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Some historical figures, including in the history of the church, stand out from all others and are not matched by any other. The Holy Hierarch Tikhon (Vasily Belavin in the world), was remarkable in this regard.
Enraged, the emperor ordered his aides to tear seven strips of skin from his body every day for seven days. On one of the days, Saint Basil tore off his flesh and threw it to the emperor with the words, "take it and eat it, Julian, if such food…
The secular leaders of the early days of the Church increasingly viewed the growing faith in Christ as a nuisance or even a danger. Among them was the formidable Roman Emperor Trajan.
By the decision of the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church dated August 25, 2012, Schema-Nun Sofia (Grineva) was included among the locally venerated saints confessors of the Kiev diocese.
For his tireless love for others, the Lord rewarded the Vyritsa elder with great spiritual wisdom, the gift of healing troubled souls, as well as true vision, guidance and prophecy.
When the barbarians attacked, Their Hegumen said, “If we are killed here, we shall be killed through love for Christ, for whose sake we have come here to live.'
He is also remembered as a model pastor to his flock who showed his disciples that the teachings of the faith were not abstract intellectual constructions, but had a direct bearing on our Christian life.
He eschewed worldly comforts and most of all he escaped worldly fame. For his humility and service to God, he received the name god-bearing.
He had to abandon his municipal service and go into hiding in a remote village when Emperor Diocletian of Rome unleashed the vicious persecution of Christians.
The Holy Martyr Agapius and seven other Christian martyrs suffered during the reign of the Roman Emperor Diocletian, a vicious persecutor of Christians.
On 26 March, the Russian Orthodox Church remembers the translation of his relics. His main commemoration is on 15 June.
St Symeon was the first to identify the vision of Divine Light as the primary goal of ascetic striving. He was the first to speak of dispassion and deification in such a personal manner.
Many sick were healed by his prayers, and he acquired the gift of wonderworking. To this day, believers have invoked his name in prayers for patients with mental diseases.
He defended the true faith against the heresies of his time, and wrote key liturgical texts that we hear at the worship services during the Great Lent, including the Life of Saint Mary of Egypt and three Lenten canons.
He mastered the art of medicine, and began to cure people with potions, herbs, and, most importantly, by his faith and prayer.
The forty martyrs of Sebaste were Christian soldiers who distinguished themselves in battles and glorified themselves in eternity by remaining loyal to Christ despite flattery and brutal torture.
When the Patriarch of Constantinople ordained him as bishop of Nicomedia, he became a loving shepherd to his flock and spared no effort to ease the plight of the sick and needy.
Each year, the feast of the 40 Martyrs of Sebaste brightens our Lenten journey - the Church honours their memory on 22 March. The venerable hymnographer John Damascene composed a service in their honour.
He was a contemporary of the Holy Apostles and, according to tradition, a disciple of Archangel Michael himself, who brought him to Christ and gave him baptism.
He also founded the great Lavra in Palestine famous for its strict and simple monastic rule that exists to this day. Steadfast and uncompromising on matters of faith, he was also compassionate and loving with people and animals.
