Orthodox saints

Venerable Joseph the Hymnographer, George of Maleon and Zosimas (Lazarus Saturday; Commemoration of the departed)

Orthodox Calendar, April 4 Saint Joseph the Hymnographer  The sweet-voiced nightingale of the Church was born in Sicily in 816 into a pious Christian family. His parents, Plotinos and Agatha, moved to the Peloponnesos to save themselves from barbarian invasions. When he was fifteen, Saint Joseph went to Thessalonica and entered the monastery of Latomos. He…

Apr 4, 2026basilica.ro

Venerable Nicetas the Confessor and Illyricus

Orthodox Calendar, April 3 Venerable Nicetas the Confessor and Illyricus Saint Nicetas the Confessor was born in Bithynian Caesarea (northwest Asia Minor) of a pious family. His mother died eight days after his birth, and his father Philaretos became a monk. The child remained in the care of his grandmother, who raised him in a…

Apr 3, 2026basilica.ro

Ven. Titus the Wonderworker; Martyrs Amphianus & Edesius

Orthodox Calendar, April 2 Saint Titus the Wonderworker He displayed zeal for the monastic life from his youth. He pursued asceticism in the ninth century at the Studion monastery near Constantinople. By his deeds of fasting, purity of life and mild disposition, Saint Titus gained the love of the brethren, and at their request he…

Apr 2, 2026basilica.ro

St Mary of Egypt; Martyr Gerontius; Venerable Makarios, Igoumen of Pelēketḗ; Venerable Barsanuphius of Optina

Orthodox Calendar, April 1 St Mary of Egypt Saint Zosimas was a monk at a certain Palestinian monastery on the outskirts of Caesarea. Having dwelt at the monastery since his childhood, he lived there in asceticism until he reached the age of fifty-three. Then he was disturbed by the thought that he had attained perfection,…

Apr 1, 2026basilica.ro

Martyr Matrona of Thessalonica; Martyrs Philetus and Lidia, his wife, with their 4 children (Matins with the Akathist Hymn to the Mother of God)

Orthodox Calendar, March 27 Martyr Matrona of Thessalonica The Holy Martyr Matrona of Thessalonica suffered in the third or fourth century. She was a slave of the Jewish woman Pautila (or Pantilla), wife of one of the military commanders of Thessalonica. Pautila constantly mocked her slave for her faith in Christ, and tried to convert…

Mar 27, 2026basilica.ro

Leavetaking of the Annunciation; Synaxis of the Archangel Gabriel; Martyr Montanus the Presbyter, and his wife Maxima; 26 Martyrs from the Gothic Church

Orthodox Calendar, March 26 Synaxis of the Holy Archangel Gabriel On the Leavetaking of the Feast of the Annunciation, the Church commemorates the Archangel Gabriel, who announced the great mystery of the Incarnation of Christ to the Virgin Mary. There is no period of Afterfeast due to Great Lent. The Archangel Gabriel was chosen by…

Mar 26, 2026basilica.ro

Forefeast of the Annunciation; St. Artemon (Menignus) the Bishop of Seleucia

Orthodox Calendar, March 24 Forefeast of the Annunciation For spiritual preparedness of the faithful, all the Royal Feasts are preceded by a time of preparation, anticipation or introduction, called “Forefeast”. They also have a continuation of the feast period, called “Afterfeast”. Troparion — Tone 4 Today is the prelude of universal joy; / let us…

Mar 24, 2026Iulian Dumitraşcu

Martyr Nikon of Sicily & 199 disciples with him (The Service of the Great Canon)

Orthodox Calendar, March 23 Martyr Nikon of Sicily & 199 disciples with him The Monk Martyr Nikon was born at Neapolis (Naples). His father was a pagan, and his mother a Christian. He was not baptized, but his mother secretly instructed him in the tenets of Christianity. Nikon was still a pagan when he reached…

Mar 23, 2026basilica.ro

Hieromartyr Basil of Ancyra; Martyr Drosis the Daughter of the Emperor Trajan; Fourth Sunday of Lent

Orthodox Calendar March 22 Hieromartyr Basil of Ancyra Hieromartyr Basil was a presbyter in Ancyra, Galatia. Fighting against the Arian heresy, he urged his flock to cling firmly to Orthodoxy. Because of this Saint Basil was deposed from his priestly rank by a local Arian council, but a Council of 230 bishops in Palestine reinstated…

Mar 22, 2026basilica.ro

St. James the Confessor the Bishop of Catania; St. Serapion, Bishop of Thmuis in Lower Egypt (Memorial Saturday)

Orthodox Calendar March 21 St. James the Confessor Saint James, Bishop and Confessor,was inclined toward the ascetic life from his early years. Saint James left the world and entered the Studite monastery, where he was tonsured. He led a strict life, full of works, fasting and prayer. Pious and well-versed in Holy Scripture, Saint James…

Mar 21, 2026basilica.ro

Martyred Holy Fathers who were slain at the Monastery of St Sabbas

Orthodox Calendar March 20 Martyred Holy Fathers who were slain at the Monastery of St Sabbas Saints John, Sergius, Patrick and others were slain in the Monastery of Saint Sabbas. During the eighth century the area around Jerusalem was subjected to frequent incursions of the Saracens. The monastery of Saint Chariton was devastated and fell…

Mar 20, 2026basilica.ro