The Eighth Sunday of Matthew Afterfeast of the Transfiguration of Christ Martyr Dometios of Persia; Hieromartyr Narcissus, patriarch of Jerusalem; Sozon of Nicomedia Entering the Period of the Dormition of the Theotokos The Dormition (Falling Asleep) of the Theotokos What is the Dormition of the Theotokos? The Holy Scriptures tell us that when our Lord was dying on the … [Read more...]

The Seventh Sunday of Matthew Holy and Just Eudokimos of Cappadocia, Righteous Joseph of Arimathea; Germanos, bishop of Auxerre Holy and Just Eudokimos of Cappadocia, Righteous Joseph of Arimathea Holy and Just Eudokimos of Cappadocia Saint Eudokimos was from Cappadocia, the son of pious and most illustrious parents, patricians in rank. He especially cultivated chastity and … [Read more...]

The Sixth Sunday of Matthew Great-Martyr Christina of Tyre New-martyrs Athanasios of Ikia and Theophilos of Zakynthos; Athenagoras the Confessor; Passion-bearers Boris (Roman) and Gleb (David) Fathers of the Fourth Ecumenical Council Who Was Christina or Tyre? The Martyr Christina lived during the third century. She was born into a rich family, and her father was governor of … [Read more...]

Sunday of the Holy Fathers of the Fourth Ecumenical Council Great-martyr Marina of Antioch in Pisidia, Venerable Irenarchos of Solovky Fathers of the Fourth Ecumenical Council Held in Chalcedon, near Constantinople, 451. Under Emperor Marcian. 630 Bishops were present. Monophysite Controversy The Council was concerned, once again, with the nature of Jesus Christ. The teaching … [Read more...]

Hieromartyr Joseph of Damascus and His Companions Fourth Sunday of Matthew The 45 martyrs at Nikopolis in Armenia; Venerable Anthony of the Kiev Caves;Venerable-martyrs Nikodemos the Albanian and Nektarios of St. Anne Skete on Athos Who Was Joseph of Damascus? A married man, St. Joseph of Damascus, as he is popularly known, was at first a weaver and then was ordained to the holy … [Read more...]

Third Sunday after Pentecost Third Sunday of Matthew Martyr Hyacinth and his Companions of Caesarea; Anatolios, patriarch of Constantinople; Venerable-martyr Gerasimos the New of Carpenision; Venerable Nicodemus of Kozhe Lake Who Were the Martyr Hyacinth and his Companions of Caesarea? Saint Hyacinth, a native of Caesarea in Cappadocia, was raised in a Christian family. The … [Read more...]

Second Sunday after Pentecost Second Sunday of Matthew Venerable David of Thessalonica; John, bishop of the Goths in Crimea Who Was St. David of Thessaloniki? Saint David of Thessalonica pursued asceticism at the monastery of the holy Martyrs Theodore and Mercurius. Inspired by the example of the holy stylites, he lived in an almond tree in constant prayer, keeping strict fast, … [Read more...]

First Sunday after Pentecost All Saints Sunday Apostle Jude (Thaddeus), brother of the Lord; Venerable Zenon of Palestine; Martyr Zosimas the Soldier at Antioch in Pisidia The first Sunday after the Feast of Holy Pentecost is observed by the Orthodox Church as the Sunday of All Saints. This day has been designated as a commemoration of all of the Saints, all the Righteous, the … [Read more...]

The Fiftieth Day after Pascha The Great Feast of Pentecost The Descent of the Holy Spirit Fifty days after the Resurrection, on the existing Jewish feast of Pentecost, while the disciples and many other followers of Jesus Christ were gathered together to pray, the Holy Spirit descended upon them in the form of "cloven tongues of fire," with the sound of a mighty rushing wind, and they … [Read more...]

Sunday of the After-feast of the Ascension Commemoration of the Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council Hieromartyr Dorotheos, bishop of Tyre; Martyr Nicander of Egypt; New-martyr Mark of Smyrna The Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council “I will build My Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Mt. 16:18). Although the Church of Christ on … [Read more...]

