Martyrs

45 Holy Martyrs at Nicopolis in Armenia

Orthodox Calendar, July 10 The Forty-five Martyrs of the Armenian City of Nicopolis They suffered during the reign of the emperor Licinius (311-324), then a co-regent with Constantine the Great. Licinius, the ruler of the Eastern Empire, fiercely persecuted Christians and issued an edict to put to death any Christian who would not return to…

Jul 10, 2026basilica.ro

Translation of the relics of the Unmercenary Doctor Saints Cyrus and John (Fish permitted); 4th Sunday after Pentecost

Orthodox Calendar, June 28 Translation of the relics of the Unmercenary Wonderworking Doctor Saints Cyrus and John On June 28 we commemorate the translation of the relics of the Unmercenary Wonderworkers Saints Cyrus and John from the city of Konopa, near Alexandria (where they suffered in the year 311) to the nearby village of Manuphin,…

Jun 28, 2026basilica.ro

Martyrs Leontius, Hypatius, and Theodulus; Venerable Erasmus

Orthodox Calendar, June 18 Holy Martyrs Leontius, Hypatius, and Theodulus They were Roman soldiers. Holy Martyr Leontius, a Greek by origin, served as a military-chief in the imperial army in the Phoenician city of Tripoli during the reign of Vespasian (70-79). Leontius was distinguished for his bravery and good sense, and the people of Tripoli…

Jun 18, 2026basilica.ro

Leavetaking of the Ascension of our Lord; Virginmartyr Theodosia of Tyre; Hieromartyr Olivian (Fish allowed)

Orthodox Calendar, May 29 Saint Theodosia of Tyre lived during the third and fourth centuries. Once, during a persecution against Christians, which had already lasted for five years, the seventeen-year-old Theodosia went up to condemned Christian prisoners in the Praetorium in Caesarea, Palestine. It was the day of Holy Pascha, and the martyrs spoke about…

May 29, 2026basilica.ro

Martyrs Peter, Dionysius and Paul

Orthodox Calendar, May 18 Holy Martyrs Peter, Dionysius, Andrew, Paul, Christina They suffered under emperor Decius (249-251). Saint Peter suffered in the city of Lampsaka. Brought to trial before the prefect Optimines, he bravely confessed his faith in Christ. They tried to force the youth to deny the Lord and worship the goddess Venus. The…

May 18, 2026basilica.ro

Who was Protos. Iraclie Flocea: Survivor of the Stalinist Gulag proposed for canonization

The Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church approved, in its working session from October 25, 2023, the proposal of the Diocese of Southern Bessarabia for the canonization of Protosyncellus Iraclie Flocea (May 11, 1893 – August 16, 1964). The proposal had previously been approved by the Metropolitan Synod of the Metropolis of Bessarabia. The…

Nov 1, 2023Ștefana Totorcea

Polish Church adds 30 names to Synaxis of Chełm and Podlasie martyrs

The Bishops’ Council of the Polish Church, involving every hierarch of the Church, gathered in Warsaw on Tuesday, October 29, under the chairmanship of His Beatitude Metropolitan Sawa of Warsaw and All Poland, to discuss a number of issues, including the veneration of a group of 30 martyrs. The communiqué from the session quoted by Orthochristian…

Oct 31, 2019Sorin Ioniţe

Communique: The Orthodox Church commemorates all heroes, does not glorify all of them

Because sometimes the Romanian media refers to the glorification of the persons who suffered persecutions during the communist regime in our country or even died in the communist jails, we provide the following information: The canonization of Saints has the role to profess, to strengthen and to convey the true faith so as to guide…

Jun 5, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch blesses new reliquaries for Suzana Monastery

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel on Monday, April 1, blessed two new reliquaries containing particles of the holy relics of Sts Charalampos, Theodore Tiron and Menas that will be enshrined at Suzana Monastery. ‘We ascribe glory to God for answering the wish of Suzana Monastery to have two new reliquaries containing the relics of Hieromartyr Charalampos,…

Apr 2, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

Metropolitan Rastislav: Like Jairus, the generation of martyrs and confessors entreated God for the Church that seemed dead

During atheism, the generation of martyrs and confessors was crying to God unceasingly, day and night, asking Him with faith, hope and love to bring back to life Christ’s Church, a Church that seemed to be dead, His Beatitude Metropolitan Rastislav said during his homily on Sunday. His Beatitude Rastislav, Metropolitan of the Orthodox Church…

Oct 29, 2017Aurelian Iftimiu

Translation of the relics of the Unmercenary Saints Cyrus and John

The Transfer of the Relics of the Holy Martyrs, Unmercenaries and Wonderworkers, Cyrus and John from the city of Konopa, near Alexandria (where they suffered in the year 311) to the nearby village of Manuphin, took place in the year 412. This Egyptian village prompted fear in everyone, since in a former time there was…

Jun 28, 2017Sorin Ioniţe