Holy Martyrs Alexander and Antonina The Holy Martyrs Alexander and Antonina the Virgin. Saint Antonina was from the city of Krodamos (Asia Minor). She was arrested for being a Christian, and was brought before the governor Festus. He urged her to worship the pagan gods, promising to make her a priestess of the goddess Artemis.…

Venerable Father Columba of Ireland, founder of the Monastery of Iona Saint Columba (or Colum Cille, “the dove of the Church”) was of noble birth, a member of the powerful Ui Néill clan, which traced its descent to Niall of the Nine Hostages, who died around the year 450. His parents were Fedelmid mac Ferguso…

Holy and Great Martyr Theodore Stratelates The Great Martyr Theodore Stratelates came from the city of Euchaita in Asia Minor. He was endowed with many talents, and was handsome in appearance. For his charity God enlightened him with the knowledge of Christian truth. The bravery of the saintly soldier was revealed after he, with the…

St. Panagis Bassia In 1836 he was ordained as a deacon and a priest by the Archbishop of Kefallonia, Parthenios Makris. Upon his ordination he was given the name “Paisios”. He then served as priest at the Monastery of Saint Spyridon in Plati Gialo near Lixouri where he originally intended to serve as a monk.…

Venerable Father Paisius of Uglich Saint Paisius of Uglich was igumen of the Protection monastery, near Uglich. He was born in the Tver district near the city of Kashin, and he was a nephew of Saint Macarius of Kalyazin (March 17).  Saint Paisius entered his uncle’s monastery after the death of his parents, when he…

Translation of the Relics of St. Igor-Gabriel, Prince of Chernigov and Kiev The Transfer of Relics of Saint Igor, Great Prince of Kiev The Kievan Great Prince Igor Ol’govich, in holy Baptism George (September 19), in the year 1146 suffered defeat and was taken captive by prince Izyaslav, who imprisoned him in one of the…

Venerable Sophia Our Venerable Mother Sophia was born in the province of Ainos in southeastern Thrace, and was the daughter of prominent and wealthy Christian parents. When she was of age, her parents arranged for her to be married. She and her husband had six children. Though she was occupied with worldly cares and responsibilities,…

St. Clotilde, Queen of the Franks Clotilde was the wife of King Clovis, who established a dynasty that ruled in France for several hundred years. When they were married in 492, Clovis was not Christian, but she brought him to the faith. Together, they founded a church in Paris that they named after Sts. Peter and…

Holy New Martyr Constantine The Holy New Martyr Constantine was born on the island of Hydra; his father was named Michael, and his mother was called Marina. At the age of eighteen, he left Hydra and went to Rhodes, where he served the Turkish ruler Hasan Kapetan. There Constantine converted to Islam and took the…

Holy Martyr Justin the Philosopher The Holy Martyr Justin the Philosopher was born around 114 at Sychem, an ancient city of Samaria. Justin’s parents were pagan Greeks. From his childhood the saint displayed intelligence, love for knowledge and a fervent devotion to the knowledge of Truth. When he came of age he studied the various…