Synaxarion of the Nativity of the Theotokos On the eighth of September, we commemorate the Birth of our Most Holy Lady the Theotokos and Ever-virgin Mary. VersesAnna, all mothers truly you surpassed,Until your daughter should become your Mother.Anna brought into
On the first of September is the beginning of the Indiction, namely the New Year. VersesBless for us the Indiction of the New Year,O You Who are both Ancient and for mankind New (namely You, O Christ). We should know, brethren,
On this day, the first of September, our Church celebrates the memory of the venerable Symeon the Stylite. Our venerable Father Symeon was born about the year 390 in a certain village named Sis, in the mountain region of Cilicia
The Placing of the Honourable Sash of the Most Holy Theotokos
Synaxarion of the Deposition of the Honorable Zoni in the Holy Coffin On the thirty-first of August, we commemorate the deposition of the Honorable Zoni* in the Holy Coffin, of our Most Holy Lady the Theotokos, in her revered home
Synaxarion of the Beheading of the Holy and Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John
SynaxarionOn the 29th of August, commemoration of the beheading of the honorable head of the holy, glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John. VersesA murderous hand with a sword cuts off the head Of him who placed his hand on the
The Dormition of our most holy and glorious Lady, Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary
Concerning the Dormition of the Theotokos the Church has received the following from the ancient tradition of the Fathers. When the time drew near when it was our Saviour’s good pleasure to take to himself his own Mother, he informed
On the Birth of the Honourable, Glorious, Prophet and Baptist John By St. Luke of Simferopol In the history of mankind there are only two major events which God announced by means of the Archangel Gabriel. These are the Birth
Our patrons, the 318 Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea
The Sixth Sunday after the Great Feast of All-Holy Pascha is observed by the Orthodox Church as the Sunday of the Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council. This day commemorates the 318 God-bearing Fathers who gathered in the city
On 27 May we celebrate the Feast of Saint Melangell. In Ireland around the year 590 AD a young woman named Melangell, who was of royal birth, wanted to lead a religious rather than a royal life. Her father King
Synaxarion of Saints Constantine and Helen, the Equals to the Apostles
On the twenty-first of this month we commemorate the holy, glorious, God-crowned andgreat sovereigns Constantine and Helen, the Equals to the Apostles. VersesAs the earthly Sovereigns had the earthly crown in common,So now they have in common the crown celestial.On
Life of our Holy Mother Mary of Egypt (St. Sophronios of Jerusalem) By St. Sophronios of Jerusalem “It is good to hide the secret of a king, but it is glorious to reveal and preach the works of God” (Tobit
Today we commemorate Saint Alchmund of Derby. Saint Alchmund's church in Shrewsbury is dedicated to the saint possibly because his relics were brought here by Queen Aethelflaed’s to save them from the invading Danes. Continue reading →
If I were to say to you that you are not a human (ἄνθρωπος), you might take it as an insult. I will say it, nevertheless. We are not humans, neither you nor I; we are merely in the process
Saint Chad was one of three brothers born in Northumbria, and was educated at the monastery on Lindisfarne under Saint Aidan. In 664 he succeeded his brother, Cedd as Abbot of Lastingham. In 669 that Chad became Bishop of Lichfield
On 23 February (dormition) and 25 June (discovery of relics), we commemorate our venerable mother, Milburga, princess and abbess of Much Wenlock. We celebrate Matins and Divine Liturgy for the feasts. Milburga is the founder of the Church of the 318 Holy Fathers and John the Baptist. Continue reading →
Werburgh, a princess of Mercia, exchanged her coronet for a veil early in life and became a great foundress and leader of monastic communities in East Anglia and Mercia. Her greatness in life is reflected in her veneration in death.
By Sister Theovouli A founding figure at Old Melrose Abbey St. Boisil¹ and St. Eata were among St. Aidan’s first pupils at Lindisfarne, both of whom were tonsured by him. St. Aidan founded Old Melrose² Abbey in Scotland, situated in
Veneration of the Chains of Saint Peter on 16 January VersesWe venerate your honourable bonds O Peter,Release me from the long bonds of my accusations.On the sixteenth I venerate the bonds of Peter. Herod Agrippa, the grandson of Herod the
On the eleventh of January, we commemorate our Holy Father Theodosios the Cenobiarch. VersesTheodosios abbot of the common life,As a common monastic you lost your life.On the eleventh the Cenobiarch departed this life. This Saint lived during the times of
Early life St. Athanasius was born circa 296AD in Alexandria, Egypt, to a Greek Christian family. He received an excellent education exposing him to both classical Greek philosophy and Christian doctrine, laying the foundation for his later theological brilliance. A
