Category Archives: Feasts, Saints & History

By Sister Theovouli Key takeaways:  In this blog: St. Egwins early life St. Egwin was born in Worcester¹ to a noble family, and was related to the Mercian kings, believed to have been a nephew of King Æthelred, a formidable

Kontakion on the Nativity of Christ From St. Romanos the Melodist, On the Life of Christ: Kontakia (Archimandrite Ephrem Lash, tr.: Harper, San Francisco, 1995), pp. 1-12. Introduction A “kontakion” is a poetic form frequently encountered in Byzantine hymnography. It

By Sister Theovouli  Key takeaways:  In this blog:  Who was St. Finnian?  Saint Finnian, was, on his father’s side, a member of Clanna Rudhraighe, rulers of the ancient province of Ulaid on the north-east coast of Ireland. This province covered

Key takeaways: In this blog: Who is St. Nicholas? St. Nicholas was born in Patara, Lycia (modern day Turkey) in the 4th Century, the only child to wealthy parents who had long remained childless. After losing his parents at a

On the sixth of December, we commemorate our Holy Father Nicholas the Archbishop of Myra in Lycia the Wonderworker. Verses While on earth Nicholas was a great intercessor, Departing the earth he still fervently intercedes. On the sixth the end

Delve into the life and lasting legacy of St. Birinus, the first bishop of Dorchester, and his critical mission to bring Christianity to Anglo-Saxon England. Continue reading →

Saint Aelhaiarn (al-high-arn) was a Welsh Confessor who lived in the 7th C. He had two brothers, Llwchaiarn and Cynhaiarn. The family was descended from the ruling dynasty of the Kingdom of Powys at that time which traced its lineage

Feast day 20 November. Of his life little is known. In the year 869 the Danes, who had been wintering at York, marched through Mercia into East Anglia and took up their quarters at Thetford. Edmund engaged them fiercely in battle, but

John was born in Amathus of Cyprus c. 550 to the patrician Epiphanios, a governor of the island. He married and had children, but was a widower when he was called to become Patriarch of Alexandria on the recommendation of

St. Nektarios was born in Selybria of Eastern Thrace to the family of Demos and Maria Kephalas on 1st October 1846. He was named Anastasios at his baptism, a name which suited perfectly his early behavior. As a child he

Read about the life of Saint Winefrid and her importance for the town of Shrewsbury Continue reading →

On 26 October we celebrate the feast of the Holy Glorious and Great Martyr Demetrios the Myrrh Streamer. Life of the Saint Saint Demetrios suffered in Thessalonica during the reign of Galerius Maximian (c. 306). He belonged to one of

Saint Eata, a native of Northumbria, was one of twelve original pupils at Lindisfarne under St Aidan. In 651, he became the first Abbot of Melrose, where he mentored Cuthbert. Continue reading →

October 18 Life of the Saint Saint Luke came from the city of Antioch, probably of a pagan family. From his youth he applied himself to seek after wisdom and to study the arts and sciences. He travelled all over

The Translation of St. John the Theologian (Feast Day – September 26th) VersesStanding beside the beloved Word of the Father,Is he who was beloved more than all of the disciples.On the twenty sixth the child of thunder departed unto God.

On Holy and Great Thursday, we commemorate four sacred events: the Foot-washing, the Secret Supper, the preternatural Prayer, and the Betrayal itself. Read this beautiful synaxarion that reveals Christ's ultimate acts of love and humility before His sacrifice. Continue reading →

On this day, the eighth Sunday of Pascha, we celebrate Holy Pentecost. VersesIn a mighty wind doth Christ distribute the Divine Spirit,In the form of fiery tongues unto the Apostles.In one great day, the Spirit was poured forth upon the

On 16 June, the Sunday of the 318 Godbearing Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea, His Grace Bishop Maximos of Melitene presided at Orthros and celebrated the Divine Liturgy for the feast day of the church. Also serving

This weekend, we celebrate our patronal feast—the feast of the 318 Godbearing Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea. On Saturday we will have festal vespers at 6pm. We will celebrate Matins and the Divine Liturgy on Sunday at

Discover the miraculous story of the Panagia, the Life-Giving Spring, whose feast we celebrate during Renewal Week and whose holy waters have healed emperors, patriarchs, and countless faithful throughout history. Read about the beautiful tradition of this sacred church in Constantinople where the Theotokos herself guided a future emperor to healing waters that continue to bless the Orthodox faithful to this day. Continue reading →