The Sunday following Pentecost is dedicated to All Saints, both those who are known to us, and those who are known only to God. There have been saints at all times, and they have come from every corner of the earth. They were Apostles, Martyrs, Prophets, Hierarchs, Monastics, and Righteous, yet all…

The “Unbreakable (or “Indestructible”) Wall” Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos is commemorated on the Sunday of All Saints. It is an XI century mosaic icon of the Blachernae type, above the main altar of Kiev's Holy Wisdom Cathedral. The Mother of God is depicted against a golden background,…

On the Seven Arrows Icon, the Most Holy Theotokos is depicted without the Divine Infant. She inclines her head toward her right shoulder, and her heart is pierced with seven arrows or swords, of which four are on the left side and three on the right. A similar image of the Mother of God is also…

The Holy Prophet Amos, the third of the Twelve Minor Prophets,1 lived during the eighth century before Christ. He was from Judah, and was born at Tekoah in the land of Zebulon, six miles south of Bethlehem. At that time, the Hebrew nation was divided into two Kingdoms: Judah in the south, and…

Saint Jonah, Metropolitan of Moscow and Wonderworker of All Russia, was born in the city of Galich into a pious Christian family. The father of the future saint was named Theodore. The youth received monastic tonsure in one of the Galich monasteries when he was only twelve years old. From there, he…

Saints Gregory and Cassian of Avnezh lived in asceticism at the River Sukhona in the Vologda land. On June 15, 1392 they died as martyrs at Avnezh monastery during an incursion by Tatars. The relics of the monastic martyrs were uncovered in the year 1524. In 1560, with the blessing of Macarius,…

Saint Crescentia suffered for Christ during the reign of Emperor Diocletian (284-305) with the holy martyrs Vitus and Modestus. She was the governess of Saint Vitus, and tried to save the boy when his father wanted to kill him because he would not abandon his faith in Christ. Saint Crescentia and…

The Holy Martyr Doulas was a pious Christian from the city of Praetoriada. At the height of a persecution against Christians under Maximian (305-313) they arrested him and sent him to trial under the Cilicia district governor Maximus. Before the beginning of the trial the saint firmly besought the…

Saint Doulas the Passion-Bearer was a monk at one of the Egyptian monasteries. He distinguished himself by his meekness, humility and obedience. For twenty years he endured the mockery, abuse and contempt of several of the monastic brethren. At first it was difficult for him to bear up and humbly…

Saint Jerome of Stridon was born into a Christian family in the city of Stridon located on the border between Dalmatia and Pannonia. His full name is Eusebius Hieronymos Sophronius. His parents sent him to Rome, where he studied the secular sciences. At the beginning of his life in the capital, the…

The transfer of the relics of Saint Theodore the Sykeote from Galatia to Constantinople occurred no later than the IX century. In the year 1200, his relics were seen by the Russian pilgrim Anthony in the Monastery of Saint George. Saint Theodore's principal Feast Day is on April 22.

The Holy Prince Lazar of Serbia lived during the fourteenth century at a time when the Turks, having conquered neighboring lands, were preparing to invade Serbia. Saint Lazar was raised at the court of the holy King Dushan, and was appointed governor of one of the Serbian districts. In the year…

Saint Ephraim, Patriarch of Serbia, lived in asceticism on Mount Athos, and afterwards became Igumen of the Serbian Ivḗron monastery. After the death of Patriarch Savva III in 1376, he was chosen to the patriarchal throne. Aspiring to silence, the saint left the throne and for nine years dwelt at…

Saint Augustine was born in the city of Thagaste in northern Africa. He was raised by his mother, Saint Monica (May 4), and he received his education at Carthage. In the capacity of professor of rhetoric, Augustine arrived at Milan, Italy where Saint Ambrose (December 7) was bishop. Under the…

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Based on certain Russian sources, Saint Michael is remembered as the first Metropolitan of Kiev and all Russia (988-992). He began his missionary work in Kiev, Suzdal, Novgorod, and Rostov, as well as in other cities. He built the first wooden church of the Dormition of the Theotokos at Rostov, and…

The holy Schema-monk Theophanes (in the world, Theodore Talunin) was from Vladimir Province. He served in the Black Sea Cossack army until 1791. After his discharge, he lived at Sophroniev Hermitage for a time, and then he went to Moldavia, where he lived at Neamts Monastery under obedience to…

Saints Fortunatus, Akhaikos and Stephanas of the 70 Apostles were coworkers of the Apostle Paul, who, with all their heart and soul, helped to spread the Gospel among the nations. Saint Paul mentions these three men in his first Epistle to the Corinthians (16:17): "Now I rejoice in the presence of…

The appearance of the Voronin Icon of the Mother of God occurred on June 15, 1518, 12 km south of Cherepovets, on the site of the present churchyard near the village of Voronino. John, the sexton of Archangel Michael church in the village of Ilyinskoye, went to the Konechnov forest and on his way…