Feasts and Saints

Holy Apostle and Evangelist Matthew; 25th Sunday after Pentecost

Orthodox Calendar, November 16 Holy Apostle and Evangelist Matthew Also named Levi (Mark 2:14; Luke 5:27), he was one of the 12 Apostles (Mark 3:18; Luke 6:45; Acts 1:13), and brother of Apostle James Alphaeus (Mark 2:14). He was a publican, or tax-collector for Rome, in a time when the Jews were under the rule…

Nov 16, 2025basilica.ro

†) St. Paisius (Velichkovsky) of Moldavia and Mt. Athos; Holy Martyrs and Confessors Gurias, Samonas and Abibus

Orthodox Calendar, November 15 Venerable Paisius (Velichkovsky) of Moldavia and Mt. Athos Saint Paisius Velichkovsky was born in Poltava in Little Russia on December 21, 1722, and was the eleventh of twelve children. His father John was a priest, who named him Peter at his Baptism, in honor of Saint Peter the Metropolitan of Moscow,…

Nov 15, 2025basilica.ro

Holy and All-Praised Apostle Philip; St. Gregory Palamas, archbishop of Thessalonica; Holy Palamas family (Beginning of Nativity Fast)

Orthodox Calendar, November 14 Holy Apostle Philip He was a native of the city of Bethsaida in Galilee. He had a profound depth of knowledge of the Holy Scripture, and rightly discerning the meaning of the Old Testament prophecies, he awaited the coming of the Messiah. Through the call of the Savior (John 1:43), Philip…

Nov 14, 2025basilica.ro

†) St. John Chrysostom, archbishop of Constantinople, and his mother, St. Anthusa (Nativity of the Lord’s Fast begins tomorrow)

Orthodox Calendar November 13 †) St. John Chrysostom, archbishop of Constantinople, and his mother, St. Anthusa Saint John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople, one of the Three Hierarchs [January 30], was born at Antioch in about the year 347 into the family of a military commander. His father, Secundus, died soon after the birth of his…

Nov 13, 2025basilica.ro

Leavetaking of the Nativity of the Theotokos. Holy Martyrs Autonomus, Macedonius, and Theodulus

Orthodox Calendar September 12 The Holy Hieromartyr Autonomus (+303) lived during the reign of the Roman Emperor Diocletian (284–305). He was a bishop in Italy, but because of the persecution against Christians begun by the Emperor, he departed from Italy and went into Bithynia, where he was received by a Christian named Cornelius. In Bithynia…

Sep 12, 2025basilica.ro

(†) Holy Trinity

Orthodox Calendar – The Holy Trinty On the day after every Great Feast, the Orthodox Church honors the one through whom the Feast is made possible. On the day following the Nativity of the Lord, for example, we celebrate the Synaxis of the Most Holy Theotokos (December 26). On the day after Theophany, we commemorate…

Jun 9, 2025basilica.ro

Descent of the Holy Spirit (Pentecost); 8th Sunday after Pascha

Orthodox Calendar – Descent of the Holy Spirit (Pentecost) In the Church’s annual liturgical cycle, Pentecost is “the last and great day.” It is the celebration by the Church of the coming of the Holy Spirit as the end—the achievement and fulfillment—of the entire history of salvation. For the same reason, however, it is also…

Jun 8, 2025basilica.ro

Martyrs Hermias, Eusebius and Haralambos

Orthodox Calendar May 31 Holy Martyr Hermias He suffered for Christ in the city of Comana during the persecution under the emperor Antoninus Pius (138-161). The governor Sebastian, who was in Cappadocia to arrest Christians, urged the saint to offer sacrifice to the pagan gods, promising him honors and mercy from the emperor. The old…

May 31, 2025basilica.ro

(†) The Ascension of our Lord (Heroes Day)

Orthodox Calendar – The Ascension of our Lord I ascend unto My Father and your Father, and to My God, and Your God (John 20:17). In these words the Risen Christ described to Mary Magdalene the mystery of His Resurrection. She had to carry this mysterious message to His disciples, “as they mourned and wept”…

May 29, 2025basilica.ro

Midfeast of Pentecost; Martyr Isidore of Chios; Hieromartyr Therapontus, Bishop of Cyprus (Fish allowed)

Orthodox Calendar, May 14 Holy Martyr Isidore of Chios He lived during the III Century on the Island of Chios, and was a native of Alexandria. During the first year of rule of the emperor Decius (249-251) there was issued an edict to make a census of all those capable to serve in the armies…

May 14, 2025basilica.ro

Holy Pascha

Orthodox Calendar, April 21 Holy Pascha Enjoy ye all the feast of faith; receive ye all the riches of loving-kindness. (Sermon of Saint John Chrysostom, read at Paschal Matins) The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is the center of the Christian faith. Saint Paul says that if Christ is not raised from the…

Apr 21, 2025basilica.ro