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Early Church Martyr Readings

COMMEMORATION OF THE APPEARANCE OF THE HONORABLE CROSS OVER JERUSALEM

1. COMMEMORATION OF THE APPEARANCE OF THE HONORABLE CROSS OVER JERUSALEM During the reign of Emperor Constantius, the son of St. Constantine, and Cyril the Patriarch of Jerusalem, the Honorable Cross appeared about 9:00 a.m. stretching out from Golgotha to above the Mount of Olives. This cross was b... Read More
Early Church Martyr Readings

COMMEMORATION OF THE FIRST ECUMENICAL COUNCIL

1. COMMEMORATION OF THE FIRST ECUMENICAL COUNCIL The commemoration and praise of the Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council is held on the Sunday before Pentecost or on the Seventh Sunday after Easter. This Council was held in Nicaea in the year 325 A.D. during the reign of the saintly Emperor... Read More
Early Church Martyr Readings

CYRUS AND JOHN, THE UNMERCENARY SAINTS AND MIRACLE-WORKERS

1. CYRUS AND JOHN, THE UNMERCENARY SAINTS AND MIRACLE-WORKERS These charitable and glorious saints were not blood brothers but were brothers in the spirit. At first, Cyrus lived in Alexandria, and as a physician he healed people by the power of Christ and by his knowledge of medicine. Learning that ... Read More
Early Church Martyr Readings

SAINT ALEXIS, THE MAN OF GOD

1. SAINT ALEXIS, THE MAN OF GOD Varied are the paths upon which God leads those who desire to please Him and to fulfill His Law. There lived in Rome at the time of Emperor Honorius a high-ranking dignitary, Euphemian, who was highly respected and extremely wealthy. He and his wife, Algae, led a God-... Read More
Early Church Martyr Readings

SAINT ANDREW, ARCHBISHOP OF CRETE

1. SAINT ANDREW, ARCHBISHOP OF CRETE Andrew was born in Damascus of Christian parents. He was a mute from birth until the age of seven. When his parents brought him to church and he received Holy Communion, he began to speak. So great is the power of the Divine and Holy Communion. At age fourteen, A... Read More
Early Church Martyr Readings

SAINT ANNA, THE MOTHER OF THE ALL-HOLY BIRTH-GIVER OF GOD

1. SAINT ANNA, THE MOTHER OF THE ALL-HOLY BIRTH-GIVER OF GOD Today is the commemoration of the falling asleep of St. Anna but her principal feast is celebrated on September 9, on which date is written her service and her hagiography. Anna was from the tribe of Levi and the daughter of Matthan, the p... Read More
Early Church Martyr Readings

SAINT ARTEMON BISHOP OF SELEUCIA

1. SAINT ARTEMON BISHOP OF SELEUCIA Artemon was born and educated in Seleucia. When the Apostle Paul came to that city, he met Artemon, strengthened him even more in the Faith of Christ and appointed him bishop of that city. Artemon governed his entrusted flock with love and zeal. He was a physician... Read More
Early Church Martyr Readings

SAINT ATHANASIUS THE GREAT, ARCHBISHOP OF ALEXANDRIA

1. SAINT ATHANASIUS THE GREAT, ARCHBISHOP OF ALEXANDRIA Athanasius was born in Alexandria in the year 296 A.D. and from his early childhood had an inclination to the spiritual life. He was a deacon to Archbishop Alexander and accompanied him to the First Ecumenical Council [Nicaea, 325 A.D.]. It was... Read More
Early Church Martyr Readings

SAINT BARTHOLOMEW, THE APOSTLE

1. SAINT BARTHOLOMEW, THE APOSTLE Bartholomew was one of the Twelve Great Apostles. In all probability, it appears that Bartholomew and Nathaniel are one and the same person. He was a companion of the Apostle Philip and Philip's sister, the virgin Mariamna and, for some time, a companion of St. John... Read More
Early Church Martyr Readings

SAINT BASIL OF OSTROG

1. SAINT BASIL OF OSTROG Basil was born in Popova, a village in Hercegovina of simple and God-fearing parents. From his youth, he was filled with love for the Church of God and when he reached maturity, he entered to the Monastery of the Dormition (Assumption) of the Birth-giver of God in Trebinje a... Read More
Early Church Martyr Readings

