Theophany Eve Theophany Eve occurs on January 5th – that is, the twelveth day of Christmas. It is also a day of Fast in preparation. Unlike Christmas, Easter, and The Dormition, the preparation for Theophany is limited to a single day. This is because it occurs during the Nativity festal season. Traditionally this day is …
Circumcision of Christ, Our Lord, God, and Saviour And Our Father among the Saints: Basil the Great 2000 years after Christianity, it feels odd to be talking about circumcision. So it was definitely worth it for me to spend time looking into why we celebrate Christ’s circumcision as a major feast day. The Meaning of …
On December 27th (26th in the west) we celebrate Protomatyr Stephen. St. Stephen is called the first martyr, a holy apostle, and archdeacon! His celebration during the post-feast of the Nativity of Christ is singularly significant into the meaning of Christ’s birth. The connection between life and death is laid here. About St. Stephen In …
The Holy Great-Martyr Katherine of Alexandria We celebrate the Holy Great-Martyr Katherine of Alexandria (Catherine of Alexandria) on November 24th. Her father was the governor of Alexandrian-Egypt. Icons of her therefore include the saint wearing a crown and royal robes. St. Katherine lived a life worthy of a princess. Her wealthy parents invested in her …
Holy Priest-Martyr Josaphat Kuntsevych, Archbishop of Polotsk We celebrate Josaphat Kunsevych, an Eastern Bishop and martyr, on November 12th, which commemorates his deathday and day of canonization (in 1867). The BadgerDad and I married on this feast day, to honour this martyr who died for Christ and the goal of Christian unity. So what do …
Feast of the Brother of Our Lord On October 23rd, we celebrate St. James the brother of Our Lord. This particular St. James is also often referred to as James the Just. One of the places we find this title is in the work of a Jewish (though not Christian) historian called Josephus. From the …
The Veil of the Most Holy Theotokos We celebrate the protection (or veil) of the Most Holy Mother of God on October 1st. This feast commemorates an apparition of Our Lady to the church wherein the robes of Our Lady are kept. So what happened? Well, the faithful were gathered in the Church at Blachernae, …
The Passing of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist, John the Theologian On September 16th/26th, we celebrate the passing of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist: John the Theologian. St. John is my favourite apostle and gospel writer. He is also honoured on his other feast day, May 8th, and during the Synaxis of the 12 Apostles. …
The Universal Exaltation of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross We celebrate the Exaltation of the Cross 40 days after the Transfiguration. This feast commemorates St. Helen finding the true cross, and the date Constantine dedicated the Church of the Resurrection, built upon the same site in the year 335 A.D. St. Helen was sent to …
The Falling Asleep of the Theotokos Although the Dormition of the Theotokos is not in scripture, we know a lot of what happened from Tradition. When the time came for the soul of the Theotokos to be united with her son in heaven, the apostles and disciples were brought mysteriously to Jerusalem. This happened so …