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Early Church Martyr Readings

SAINT GREGORY, BISHOP OF NYSSA

1. SAINT GREGORY, BISHOP OF NYSSA Gregory was the brother of Basil the Great. At first, he was only a presbyter since he was married; but when his wife Blessed Theosevia died, Gregory was chosen and consecrated as bishop of Nyssa. He was distinguished by his great secular learning and spiritual expe... Read More
Early Church Martyr Readings

SAINT JAMES, BISHOP AND CONFESSOR

1. SAINT JAMES, BISHOP AND CONFESSOR Neither the place of his birth nor the place where James served as bishop are known. Only this is known: he fulfilled the law of Christ and spent much time in mortifying himself through strict fasting and prayer. During the time of Copronymos, James endured great... Read More
Early Church Martyr Readings

SAINT JOHN CHRYSOSTOM, THE GOLDEN TRUMPET OF ORTHODOXY

1. SAINT JOHN CHRYSOSTOM, THE GOLDEN TRUMPET OF ORTHODOXY The memory of this illuminary of the Church is celebrated on November 13 and January 30 but, on this date, the Church celebrates the translation of his honorable relics from the Armenian village of Comana, where he died in exile, to Constanti... Read More
Early Church Martyr Readings

SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST

1. SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST Because John's main role in his life was played out on the day of the Epiphany (Theophany), the Church from earliest times dedicated the day following Epiphany to his memory. To this feast is also linked the incident with the hand of the Forerunner. The Evangelist Luke desi... Read More
Early Church Martyr Readings

SAINT LEO I, POPE OF ROME

1. SAINT LEO I, POPE OF ROME Leo was born in Italy of devout parents. At first, he served as archdeacon under Pope Sixtus III and following the death of Sixtus was elevated against his will to the throne of the Pope of Rome. When Attila, with his Huns, drew near to Rome was prepared to destroy and t... Read More
Early Church Martyr Readings

SAINT LEO, BISHOP OF CATANIA

1. SAINT LEO, BISHOP OF CATANIA Beneath the volcanic Mount Etna in the town of Catania lived Leo the saint, a good shepherd and compassionate teacher of the people. He had great concern for the sick and the poor. His zeal for the Faith was as great as his charity toward the less fortunate. Appearing... Read More
Early Church Martyr Readings

SAINT MARK, CONFESSOR AND BISHOP OF ARETHUSA IN SYRIA

1. SAINT MARK, CONFESSOR AND BISHOP OF ARETHUSA IN SYRIA We are told about Mark's suffering by St. Gregory the Theologian and by Blessed Theodorit. According to this report, Mark, during the reign of Emperor Constantine, destroyed a pagan temple and converted many to the Faith of Christ. When Julian... Read More
Early Church Martyr Readings

SAINT MARTIN THE CONFESSOR, POPE OF ROME

1. SAINT MARTIN THE CONFESSOR, POPE OF ROME Martin became pope on July 5, 649 A.D., at the time of the furious debates between the Orthodox and the Monothelete heretics, who adhered to the belief in a single will in Christ. Reigning at that time was Constans II, the grandson of Heraclius. The Patria... Read More
Early Church Martyr Readings

SAINT MARY MAGDALENE

1. SAINT MARY MAGDALENE Mary Magdalene was one of the myrrh-bearing women and "equal to the apostles". She was born in the town of Magdala along the shore of Lake Gennesaret and was from the tribe of Issachar. She was tormented by seven evil spirits from which the Lord Jesus freed her and made her w... Read More
Early Church Martyr Readings

SAINT MARY THE EGYPTIAN

1. SAINT MARY THE EGYPTIAN The biography of this wonderful saint was written by St. Sophronius, the Patriarch of Jerusalem. Once, during the Honorable Fast [Lenten Season], a certain .priest-monk (Heiromonk), the Elder Zosimus, withdrew into the wilderness beyond the Jordan, a twenty-day trek. Sudde... Read More
Early Church Martyr Readings

