Synaxis of the Theotokos

Post Feast of the Nativity of Christ: Synaxis of the Most Holy Mother of God

In the East we celebrate the Theotokos on the day after Christmas (Roman Catholics celebrate St. Stephen). We celebrate the Theotokos on the second day of the Feast of the Nativity primarily because it is through Mary that the incarnation is possible. The Nativity of Christ is the greatest moment of Mary’s life. It is …

Matthew the Evangelist

Matthew the Holy Apostle and Evangelist

Holy Apostle and Evangelist Matthew We celebrate the Holy Apostle and Evangelist Matthew on November 16th. One thing we know about St. Matthew is that he was a tax collector before following Christ. And, in reading his gospel, we see his attentiveness to numbers never leaves him! His gospel was written specifically for a Jewish …

Saint Epiphanius

Venerable Epiphanius, Bishop of Cyprus

Venerable Epiphanius, Bishop of Cyprus We celebrate the Venerable Saint Epiphanius on May 12th. He was born to a Jewish family, around A.D. 315. Then, after witnessing a monk giving his clothes to the poor, he converted to Christianity. Epiphanius’ conversion brought him to the desert, where he became a disciple of the recluse St. …

Eustratios the five holy companions

Holy Martyrs Eustratios, Auxentius, Eugenius, Mardarius, and Orestes

We celebrate the five companions, Eustratios, Auxentius, Egenius, Mardarius, and Orestes on December 13th. These five companions, Martyred during the reign of Diocletian, the five companions are alternatively called Eustratius, Auxentius, Eugene, Mardarius, and Orestes. Either way, their names are quite the mouthful! So what do we know about these five companions? Eustratios/Eustratius and Auxentius …