Christ is Risen! The Sixth Sunday After Pascha The Sunday of the Blind Man Martyrs Theodosia of Tyre and Theodosia of Constantinople; Hieromartyr Olvian, bishop of Aneos, and those with him Jesus Heals the Blind Man Introduction The sixth Sunday of Holy Pascha is observed by the Orthodox Church as the Sunday of the Blind Man. The day commemorates the miracle of Christ healing … [Read more...]

Christ is Risen! The Fifth Sunday After Pascha The Sunday of the Samaritan Woman After-feast of Mid-Pentecost Martyr Basiliskos of Comana; Holy Fathers of the Second Ecumenical Council; John Vladimir, king of Serbia Jesus and the Samaritan Woman Photini of Samaria The holy and glorious Great-martyr Photine of Samaria (also Photini or Svetlana), Equal-to-the-Apostles, … [Read more...]

Christ is Risen! Truly He has Risen! Christ is Risen! The Fourth Sunday After Pascha The Sunday of the Paralytic Venerable Pachomios the Great of Egypt; Achilles, bishop of Larisa; Martyr Barbaros the myrrh-streaming of Corfu Jesus Heals the Paralytic Introduction The fourth Sunday of Holy Pascha is observed by the Orthodox Church as the Sunday of the Paralytic. The day … [Read more...]

Christ is Risen! Truly He has Risen! Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian; Venerable Arsenios the Great Pious Joseph of Arimathaea, Righteous Nicodemus and the holy Myrrh-bearing Women; of the Martyrs Timothy the reader and his wife Maura of Egypt; Peter, Archbishop of Argolis; Ekumenios, bishop of Trikala; Venerable Luke of Mt. Stirion; and Venerable Theodosios of the Kiev Caves, … [Read more...]

Christ is Risen! Truly He has Risen! The First Sunday after PaschaSunday of Thomas the Apostle, Called “The Twin” Prophet Jeremiah; Venerable-martyrs Euthymios, Ignatius and Akakios of Prodromou skete on Athos The Sunday of Thomas the Apostle Though the doors were shut at the dwelling where the disciples were gathered for fear of the Jews on the evening of the Sunday … [Read more...]

Pascha (Passover) The Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ The Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Pascha Holy Week comes to an end at sunset of Great and Holy Saturday, as the Church prepares to celebrate her most ancient and preeminent festival, Pascha, the feast of feasts. The time of preparation will give way to a time of fulfillment. The glorious and … [Read more...]

The Entrance of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ into JerusalemPalm Sunday Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom The Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem Palm Sunday On the Sunday before the Feast of Great and Holy Pascha and at the beginning of Holy Week, the Orthodox Church celebrates one of its most joyous feasts of the year. Palm Sunday is the commemoration of the Entrance of our … [Read more...]

Fifth Sunday of Great Lent St. Mary of Egypt The Divine Liturgy of St. Basil Martyrs Terence and Pompey of Carthage and those with them; New-hieromartyr Gregory V, Patriarch of Constantinople; New-martyr Demas of Smyrna St. Mary of Egypt Who was St. Mary of Egypt? Our holy mother Mary was born in Egypt. She had left her parents at the age of twelve to go to Alexandria, where … [Read more...]

Fourth Sunday of Great Lent St. John of the Ladder The Divine Liturgy of St. Basil Martyr Kalliopios of Cilicia; Venerable George, bishop of Mitylene; Repose of Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow and Enlightener of North America St. John of the Ladder (Climacus) Our venerable and God-bearing Father John Climacus (ca. 579 - 649), also known as John of the Ladder, John Scholasticus, and John … [Read more...]

Third Sunday of Great Lent Veneration of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross The Divine Liturgy of St. Basil Martyr Matrona of Thessalonica; Martyrs Philetos the Senator, his wife Lydia of Rome and those with them; Paul, Bishop of Corinth Elevation of the Precious and Life Giving Cross Each of the Sundays of Great Lent has its own special theme. This Sunday's theme is that in the … [Read more...]