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!”…

Venerable Father Mark the Ascetic, the God-Bearer Saint Mark the Ascetic was born in Athens during the fifth century, and became a monk in the Nitrian desert (Lower Egypt). From his youth his fondest pursuit was the reading of Holy Scripture. It is said that he knew the whole Bible by heart.  Nine of his…

St. Gerasimus, Hermit of the Jordan aint Gerasimus was a native of Lycia (Asia Minor). From his early years he was distinguished for his piety. Having received monastic tonsure, he withdrew into the desert of the Thebaid (in Egypt). Thereafter, in about the year 450, the monk arrived in Palestine and settled at the Jordan,…

Holy and Glorious Martyrs Eutropius, Cleonicus and Basiliscus The Holy Martyrs Eutropius, Cleonicus and Basiliscus suffered in the city of Pontine Amasea (Asia Minor) in about the year 308.  The brothers Eutropius and Cleonicus, and Basiliscus the nephew of the Great Martyr Theodore the Recruit (February 17), were comrades. After the martyric death of Saint…

Venerable Father Nicolas Planas One of the most inspiring righteous figures to come to our attention in recent years is Papa-Nicholas Planas. The revelation of this saintly Greek Orthodox priest to English language readers[1] is truly providential, for his life contains virtually all the elements of the spiritual conflicts that beset 20th century Orthodoxy, and in…

Holy Martyr Eudocia the Samaritan Holy Monastic Martyr Eudokia was a Samaritan, a native of the city of Heliopolis in Phoenicia (modern Baalbek), who lived during the reign of Trajan (98-117). Her pagan impiety took her off the good path, and for a long time she led a sinful life. Her soul was deadened and…

Venerable Marina and Cyra Saints Marina (Marana) and Kyra (Cyra), sisters by birth, lived during the fourth century in the city of Veria (or Berea) in Syria. Their parents were illustrious and rich, but the sisters left home and departed the city when they had reached maturity.  Having cleared off a small plot of land,…

St. Raphael, Bishop of Brooklyn Saint Raphael, Bishop of Brooklyn (+1915)  Proclamation on the Glorification of Our Holy Father Bishop RAPHAEL (30-Apr-2000)  Our holy Father Raphael was born in Syria in 1860 to pious Orthodox parents, Michael Hawaweeny and his second wife Mariam, the daughter of a priest of Damascus. The exact date of Raphael’s…