Lives of the Saints

Memorial Saturday

Today we remember all pious and Orthodox Christians who have fallen asleep in the Lord, and also recall the dread Day of Judgment. May Christ our God be merciful to them, and to us. Two Epistles (Acts 28:1-31, I Thess. 4:13-17) and two Gospels (JN 21:14-25, JN 5:24-30) are appointed to be read at…

Venerable Bessarion, Wonderworker of Egypt

Venerable Bessarion, Wonderworker of Egypt

Saint Bessarion, Wonderworker of Egypt was an Egyptian. He was baptized while still in his youth, and he led a strict life, striving to preserve the grace given him during Baptism. Seeking to become more closely acquainted with the monastic life, he journeyed to the holy places. He was in…

Venerable Hilarion the New, Abbot of the Dalmatian Monastery

Venerable Hilarion the New, Abbot of the Dalmatian Monastery

Saint Hilarion the New was born of pious parents, Peter and Theodosia, who raised him in the virtues and instructed him in Holy Scripture. At twelve years of age Saint Hilarion was tonsured as a monk at the Hesychius monastery near Constantinople, and from there he transferred to the Dalmatus…

Saint Jonah, Bishop of Perm

Saint Jonah, Bishop of Great Perm, was successor to Saint Pitirim, Bishop of Perm (August 19), who was murdered by the Vogulani in 1455. In the year 1462 Saint Jonah converted the inhabitants of Great Perm to Christ. He journeyed throughout his extensive diocese to spread and consolidate the…

Venerable Paisius, Abbot of Uglich

Venerable Paisius, Abbot of Uglich

Saint Paisius of Uglich was igumen of the Protection monastery, near Uglich. He was born in the Tver district near the city of Kashin, and he was a nephew of Saint Macarius of Kalyazin (March 17). Saint Paisius entered his uncle’s monastery after the death of his parents, when he was just an…

Venerable Jonah, Abbot of Klimetzk

Venerable Jonah, Abbot of Klimetzk

Saint Jonah of Klimetzk, in the world John, became a monk, and founded the Klimetzk Trinity Monastery in fulfillment of a vow. In 1490 he had been caught by a storm on Lake Onega. When there was no hope for survival, John cried out to the Lord, entreating Him to preserve his life so he might repent…

Virgin Martyrs Archelais, Thekla, and Susanna, at Salerno

The Holy Virgin Martyrs Archelais, Thekla and Susanna sought salvation in a small monastery near Rome. During the persecution by Diocletian (284-305), the holy virgins dressed themselves in men’s clothing, cut their hair and went to the Italian province of Campania. Settling in a remote area,…

Pimenov Icon of the Mother of God

Pimenov Icon of the Mother of God

The first mention of the Pimenov Icon dates from the second half of the XVI century. There is a brief chronicler's note for the years 1404-1407 in the book Grades of Royal Genealogy: "A miracle occurred in Moscow at the home of the Tyutryum family, where myron flowed from the icons of the Mother of…

Martyr Gelasius

Martyr Gelasius

Saint Gelasius, the holy martyr of Christ, lived during a time of fierce persecution. He gave away all his property and possessions to the poor, put on a long white garment, and went to visit those who were facing martyrdom. Since these Christians had been tortured in various ways, Saint Gelasius…