IGNATIUS THE GOD-BEARER, BISHOP OF ANTIOCH

  On December 20, the Holy Orthodox Church celebrates the memory of the Hieromartyr Ignatius the God-bearer of Antioch. According to the Tradition of the Church, Our Lord Jesus Christ placed Ignatius – then a young boy – on his lap when he said: “Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest[…]

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The Twelve Days of Christmas in the Orthodox Church

  The Twelve Days of Christmas, known in Greek as Dodekaemeron (“Twelve Day”), are a festive period linking together two Great Feasts of the Lord: the Nativity and Theophany. During this period one celebration leads into another. The Nativity of Christ is a seven-day celebration: the formal title of the first day is “The Nativity[…]

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Holy Ten Martyrs of Crete

  December 23, 2025, The Holy Martyrs of Crete – Theodulus, Saturninus, Euporus, Gelasius, Eunician, Zoticus, Pompius, Agathopus, Basilides and Evaristus – were from different towns and villages scattered across the Greek island. During the reign of the Roman Emperor Decius, a fierce persecutor of Christians, they suffered brutal torture and died as martyrs for[…]

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Martyr Sebastian at Rome, and His Companions

  December 18, 2024, The Holy Martyr Sebastian was born in the city of Narbonum in Gaul (modern France), and he received his education at Mediolanum (now Milan). Under the co-reigning emperors Diocletian and Maximian (284-305) he occupied the position of head of the imperial guards. Saint Sebastian was respected for his authority, and was[…]

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