SAINT METROPHANES ,THE FIRST PATRIARCH OF CONSTANTINOPLE

1. SAINT METROPHANES ,THE FIRST PATRIARCH OF CONSTANTINOPLE His father Dometius, the brother of the Roman Emperor Probus, fled from Rome as a Christian during the persecution of Christians and arrived at Byzantium. Titus, the Byzantine bishop, ordained him a presbyter. Following the death of Titus, ... Read More
Early Church Martyr Readings

SAINT NICEPHORUS, CONFESSOR AND PATRIARCH OF CONSTANTINIOPLE

1. SAINT NICEPHORUS, CONFESSOR AND PATRIARCH OF CONSTANTINIOPLE Nicephorus was a nobleman of Constantinople. His father Theodore, a high- ranking official of the imperial court, was wealthy and pious. Nicephorus served at the court for several years in the same profession as his father. Seeing all t... Read More
Early Church Martyr Readings

SAINT NICEPHORUS, PATRIARCH OF CONSTANTINOPLE

1. SAINT NICEPHORUS, PATRIARCH OF CONSTANTINOPLE Nicephorus governed the Holy Church wisely and zealously as one of the greatest Arch-pastors of Constantinople. When Leo the Armenian rose up against icons, Nicephorus alone defied the emperor. He first counseled the emperor and then later unmasked hi... Read More
Early Church Martyr Readings

SAINT NICETAS THE CONFESSOR

1. SAINT NICETAS THE CONFESSOR Nicetas was born in Bithynia in the city of Caesarea. His father, Filaret, after the death of his spouse, was tonsured a monk while Nicetas remained with his paternal grandmother. After reaching maturity and completing all of his studies, Nicetas entered the Monastery ... Read More
Early Church Martyr Readings

SAINT NICETAS, CONFESSOR AND BISHOP OF CHALCEDON

1. SAINT NICETAS, CONFESSOR AND BISHOP OF CHALCEDON In his youth, he renounced the world and withdrew to a life of monastic asceticism. Shining with virtues as the sun, he was noticed by the elders of the Church and was elevated to the episcopal throne of Chalcedon. As a bishop, he was especially me... Read More
Early Church Martyr Readings

SAINT PARTHENIUS, BISHOP OF LAMPSACUS

1. SAINT PARTHENIUS, BISHOP OF LAMPSACUS Parthenius was the son of a deacon from the town of Melitopolis. As a child he remembered well the words of the Gospel and endeavored to fulfill them. He settled in the area of a lake where he fished. He then sold the fish and distributed the money to the poo... Read More
Early Church Martyr Readings

SAINT PETER THE APOSTLE (THE CHAINS OF ST. PETER)

1. SAINT PETER THE APOSTLE (THE CHAINS OF ST. PETER) Saint Peter is commemorated on this day because of the chains by which he was shackled by the lawless Herod and which during the appearance of an angel in prison fell from him, "Suddenly the angel of the Lord stood by him and a light shone in the ... Read More
Early Church Martyr Readings

SAINT PORPHYRIUS, BISHOP OF GAZA

1. SAINT PORPHYRIUS, BISHOP OF GAZA This great Arch-shepherd was born of wealthy parents in Thessalonica. From his youth, until age twenty-five, Porphyrius remained in Thessalonica, the town of his birth. After that, he took leave of his parents and worldly life and withdrew to the wilderness of Egy... Read More
Early Church Martyr Readings

SAINT SAMPSON, THE HOSPITABLE ONE WHO RECEIVED STRANGERS

1. SAINT SAMPSON, THE HOSPITABLE ONE WHO RECEIVED STRANGERS Sampson was born of wealthy and eminent parents in old Rome where he studied all the secular sciences of that time and dedicated himself particularly to the science of medicine. Sampson was compassionate and an unmercenary and administered ... Read More
Early Church Martyr Readings

SAINT SAVA [SABAS], ARCHBISHOP OF THE SERBS

1. SAINT SAVA [SABAS], ARCHBISHOP OF THE SERBS Sava was born in 1169 A.D. He was the son of Stephen [Stefan] Nemanja the Grand Zupan of the Serbs. As a young man, Sava yearned for the spiritual life for which he fled to the Holy Mountain [Mt. Athos] where he was tonsured a monk and with rare zeal li... Read More

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