Saint Theodore, known as "Graptus" ("the Branded") was the brother of Theophanes the Confessor. They were born in Palestine to righteous parents, and entered the great monastery of Saint Sabbas. The brothers lived during the iconoclastic period,...

This beautiful historical icon of Righteous Noah depicts him holding the ark that he constructed based on God’s instructions.  This historic icon from the Holy Mountain, Mt. Athos, captures the humility and holiness of this renowned saint of...

The Holy Patriarch Abraham is commemorated on Sunday of the Forefathers (2nd Sunday Before Christmas) and October 9.

This historic icon from Mt. Athos depicts the Old Testament Patriarch Jacob. Known as the man who wrestled with the Angel of God, his life was one of hardship and preparation. His and his children’s story takes up more than half of the book of...

Saint Porphyrios of Kafsokalivia was an Athonite hieromonk known for his gifts of spiritual discernment, a type of clairvoyance which he sometimes called "spiritual television." He was born in 1906 in the village of Saint John Karystia, in the province...

From the 10th century Bamberg Psalter.

Saint Nicholas was born in the third century in the city of Patara. His wealthy Christian parents died when he was young, and he gave his inheritance to the poor. Devoting himself to the Church, Nicholas was eventually ordained Bishop of Myra...

Saint Ignatius is known to have been a disciple of Saint John the Evangelist, and a contributor to the early ministry of the Church. He is also believed to have been that “little child” who Jesus used as an example of the...

The arrival of the Magi is celebrated on Christmas Day itself (December 25) in the Eastern tradition. In the West, it is celebrated on Epiphany (January 6). From the 10th century Bamberg Psalter.

Saint Andrew was born about the year 650 in Damascus, Syria. At the age of 14 he joined the Monastery of St. Sabbas the Sanctified in Jerusalem. Known for his virtue, he became the secretary of the Patriarch of Jerusalem, and attended the Sixth...

Saint Pancratius lived during the time of the Apostles, and he came to Christ through Saint Peter. They traveled together to Sicily, where Saint Paul was preaching at that time. Together they made Pancratius bishop of Taormina, and through his...

  Saint Ambrose was born in Gaul in the year 340 and became a member of the Roman Senate as Governor of Milan. When the Arian bishop of Milan died, the Orthodox and Arians fought over who would succeed him. Ambrose, desiring to maintain peace, tried...

Saint Anatolius was a priest of Alexandria. After the Robber Council of 449, the heretical Patriarch Dioscorus of Alexandria consecrated Anatolius as Patriarch of Constantinople, thinking that Anatolius would support his views. But Anatolius upheld...

Saint Sylvester served as the 32nd bishop of Rome after the death of the Apostles. He was not able to attend the First Ecumenical Council in 325 due to illness, but he sent representatives. He reposed later that year. His feast is celebrated on...

The Three Holy Youths Ananias, Misael, and Azarias were among the Jews who were taken to Babylon in the sixth century BC. King Nebuchadnezzar took them into his royal household where they served, along with the Prophet Daniel. They were given Persian...

Saint Panteleimon lived in the late 3rd century. A native of Nicomedia, his mother wished for him to be raised a Christian. When she died young, his pagan father sent him to be educated as a physician. He was befriended by Saint Hermolaus, a priest,...

Saint Sebastian was a native of Milan. He was a member of the Senate and converted many to Christ in his zeal. He was arrested, beaten, and finally shot with arrows, giving up his soul to God in the year 288, together with several other martyrs. His...

Saint Ignatius is known to have been a disciple of Saint John the Evangelist, and a contributor to the early ministry of the Church. He is also believed to have been that “little child” who Jesus used as an example of the...

Saint (Elder) Paisios was an Athonite monk, spiritual father, founder of monasteries, and prolific writer of many works that have been translated and read throughout the world. He reposed in 1994. The saint was glorified by the Ecumenical Patriarchate...

This historic Byzantine icon depicts Saint Stephen the Protomartyr in his vestments and incense burner of the diaconate. His story is recalled in chapters 6-7 of the Acts of the Apostles.  The Apostle Stephen was the first deacon of the Church. For...

