Tag: saints and blesseds

At the beginning of the Fast before Christmas, we celebrate the feast of St. Matthew, who wrote one of the Gospels of the birth of our Lord. (St. Luke is the other.) St. Matthew’s purpose was to show how the prophecies of the Covenant were fulfilled in Jesus. Therefore, he is the son of Abraham …

Today, we liturgically recall the memory of our venerable mother, Phoebe, the deaconess. “You put aside all the cares of this world that you might dedicate yourself to the service of others, thus revealing yourself as a true disciple of Christ. Holy mother Phoebe, beg him to save our souls” (Troparion). “Note how many ways …

“… They are the adornment of Rome; they have nourished the whole world with the Word of God. They are the living tablets of the New Testament written by the hand of God….” (from Vespers) “The feast of Peter and Paul and the Birth of John the Baptist are ranked as great feasts, after those …

Today the Church commemorates the holy martyr, Justin, the philosopher, and his companions. We often just say, Justin Martyr. Justin (AD 100-160) was born in Samaria of pagan Greek parents. He studied various classical philosophies, traveling to many countries in his search for knowledge. On one of his journeys, he met a very old man …