Sunday before the Nativity of Christ Tone 6; The Holy Great-Martyr Anastasia and her children Evodus and Eutychius (305); Hebrews 11:9-10 17-23 32-40; Matthew 1:1-25
Two Sundays before Christmas – Sunday of the Holy Ancestors; The Holy Prophet Haggai (Aggee) (6th c. BC); December 16. Text from “The Divine Liturgy: An Anthology for Worship”; Pgs. 345 (Tone 5) & 741 (SHF).
Theodosius was the first founder and organizer of the cenobitic way of monastic life. He was born in the province of Cappadocia in the village of Mogarissus of devout parents. As a child, he visited St. Simeon the Stylite who blessed him and prophesied great and...
When our Lord reached thirty years from His physical birth, He began His teaching and salvific work. He Himself signified this “beginning of the beginning” by His baptism in the Jordan river. St. Cyril of Jerusalem says, ” The beginning of the world...
When Diocletian began his persecution of the Christians, Theopempos, Bishop of Nicomedia, was among the first to suffer martyrdom for Christ. Theopempos was brought before the emperor who threatened him with punishment of death if he did not deny Christ. To that...
