Lives of the Saints

Hieromartyr Eutyches, disciple of Saint John the Theologian

Hieromartyr Eutyches, disciple of Saint John the Theologian

The Hieromartyr Eutyches, a disciple of the holy Apostles John the Theologian and Paul, lived from the first century into the beginning of the second century, and was from the Palestinian city of Sebastea. Although Saint Eutyches is not one of the 70 Apostles, he is called an Apostle because of…

Translation of the relics of Saint Peter, Metropolitan of Moscow and All Russia

Translation of the relics of Saint Peter, Metropolitan of Moscow and All Russia

Saint Peter, Metropolitan of Moscow, died on December 21, 1326. The first transfer of his relics was on July 1, 1472 and a feastday was established. The second transfer of the relics of Saint Peter was after the consecration of the Dormition Cathedral, rebuilt on August 24, 1479, and the July 1…

Venerable Arsenius, Abbot of Komel, Vologda

Venerable Arsenius, Abbot of Komel, Vologda

Saint Arsenius of Komel was born in Moscow, and was descended from a noble family, the Sakharusov. In his youth he was tonsured at the Trinity-Sergiev monastery, and he occupied himself there with the copying of books. There is a Gospel that he copied in the year 1506. In the years 1525-1527 the…

Martyr Tation (Tatio) of Claudiopolis

Martyr Tation (Tatio) of Claudiopolis

The Martyr Tation lived in Bythnia and suffered under the emperor Diocletian (284-305). When the persecutors of Christians learned that he believed in Christ, they arrested him and took him to the city of Claudiopolis to the governor, Urban. Many times they urged the saint to deny Christ, and they…

Virgin Martyr Syra of Persia

Virgin Martyr Syra of Persia

The martyr Syra lived during the sixth century in Persia and was the daughter of an illustrious pagan priest of the fire-worshippers (i.e. Zoroastrians) from Karkh-Seleucia in Elimiade (Abizarde). Syra’s father, fearing the influence of Christianity on his daughter, sent her to the city of…

Saint George Limniotes, Confessor of Mount Olympus

Saint George Limniotes lived during the seventh and eighth centuries and was a monk of the Olympian monastery near Constantinople. He suffered for venerating icons under the Iconoclast emperor Leo the Isaurian (716-741). They burned his head and cut off his nose. Saint George died in the year 718.

Repose of the New-Hieromartyr Cosmas of Aitolia, Equal of the Apostles

Repose of the New-Hieromartyr Cosmas of Aitolia, Equal of the Apostles

The New Hieromartyr Cosmas, Equal of the Apostles, in the world Constas, was a native of Aitolia. He studied at first under the guidance of the archdeacon Ananias Dervisanos, and afterwards continued his education on Mount Athos, at the Vatopedi school renowned for teachers such as Nicholas…

“Saint Peter of Moscow” Icon of the Mother of God

“Saint Peter of Moscow” Icon of the Mother of God

The Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos “Of Saint Peter” was so called because it was painted by Saint Peter, Metropolitan of Moscow (+ December 21, 1326) while he was igumen of the Ratsk monastery near Volhynia. During a visit to the Ratsk monastery by Saint Maximus, Metropolitan of Kiev…

Saint Martyrius, Archbishop of Novgorod

Saint Martyrius, Archbishop of Novgorod, was born in Stara Rus. On the northeast side of the city, near the right bank of the Polista River he founded in the year 1192 the Transfiguration men’s monastery. At the Novgorod cathedral, Saint Martyrius was chosen by lot after the death of Saint…

Appearance of the Mother of God to Saint Sergius of Radonezh

Appearance of the Mother of God to Saint Sergius of Radonezh

The Appearance of the Most Holy Theotokos to Saint Sergius of Radonezh: Once, late at night, Saint Sergius (1314-1392) was reading an Akathist to the Mother of God. Having finished his habitual rule, he sat down to rest a bit, but suddenly he said to his disciple, Saint Micah (May 6): “Be…

Venerable Serapion the Wonderworker, Abbot of Saint John the Baptist Monastery

Venerable Serapion the Wonderworker, Abbot of Saint John the Baptist Monastery

Saint Serapion was abbot of the Monastery of Saint John the Baptist in the Davit-Gareji Wilderness. He was endowed by God with the ability to work miracles. Once Saint Serapion set off for the city, following at a short distance behind several of the monastery’s brothers. While they were…