He was instrumental in refuting the false teachings of the heresy of iconoclasm that remained prominent in Byzantine for multiple decades.
Saint John the Persian, a great martyr of the fourth century, is also called "James cut into pieces" for the terrible death he endured. His life is a story of repentance and God's ultimate mercy and forgiveness.
The Christian Church venerates saint Alypius as 'a pillar of endurance' who imitated Job in suffering and is the boast of ascetics.
Apostle Peter baptized him in Palestine. Apostle Paul referred to him as his fellow worker. Returning to Rome, he converted thousands to Christ.
The relics of Saint Mercurius acquired miracle-working powers, and even after his death, he continued to serve the other Christians as a soldier.
A friend of Saint Basil the Great, he was a steadfast opponent of the heresies of Arius and Macedonius, and a beloved shepherd of his flock.
Their lives represent the diversity of the paths to finding God and of ways of serving Him.
He spent his life as an ascetic, traveller, preacher and defender of the true faith. His righteousness and piety earned him miracle-working powers that continued long after his death.
From the perspective of the present day, Obadiah's prophesies remind us about the dangers of pride, selfishness and disregard for the implications of our actions on other people.
He stood with Christ to the end suffering bitter torments, to live with Him in eternity
Saint Gregory was an example of a righteous life and was blessed with the miracle-working abilities that brought many to the faith. He integrated the true teaching of the Holy Trinity to the Christian Creed, affirmed at the first ecumenical…
Repenting his past sins, he repaid fourfold the means that he had wrongfully taken from others, gave away the remainder of his estate and went with the apostles. He witnessed the torments, death and resurrection of Christ.
He made accurate Slavic translations of the Greek Philokalia and the writings of the Church fathers. These translations are still used throughout the Slavic world, and especially in Russia.
Saint John Chrysostom is venerated in the Orthodox Church as a ‘shining beacon’ whose words ‘illuminated the Universe’. He is remembered as a beloved cleric, a generous philanthropist, a noted ascetic, and the teacher of the faithful.
He acquired perfection of the spirit was one of the founders of the Hesychast tradition in Christian asceticism and gave guidance to many on their spiritual journey to Christ.
He renounced his army career and retired to the wilderness for contemplation. Eager to be a loyal servant for Christ, he declared his faith to the pagans and took voluntary martyrdom.
Disciples of Saint Paul, the first-century Apostles of the Seventy - Erastus, Olympas, Herodion, Sosipater, Quartus, and Tertius - were named in Chapter 16 of his epistle to the Romans.
In the times of the persecution of Christians under the Roman Emperors Diocletian and Maximian, they were seized and brought to trial, where they openly professed Christ as their King and God.
The heavenly hosts fall into nine orders - Thrones, Cherubim, Seraphim, Dominions, Powers, Authorities, Principalities, Archangels and Angels. In the narrow sense, only a messenger of God can be called an angel, but in practice, we apply this…
Hieron and 32 other martyrs refused to join the Roman army knowing that they will be made to worship Pagan idols. They declared openly their faith in Christ and died as martyrs.