Orthodox saints

† Venerable Theodosius the Great, the Cenobiarch; St. Vitalis; Afterfeast of the Theophany

Orthodox Calendar, January 11 Venerable Theodosius the Great, the Cenobiarch Saint Theodosius the Great lived during the fifth-sixth centuries, and was the founder of cenobitic monasticism. He was born in Cappadocia of pious parents. Endowed with a splendid voice, he zealously toiled at church reading and singing. Saint Theodosius prayed fervently that the Lord would…

Jan 11, 2026basilica.ro

Martyr Polyeuctus of Melitene, in Armenia; St. Peter the Bishop of Sebaste, in Armenia

Orthodox Calendar, January 9 Saint Polyeuctus He was the first martyr in the Armenian city of Meletine. He was a soldier under the emperor Decius (249-251) and he later suffered for Christ under the emperor Valerian (253-259). The saint was friend also of Nearchos, a fellow-soldier and firm Christian, but Polyeuctus, though he led a…

Jan 9, 2026basilica.ro

Venerable George the Chozebite; Venerable Domnica of Constantinople

Orthodox Calendar, January 8 Venerable George the Chozebite He was born on the island of Cyprus toward the end of the sixth century. After the death of his parents, he went to Palestine to worship at the holy places. Here he entered into the monastic community of Chozeba between the River Jordan and Jerusalem, and…

Jan 8, 2026basilica.ro

† Synaxis of the Holy Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John (Fish allowed)

Orthodox Calendar, January 7 Synaxis of the Holy Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John In the Orthodox Church it is customary, on the day following the Great Feasts of the Lord and the Mother of God, to remember those saints who participated directly in the sacred event. So, on the day following the Theophany of…

Jan 7, 2026basilica.ro

(†) Feast of the Theophany of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

Orthodox Calendar, January 6 Feast of the Theophany of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Theophany is the Feast which reveals the Most Holy Trinity to the world through the Baptism of the Lord (Mt.3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22). God the Father spoke from Heaven about the Son, the Son was baptized by the Saint…

Jan 6, 2026basilica.ro

Synaxis of the Seventy Apostles; Ven. Theoctistus; Ven. Apolinaria; Saint Nikēphóros the Leper; Forefeast of the Theophany

Orthodox Calendar, January 4 The Synaxis of the Seventy Apostles The Synaxis was established by the Orthodox Church to indicate the equal honour of each of the Seventy. They were sent two by two by the Lord Jesus Christ to go before Him into the cities He would visit (Luke 10:1). Besides the celebration of…

Jan 4, 2026basilica.ro

Prophet Malachi; Martyr Gordius at Caesarea, in Cappadocia

Orthodox Calendar January 3 Prophet Malachi The Holy Prophet Malachi lived 400 years before the Birth of Christ, at the time of the return of the Jews from the Babylonian Captivity. Malachi was the last of the Old Testament prophets, therefore the holy Fathers call him “the seal of the prophets.” Manifesting himself an image…

Jan 3, 2026basilica.ro

Martyr Hermes; Venerable Melania the Younger of Rome; Leavetaking of the Nativity of our Lord (Fast free. Service of Thanksgiving for the new year)

Orthodox Calendar – December 31 Martyr Hermes St. Monk Hermes served with humility and deep devotion to Christ in the church of the city of Bononia. Here there was a holy place and many worshippers among the native Dacian-Romans, living like him with great Christian piety and obeying and following the commandments of the true…

Dec 31, 2025basilica.ro

20,000 Martyrs of Nicomedia; Sunday after the Nativity of the Lord

Orthodox Calendar, December 28 The Holy 20,000 Martyrs of Nicomedia At the beginning of the fourth century the emperor Maximian (284-305) gave orders to destroy Christian churches, to burn service books, and to deprive all Christians of rights and privileges of citizenship. At this time the bishop of the city of Nicomedia was Saint Cyril,…

Dec 28, 2025basilica.ro

† Apostle and Protomartyr Stephen the Archdeacon; Ven. Theodore the Confessor

Orthodox Calendar, December 27 Saint Stephen, Protomartyr and Archdeacon He was the eldest of the seven deacons, appointed by the Apostles themselves, and therefore he is called “archdeacon.” He was the first Christian martyr, and he suffered for Christ when he was about thirty. In the words of Asterias, he was “the starting point of…

Dec 27, 2025basilica.ro

†) Synaxis of the Most Holy Mother of God; Saint Nicodemus and Venerable Martyr Gerasimus of Tismana (Fast free)

Orthodox Calendar, December 26 Synaxis of the Most Holy Mother of God On the second day of the Feast of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Church has established the celebration of the Synaxis of the Most Holy Mother of God. The name of today’s festival signifies the gathering of the faithful in…

Dec 26, 2025basilica.ro