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Sophia & Her Daughters, Faith, Hope & Charity
Sophia and her daughters lived in Italy in the second century, her teenaged daughters were tortured and beheaded for confessing the faith. Sophia mourned at their grave for three days before dying of grief. I hate to say it but I think this one is more shrouded by myth and tradition than most. The point [...]
Euphemia the Great Martyr
Euphemia was a virgin of Chalcedon who was martyred in the early fourth century (accounts differ it was either AD 307, or AD 303). It is said, that at the council of Chalcedon (which debated . . . OK fought) over the interrelationship of the two natures in Christ, Euphemia played an important role. The [...]
Niketas the Goth
Niketas was a high-born Goth living in the area of the Danube. Athanaric the local Pagan ruler had him totured and killed for his confession of the Christian faith sometime in the mid fourth century. Niketas’ relics were moved first to Mopsuestia, and then to Venice. Tweet
Exaltation of the Cross
Today we celebrate the two fold recovery of the cross. Firstly when St. Helen found the cross under the temple of Aphrodite (built by Hadrian over the site of Golgotha) in AD 324. There were all three crosses, that of Christ and the two thieves. According to tradition, St. Helen was at a loss as [...]
Cornelius the Centurion & Grigol Peradze
Thought to be the first Pagan convert to the faith, Cornelius’ story is recounted in Acts 10. There is some confusion over whether he became bishop of Caesarea, or Scepsis, but it is agreed that he died a martyr. Grigol Peradze (September 13, 1899 – December 6, 1942) was martyred by the Nazis at Auchwitz. [...]
Autonomos Bishop of Italy, Martyr
Originally a bishop in Italy, Autonomos fled persecution and landed in Bithynia. He converted many there – and was martyred while celebrating liturgy by a pack of pagans. Tweet
Euphrosynos The Cook
Euphrosynos was a 9th century monk. He came from a poor background, and so was “coarse” by the standards of the other monks. Because of his “coarseness” Euphrosynos worked in the monastary kitchens. The monks teased and tormented him horribly because of his lack of education – themselves forgetting the radical egalitarianism of the monastic [...]
Menodora, Netrodora, Nymphodora
These three sisters lived as ascetics on a mountain. Many of the ill and infirm in the region were being healed by their prayers. The local governor was not terribly keen on this effective marketing strategy, and had the women summoned, and demanded that they abandon the faith. Naturally they refused, and were tortured and [...]
Ancestors of Christ: Joachim & Anna
Joachim & Anna were the parents of the Theotokos (according to legend), today we commemorate their memories, as well as the memory of all the ancestors of Christ (see Mt. 1) Tweet
Nativity of the Theotokos
The Protoevangelion, a second century apocryphal text which has been treated as though it were part of the canon of scripture since at least the third century, provides us with much of the biographical information we have on the early life of the Theotokos – her later life is recorded in another, later source called [...]
Sozon
Sozon was a shepherd – born a pagan he converted, and soon taught, and converted others in his region. Sozon once entered the temple of Artemis, cut off the hand of the gold statue, broke that up into pieces, and distributed the gold to the poor. When he saw that others were being unjustly accused [...]
Miracle At Colossai
The local pagan population decided on a rather ingenious way of dispensing with the local Christians – flood them, and their church! The plan was to divert the courses of two rivers so that they would flood both the church, and a local spring/shrine dedicated to the Archangel Michael. Michael, however, had other plans – [...]
Zacharias & Elizabeth Parents of John the Forerunner
Zacharias was a priest and a prophet – many early church writers also associate him with the Zacharias who was killed between the altar and the temple (Mt. 23.35). Elizabeth too was a prophetess. When Herod ordered the slaughter of the innocents – she hid the Forerunner somehwere in the desert. Tweet
Babylas Bishop of Antioch
Babylas, succeeded Zebennus as bishop of Antioch around AD237. There are a number of rather fun legends about him. Eusebius (EH 6.34) recounts how the emperor Philip (believed to be a Christian) attempted to join the Paschal celebrations one year during Babylas’ reign – but was prevented until he had first confessed his sins; the [...]
Anthimos Bishop of Nicomedia
His church having been burned to the ground (presumably by Pagans or government officials), killing many inside it, Anthimos took refuge in a nearby village in order to continue to care for his remaining flock. The Emperor Maximian sent a contingent to find him. When they did eventually come upon him – not knowing who [...]
Mammas the Shepherd
Mammas was born in Prison, in Ceasarea, Cappadocia. His parents Theodotus and Rufina were confessors, arrested and imprisoned for their open confession of Christianity. Mammas’ father prayed that the Lord would take him so that he would not be subject to torture – both he and Rufina died in prison. Mammas was born prematurely, and [...]
Happy New Year!
Today we turn the menaion back to the first page and begin the liturgical cycle anew. The feast commemorates the cycle of seasons, along with the natural bounty of creation. Tropar of the Feast: Maker of the universe, O Lord who alone have power over seasons and times, bless this year with your bounty, preserve [...]
Heretics & Rogues
Today, on this the last day of the liturgical year, we commemorate (yes, commemorate) heretics and rogues. I’m not talking here about the nutters who use “religion” to make a fast buck, or bolster a false sense of ego. I am however, talking about the thoughtful, and thought provoking, men and women of faith over [...]
Alexander, John & Paul
These three were bishops of Constantinople prior to 381 when the See was officially recognised as a Patriarchate. Alexander attended the council of Nicea in AD 325, and witnessed the most unfortunate death of Arius (from a severe, haemorragic prolapse) which is attributed as an answer to Alexander’s prayer the day before to prevent Arius’ [...]
Beheading of the Forerunner
John, cousin of the Lord, “seal of the prophets” was martyred by Herod (Mk. 6.14-29) Tweet
Hagiographical Hiccups
The thing about recalling the stories of the various saints is . . . . that the stories themselves are sometimes so inconsistent! For example – today is the feast of St. Moses the Ethiopian (a.k.a – Moses the Black, Moses the Abysinian, and Moses the Robber) his story is one of my favourites and [...]
Moses the Ethiopian
Moses lived in the late fourth century, he was originally a slave whose exceptionally bad behaviour got him expelled from his master’s household. Moses lived as a brutal robber and murderer in the area of Nitra for many years. Late in life he converted, and spent the rest of his life as a monk, becoming [...]
Abba Poemen
Poemen was an Egyptian monk in the fourth century renowned for his discretion and moderation, his teachings on ascesis (spiritual discipline) kept many from excess, and encouraged others. Abba Poemen said: “If three men meet, of whome the first fully preserves interior peace, and the second gives thanks to God in illness, and the third [...]
Adrian & Natalia
Adrian was a Pagan who, having witnessed the valour of the martyrs, confessed his faith in Christ and was thrown into prison for it. His wife Natalia who was already a “secret” believer visited him in prison, to comfort and encourage him. Adrian was tortured to death there. Natalia collected his relics, and took them [...]