death of the iconoclast emperor Leo IV the Khazar (775-780), Emperor Constantine VI (780-797) ascended the throne. At the same time, the holy Patriarch Paul (August 30), not having the strength to…

Venerable Father Paul the Simple Saint Paul the Simple of Egypt also lived in the fourth century and was called the Simple for his simplicity of heart and gentleness. He had been married, but when he discovered his wife’s infidelity, he left her and went into the desert to Saint Anthony the Great (January 17).…

St. Job of Anzersk Venerable Job (in the world, John) of Anzersk, was born in Moscow in 1635. He began pastoral service as a priest in one of the parish churches. He lived a strictly monastic existence, fasting and continuously repeating the prayer: “Have mercy on me O Lord! Be merciful on me O Lord!”…