The Iconoclastic heresy swept through the Byzantine Empire in the seventh century. Emperor Leo III the Isaurian ascended the throne and initiated persecutions against the veneration of icons. Despite being under Muslim rule, the Caliphate of…
Among the esteemed names of Russian artists who mastered religious painting, Viktor Mikhailovich Vasnetsov stands out prominently.
At the very end of July, only four days apart, the Belarussian Orthodox Church commemorates two of the very first Russian Saints who happen to be related to each other - Saints Olga and Vladimir.
Prince Vladimir was the first to embrace and choose the Heavenly Kingdom together with the Russian people. He was the first to set out on the path of the Cross. For him, this could not have been but related to a big inner struggle.
As the feast day of Saint Vladimir the Great of Kiev is approaching, we are preparing to sing at the all-night vigil and the Divine Liturgy the hymns glorifying his great feat and his apostolic ministry in this part of the world.
Prince Vladimir was discontented with the pagan faith and contemplating a change. According to the Tale of Bygone Years, ambassadors began to approach the prince, urging him to embrace their respective religions.
Saint Elisabeth’s life was a profound testament to her pursuit of God. In this article we’ve gathered several of Mother Elisabeth’s insightful sayings on faith, prayer, and acts of mercy, hoping they will provide you with strength and inspiration.
17 July marks the commemoration of the Passion-bearing Tsar Nicholas II, Tsarina Alexandra, Tsarevich Alexei, the Grand Duchesses Olga, Tatiana, Maria, Anastasia, and the Righteous Passion-bearer and Physician Eugene (1918).
Saints Sergius and Herman of Valaam are revered fathers, miracle workers, and missionaries who ventured to Rus’ in the 10th century, even before its conversion to Christianity. What do we know about them? Which documents recount their lives?
In the 1840s, Optina Monastery faced a shortage of coachmen for the 70-kilometre route to Kaluga and struggled to accommodate all the visitors in its monastery hotels. Contemporaries referred to Optina as a “spiritual sanatorium.”
The future saint was born on 28 February 1868 into a peasant family residing in Russian village and was baptised with the name Gerasim.
On 4 July (or 17 July according to the new calendar), the Church commemorates Saint Andrew, Bishop of Crete. He is celebrated for his pious life and significant contributions to church hymnography.
Saint John of Shanghai kindled the flame of true faith in the hearts of people from diverse nationalities. His strictness towards himself and boundless love for people around him revealed a great saint in this small, stooped figure.
The fate of the clergy and sisters of the Seraphim-Diveyevo Monastery is nothing short of astonishing. Their devotion to God and trust in Him amidst the most harrowing circumstances is both instructive and enlightening.
Alban the Protomartyr of Britain lived in ancient Verulamium, now Saint Albans, in the northwest of London. Though his origins and occupation remain a mystery, ancient frescoes and seals offer glimpses of the man.
Fifty days after Holy Pascha, the Orthodox celebrate one of the twelve Great Feasts - Pentecost or the Holy Trinity Sunday. This year Pentecost falls on June 23rd in the Belarussian Orthodox Church.
We may imagine ourselves to be masters of our lives and make our plans for decades ahead - only to find them derailed someday. But the Scripture tells us: "As for me, I am poor and needy; may the Lord think of me."
Sister Valeria joined us in 2020. She is a cheerful, energetic, and friendly sister who is always ready to help. She currently works in our Outreach Department and has recently started serving with our Sisterhood of Mercy.
Valeria, Kyriake, and Mary of Caesarea are early Christian saints venerated as martyrs. They lived in the 3rd century on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea, in Caesarea of Palestine, during the persecutions under Emperor Diocletian.
In the tumultuous pre-revolutionary years of the Russian Orthodox Church, the Lord bestowed upon us a marvellous shepherd and a miracle worker. The light of his love continues to guide faithful souls towards salvation even today.