life of saints

Prophet Obadiah (Abdia); Martyr Barlaam of Caesarea in Cappadocia

Orthodox Calendar, November 19 Holy Prophet Obadiah (Abdia) He was the fourth of the Twelve Minor Prophets, and he lived during the ninth century B.C. He was from the village of Betharam, near Sichem, and he served as steward of the impious Israelite King Ahab. In those days the whole of Israel had turned away…

Nov 19, 2025basilica.ro

Saint Nectarius the Protopsaltis; Martyrs Platon of Ancyra, Romanus the Deacon of Caesarea, and Zacchaeus the Deacon of Caesarea in Palestine

Orthodox Calendar, November 18 Saint Nectarius the Protopsaltis He was born on the blessed soil of Romania, in the city of Huși, in 1804, receiving at Holy Baptism the name Nicolae. His parents, Vasile and Joița Crețu, had eight children: two sons, who embraced the monastic life at Neamț Monastery, and six daughters, three of…

Nov 18, 2025basilica.ro

St. Gregory the Wonderworker of Neocaesarea, and Gennadius, patriarch of Constantinople; St. Lazarus the iconographer

Orthodox Calendar, November 17 Saint Gregory the Wonderworker, Bishop of Neocaesarea He was born in the city of Neocaesarea (northern Asia Minor) into a pagan family. Having received a fine education, from his youth he strived for Truth, but the thinkers of antiquity were not able to quench his thirst for knowledge. Truth was revealed…

Nov 17, 2025basilica.ro

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

(†) 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

Great and Holy Thursday (Matins); Hieromartyr Simeon, Bishop in Persia, and those with him

Orthodox Calendar April 17 Great and Holy Thursday Two events shape the liturgy of Great and Holy Thursday: the Last Supper of Christ with His disciples, and the betrayal of Judas. The meaning of both is in love. The Last Supper is the ultimate revelation of God’s redeeming love for man, of love as the…

Apr 17, 2025basilica.ro

Martyr Sava the Goth; Saint Basil the Confessor, Bishop of Parium (Lazarus Saturday. Memorial Saturday)

Orthodox calendar April 12 Martyr Sava the Goth The Martyr was a Goth who lived during the fourth century. At this time the Arian bishop Wulfilas preached Christianity among the Goths, and Saint Sava was among those who were baptized. Saint Sava led a virtuous life, devout, peaceful, temperate, simple, and quiet. He avoided women,…

Apr 12, 2025basilica.ro

Holy Martyr Victorinus and those with him; Martyrs Theodulus and Agathopodes (Memorial Saturday)

Orthodox Calendar, April 5 Holy Martyr Victorinus and those with him Troparion of Saints Claudius, Diodoros, Victor, Victorinus, Pappios, Serapion, and Nikephoros — Tone 4 Your holy martyrs, O Lord, / through their sufferings have received incorruptible crowns from You, our God. / For having Your strength, they laid low their adversaries, / and shattered…

Apr 5, 2025basilica.ro