Saint Ignatius is known to have been a disciple of Saint John the Evangelist, and a contributor to the early ministry of the Church. He is also believed to have been that “little child” who Jesus used as an example of the...

Saint Andrew was born about the year 650 in Damascus, Syria. At the age of 14 he joined the Monastery of St. Sabbas the Sanctified in Jerusalem. Known for his virtue, he became the secretary of the Patriarch of Jerusalem, and attended the Sixth...

Saint Spyridon was from Cyprus, and he worked as a shepherd. After the death of his wife, he was appointed Bishop of Trimythus, and he attended the First Ecumenical Council. There he refuted the Arians using his simple wisdom. God granted him the gift...

Aaron was the brother of Moses. While God assigned the task of Israelite leadership directly to Moses, Aaron became an important leader in his own right.  At his first encounter with God, Moses expressed concern that he was not well-spoken enough...

Melchizedek was the king of Salem during the time of Abraham. He is briefly mentioned in Genesis as having offered a sacrifice of bread and wine to God, and he blessed Abraham. He is a mysterious figure, but the key teaching of the Church is that...

Saint Eleutherius was still a young man when he became bishop of Illyricum, but he was renowned for his virtue. He was arrested during the persecution of the Emperor Hadrian, tortured, and martyred in the year 126. His mother was also beheaded...

Saint Athanasius was the founder of the first monastic communities on Mount Athos in Greece about the turn of the first millennium. To this day, Athos is the home of some 20 ancient monastic communities, including Saint Athanasius' original community,...

These 20,000 saints were martyred on Christmas Day in the year 303. A great number of Christians were burned alive in a church, and many others were killed in the surrounding area at the decree of Diocletian. They are all commemorated together on...

Barbara, born in the third century in Syria, was so beautiful that her pagan father placed her in an isolated tower to keep her innocent of any influence except his own until she could be married. Like St. Christina, Barbara also came to realize...

The Apostle Stephen was the first deacon of the Church. For this, he is called "Protodeacon" or "Archdeacon," and as he was the first Christian martyr, he is called "Protomartyr." While performing his missionary work, he defeated some Jews in a debate...

Saint Nicholas was born in the third century in the city of Patara. His wealthy Christian parents died when he was young, and he gave his inheritance to the poor. Devoting himself to the Church, Nicholas was eventually ordained Bishop of Myra...

Emmanuel means "God with us," and is often used to refer to Christ as a youth. Yet He appears as an adult, showing that the God Who was before all time came in the form of a young child. Icon by the hand of Georgi Chimev.

Saint Peter was an Aleut native of Kodiak Island, Alaska. He was baptized by the monks of Saint Herman's mission. In 1815, while hunting seals, he and several other Aleuts were kidnapped by Spanish sailors and taken to San Gabriel Mission in California...

Saint Marina the Great Martyr was from Antioch in Pisidia. She suffered under Diocletian in the 3rd century. She is commemorated on July 17. Margaret, Maggie, Megan, and Meghan are all forms of the same name.

Saint John was the Russian Orthodox bishop of various cities in the 20th century, including Shanghai, China, and San Francisco, California. In these and other places he cared for his flock, which included many Russians who had fled the persecution of...

Saint John of Kronstadt was a married priest who lived in virginity with his wife. He worked tirelessly for the poor and the people of his parish, and was given by the Lord the ability read thoughts and work miracles. So great was his holiness, that in...

Saint (Elder) Paisios was an Athonite monk, spiritual father, founder of monasteries, and prolific writer of many works that have been translated and read throughout the world. He reposed in 1994. The saint was glorified by the Ecumenical Patriarchate...

Saint Nicholas was born in the third century in the city of Patara. His wealthy Christian parents died when he was young, and he gave his inheritance to the poor. Devoting himself to the Church, Nicholas was eventually ordained Bishop of Myra...

The holy Great-Martyr Anastasia was born in Rome in the 2nd century under the Diocletian persecution. Her father was a pagan, but her mother was a secret Christian and arranged for Anastasia to be educated in the Faith by a pious Christian named...

This incredibly detailed icon of the Nativity is filled with scenes. In the upper left corner we see the Annunciation, and the Virgin Mary giving the news of the incarnation to St. Joseph, and the angel reassures Joseph about Mary's conception. In the...