SAINT BUCOLUS, BISHOP OF SMYRNA

1. SAINT BUCOLUS, BISHOP OF SMYRNA Bucolus was a disciple of St. John the Theologian, who consecrated him bishop of Smyrna. In Smyrna, there were few that were baptized. In the darkness of paganism, St. Bucolus shown as a bright candle. He distinguished himself with every virtue, especially meekness... Read More
Early Church Martyr Readings

SAINT CYRIL, ARCHBISHOP OF ALEXANDRIA

1. SAINT CYRIL, ARCHBISHOP OF ALEXANDRIA Cyril was of noble birth and a close relative of Theophilus, Patriarch of Alexandria, after whose death he was consecrated as patriarch. During his lifetime, he led three bitter struggles: with the Novatian heretics, with the heretic Nestor and with the Jews ... Read More
Early Church Martyr Readings

SAINT CYRIL, ARCHBISHOP OF JERUSALEM

1. SAINT CYRIL, ARCHBISHOP OF JERUSALEM Cyril was born in Jerusalem during the reign of Constantine the Great and died during the reign of Theodosius the Great [315-386 A.D.] He was ordained a priest in 346 A.D. and succeeded to the throne of Blessed Maximus, Patriarch of Jerusalem in 350 A.D. On th... Read More
Early Church Martyr Readings

SAINT EMILIAN THE CONFESSOR, BISHOP OF CYZICUS

1. SAINT EMILIAN THE CONFESSOR, BISHOP OF CYZICUS Emilian served as bishop in Cyzicus during the reign of the nefarious Emperor Leo the Armenian, the iconoclast. Since he did not want to submit to the decrees of the emperor concerning the removal of icons from the churches, Emilian and other Orthodo... Read More
Early Church Martyr Readings

SAINT EPHREM, PATRIARCH OF ANTIOCH

1. SAINT EPHREM, PATRIARCH OF ANTIOCH During the reign of the Byzantine Emperor Anastasius, Ephrem was commander of the eastern regions. He was known to all for his great piety and charity and because of this was greatly respected. When it was necessary to rebuild Antioch, destroyed by earthquake an... Read More
Early Church Martyr Readings

SAINT EUDOCIMUS

1. SAINT EUDOCIMUS Eudocimus was born in Cappadocia of devout parents, Basil and Eudocia. At the time of the Emperor Theophilus (829-842 A.D.), Eudocimus was a young officer in the army. Even as an officer, he exerted all effort to live according to the commandments of the Holy Gospel. Preserving hi... Read More
Early Church Martyr Readings

SAINT EUTHYMIUS THE GREAT

1. SAINT EUTHYMIUS THE GREAT Of noble and distinguished parents, Euthymius was born in the Armenian town of Melitene near the Euphrates river about the year 377 A.D. He was the only child, a son, born in answer to the prayer of his mother Dionisiya, who had a heavenly vision regarding the birth of E... Read More
Early Church Martyr Readings

SAINT EUTYCHIUS, PATRIARCH OF CONSTANTINOPLE

1. SAINT EUTYCHIUS, PATRIARCH OF CONSTANTINOPLE Euthychius was born in Phrygia of pious and devout parents. His father was an officer. Once, as a child, when Eutychius was playing with his playmates, their game was that each of them would write their names on a wall and, beside their name, they woul... Read More
Early Church Martyr Readings

SAINT GEORGE THE CONFESSOR

1. SAINT GEORGE THE CONFESSOR Because of his great virtues, which he attained through a long and difficult ortification, George was chosen and invested as Metropolitan of Mitylene. This saint governed his spiritual flock prudently and zealously to a ripe old age. When a persecution began under Leo V... Read More
Early Church Martyr Readings

SAINT GEORGE, THE HOLY AND GREAT MARTYR

1. SAINT GEORGE, THE HOLY AND GREAT MARTYR This glorious and victorious saint was born in Cappadocia the son of wealthy and virtuous parents. His father suffered for Christ and his mother then moved to Palestine. When George grew up, he entered the military, where in his twentieth year, attained the... Read More

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