Holy New Martyr Euthymius the Athonite, slain by the sword in Constantinople in 1814 This holy New Martyr of Christ was born in Demitsana in the Peloponnesos. His parents were Panagiotes and Maria, and he was given the name Eleutherius in Baptism. Eleutherius was the youngest of five children (the others were George, Christos, John,…

St. Serapion the Sindonite Saint Serapion lived in Egypt during the fourth century. He is known as “the Sindonite” because he wore only rough linen clothing (sindona). From the time of his youth he lived like the birds of the air (Matthew 6:26). He had no shelter, and for several days at a time he…

St. Euphrosynus of the Blue Lake Saint Euphrosynos of Blue Jay Lake, (Ephraim in the world) was born in Karelia near Lake Ladoga in the second half of the XVI century. When he was young he lived near Valaam Monastery, and later he moved to Novgorod the Great. After spending some time there, the Saint…

St. Innocent of Komel Saint Innocent of Komél and Vologda was born in Moscow, and was descended from the Moscow princely family of Okhlyabinin. He became a monk in the Monastery of Saint Cyril of White Lake (June 9), where he was placed under the guidance of Saint Nilus of Sora (May 7). Saints Innocent…

St. Cyril, Archbishop of Jerusalem Saint Cyril, Archbishop of Jerusalem, was born in Jerusalem in the year 315 and was raised in strict Christian piety. Upon reaching the age of maturity, he became a monk, and in the year 346 he became a presbyter. In the year 350, upon the death of Archbishop Maximus, he…

St. Patrick, Bishop and Enlightener of Ireland Saint Patrick, the Enlightener of Ireland was born around 385, the son of Calpurnius, a Roman decurion (an official responsible for collecting taxes). He lived in the village of Bannavem Taberniae, which may have been located at the mouth of the Severn River in Wales. The district was…

St. Christodulus the Wonderworker, founder of the Monastery of Saint John the Theologian on Patmos Our Venerable Father Christódoulos (1) was born near Nicaea of Bithynia circa 1020. His parents’ names were Theodore and Anna, and their son received the name John in Holy Baptism. He was renowned as an ascetic and a physician throughout…

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…