Saint Charitina (Charitίnē) was from Amisos (Amisós) in Pontus and lived during the reign of Emperor Diocletian (284-305). Orphaned at a young age, she became the servant of a noble Roman Christian named Claudianus, or Claudius, who brought her up as his own daughter. The young girl was very…
The celebration of a special Feast Day to honor Saints Peter, Alexei, and Jonah, Metropolitans and Wonderworkers of All Russia, was established by Patriarch Job on October 5, 1596. In 1875, Saint Innocent, Metropolitan of Moscow, proposed that Saint Philip be included with the others. Saint…
Saints Damian the Presbyter and Healer, Jeremiah and Matthew, Clairvoyants of the Kiev Caves, Near Caves, were described by Saint Nestor the Chronicler (October 27). Saint Damian (+1071) remembered the Baptism of Rus (in year 988). The zealous imitator of Saint Theodosius (May 3) was gentle,…
Saint Charitina, Princess of Lithuania, nun of Novgorod, pursued asceticism in a Novgorod women’s monastery in honor of the holy apostles Peter and Paul, built on Sinich hill. Having resolved to dedicate her life to the Lord, she became a nun. For her virtuous life she was made Abbess of the…
Saint Dionysius, Bishop of Alexandria, was the son of wealthy pagan parents. He converted to Christianity at a mature age, and became a pupil of Origen. Later, he was appointed as the head of Alexandria’s Catechetical School, and then became Bishop of Alexandria in the year 247. Saint…
The Martyr Memelchtha of Persia was, before her conversion to the Christian Faith, a pagan priestess of the goddess Artemis. The saint’s sister convinced her to accept Baptism. When the pagans saw Memelchtha in her white baptismal robe, they stoned her. The saint suffered in the year 344.…
Our Holy Father Gregory of Khandzta was raised in the court of the Kartlian ruler Nerse. His family was part of the Meskhetian aristocracy. He received an education befitting his family’s noble rank and displayed a special aptitude for the sciences and theology. The youth chosen by God was…
Nothing is known about the life and deeds of Venerable Eudokimos (Eudókimos) of Vatopedi. On October 5, 1840,1 the monks of the Athonite Monastery of Vatopedi were renovating the burial vault for the brethren. Suddenly, the roof collapsed, covering one of the corners of the vault. The monks began…
Saint Methodίa was born on the island of Kίmolos on November 10, 1865, to devout parents. Her father's name was Jacob Sardēs, and her mother's name was Maria. They had three sons and five daughters, the second of whom was called Irene. From childhood the Saint was drawn to divine things and…
For centuries the region of Tao-Klarjeti in southwestern Georgia was known for its holiness, unity and spiritual strength. The cultural life and faith of Kartli were nearly extinguished by the Arab-Muslim domination from the 8th to 10th centuries. Tao-Klarjeti, however, which had been emptied by a…
1. The Holy Martyr Charitina.
Orphaned young, she was adopted by an eminent Christian man called Claudius, who brought her up as his own daughter. Charitina was meek, humble, obedient and silent. She studied the law of God day and night and vowed to live in perpetual virginity as a true bride of Christ. But, Charitina having brought others to the Christian faith, the Emperor Diocletians's governor, Dometius, heard of her and sent soldiers to take her from her foster-father for trial. The judge asked her: 'Is it true, little girl, that you are a Christian, and that you delude others by bringing them to this dishonourable faith?' Charitina courageously replied: 'It is true that I am a Christian, and a lie that I delude others. I lead those in error to the way of truth, bringing them to my Christ.' The wicked judge ordered that her hair be cut off and live coals put on her head, but the maiden was preserved by God's power. They threw her into the sea, but God delivered her from it. She was bound to a wheel which began to turn, but an angel of God stopped the wheel and Charitina remained unharmed. Then the wicked judge sent some dissolute youths to rape her. Fearing this dishonour, St Charitina prayed to God to receive her soul before these dissolute men could foul her virginal body and so, while she was kneeling in prayer, her soul went out from her body to the immortal Kingdom of Christ.
2. The Hieromartyr Dionysius, Bishop of Alexandria.
Born in Alexandria of eminent, pagan parents, he was educated in Hellenic philosophy and then studied with Origen. As a young man, he read St Paul's epistles, came to faith in Christ and was baptised by Dimitrios, the then Bishop of Alexandria. He himself became bishop there in 247, and served God and the people of God as a true pastor in very difficult circumstances. The Church was outwardly persecuted by pagans and inwardly split by heretics. There were also the effects of a plague, that weakened the people for several years. He lived for three years outside Alexandria, hidden by the faithful, that he should not be killed before his time. In those three years, he wrote many epistles and other works for his flock, instructing them and encouraging them in the upholding of Orthodoxy. Among his writings are a few canons which were adopted by the Church, and his letter against Novatius is also regarded as a canonical writing. He governed the Church for seventeen years, and entered into rest in 265.
3. Our Holy Father Eudocimus of Vatopedi.
In 1841, when the bone-chapel at Vatopedi was being restored, workmen found the relics of a man kneeling and holding an icon of the Mother of God. Not knowing who this man could have been and when he had lived, the monks gave him the name Eudocimus and transferred his relics to the church, where they are preserved to this day. Many miracles of healing have been performed by them. Today the following words are carved on his coffin: 'This coffin was made for the honoured head of St Eudocimus by the monk Gabriel, whom the saint healed of great sickness.'
4. Our Holy Fathers Damian, Jeremiah and Matthew.
Seers and wonderworkers of the Kiev Caves, they lived in the eleventh century.
