Divine Grace Drove the Apostles Crazy, in a Good Way, and Excited Them (St. Porphyrios of Kavsokalyva)

Saint Porphyrios of Kavsokalyva, speaking about Pentecost and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles, said:

 

On Pentecost, the grace of God was poured out not only on the apostles, but on all the people around them. It affected the believers and the unbelievers. What does Acts say? While the Apostle Peter was speaking his own language, his language was being processed in the minds of the listeners at that time.

In a secret way the Holy Spirit made them understand his words in their language, secretly, without being noticed. These miracles are done by the influence of the Holy Spirit.

Saint Lydia of Philippi Resource Page

St. Lydia of Philippi (Feast Day - May 20)

 

Verses

Your entire household believed in Christ Lydia,
Appearing as the first of Philippi O Saint.

 

Synaxarion of Saint Lydia of Philippi

 

Saint Lydia of Philippi, the Equal to the Apostles

 

Saint Lydia of Philippi: The First European and Greek Christian  

Saint Lydia of Philippi as a Model for our Lives

The Baptistery of Saint Lydia Near Philippi (video)

Ten Albanians Baptized Where Saint Lydia Was Baptized

 

 

Synaxarion of Saint Lydia of Philippi

By Monk Gerasimos Mikragiannanitis

On the 20th of this month [May], 

we commemorate Saint Lydia of Philippi.

Verses

Your entire household believed in Christ Lydia,
Appearing as the first of Philippi O Saint.

Blessed Lydia was a merchant of purple cloth in the city of Thyatira in Philippi, and as one who revered God she adorned herself with blameless conduct. When she came to the heaven-traversing and divinely-sounding Paul, she listened to his teachings, and accepted the light of the gospel. Her entire household believed in Christ, and were baptized in the stream of the Zygakti River. Thus she conducted herself according to the gospel, and attended to the blessed Apostles in her home, while serving the Lord with virtuous works and good acts. Her life came to an end in an apostolic manner, and departed to the heavenly mansions, having inherited the heavenly Kingdom.

Homilies on Holiness and the Saints - The Apostles (Metr. Hierotheos of Nafpaktos)

  

The Apostles

 

By Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos and Agiou Vlasiou

Among the saints are the Apostles of Jesus Christ. These are the twelve disciples of Christ, whom Christ called to the Apostolic office, who after Pentecost ran throughout the world and founded the local Churches. The Apostles include the Apostle Paul, who did not know Christ while He was alive, but knew Him by the Holy Spirit and that is why He is also an Apostle and in fact a Foremost one, together with the Apostle Peter.

The word apostle comes from the verb "send" and denotes one who is sent by someone to fulfill a mission.

The Apostolic Tradition of Venerating the Holy Cross (St. Nektarios of Aegina)

Detail of the Sarcophagus of Domatilla: Symbolic Representation of the Crucifixion and Resurrection (Mid-4th century, Museo Pio Christiano, Rome)

By St. Nektarios of Aegina

Great  was  the  veneration  of  the  Lord's  Life-giving  Cross  by  the  faithful directly from the beginning. The Apostle Paul commends the sign of the Cross to the  faithful  as  the  power  of  God,  declaring: "For  the  message  of  the  Cross  is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the  power  of  God"  (1 Cor.  1:18).  Faithfully  preserving  the  Apostolic  teaching, Christians  revered  the  sign  and  image  of  the Honorable  Cross,  believing  in  its redemptive  and  life-giving  power. The  depiction  and  sign  of  the  Cross  was attested  to,  and  was  for  them  an  unconquerable  weapon  against  the  attacks  of visible  and  invisible  enemies. From  that  time,  and  from  the  first  centuries  of  the Church, particular reverence and honor were rendered to it.

On James the Just, the Brother of our Lord (St. Jerome)

 

 

By St. Jerome

(On Illustrious Men, 2)

James, who is called the brother of the Lord, surnamed the Just, the son of Joseph by another wife, as some think, but, as appears to me, the son of Mary sister of the mother of our Lord of whom John makes mention in his book, after our Lord's passion at once ordained by the apostles bishop of Jerusalem, wrote a single epistle, which is reckoned among the seven Catholic Epistles and even this is claimed by some to have been published by some one else under his name, and gradually, as time went on, to have gained authority.

Saint Thekla the Martyr Resource Page

St. Thekla (Feast Day - September 24)

Verses

He saved you, Thekla, when He rent the rock,

He at whose passion once the rocks were rent.

On the twenty fourth a rock received Thekla.

 

Synaxarion of the Holy Protomartyr and Equal to the Apostles Thekla

 

September: Day 24: Holy Protomartyr Thekla

 

Homilies from the Menaion for Every Day of the Year: September 24 

 

Holy Protomartyr and Equal to the Apostles Thekla in the Hymnography of the Orthodox Church

References to Saint Thekla in the Writings of Gregory of Nyssa 

 

Homily for the Commemoration of the Equal-to-the-Apostles Saint Thekla (Fr. Daniel Sysoev) 

 

The Defile and Tomb of St. Thekla in Maaloula, Syria

 

The Hand of St. Thekla in Sarajevo

 

Saint Thekla and the Bubonic Plague of 1630 in the Italian City of Este

 

The Shrine to Saint Thekla in the Venetial Wall of Nicosia

 

The Monastery of Saint Thekla in Mosfiloti of Cyprus (History and Miracles)

 

The Miracle of Saint Thekla for Old Man Panais of Lysi 

Saint Julian, Bishop of the Cenomani in Le Mans

St. Julia of Le Mans (Feast Day - July 13)

Saint Julian was elevated to the episcopal office by the Apostle Peter. Some believe that he is the same person as Simon the Leper (Mark 14:3), receiving the name Julian in Baptism. Others believe he was a Roman nobleman, or perhaps one of the Seventy Apostles.

The Apostle Peter sent Saint Julian to preach the gospel in Gaul. He arrived among the Cenomani tribe (who were in the region of the River Po in the north of present day Italy) and settled into a small hut out beyond a city (probably Cremona), and he began to preach among the Cenomani pagans. The idol-worshippers at first listened to him with distrust, but the preaching of the Saint was accompanied by great wonders. The capital city of the Cenomani was Civitas Cenomanorum (Le Mans), which was suffering from a shortage of drinking water. Julian thrust his staff into the ground and prayed. Water began to gush out of the ground. This miracle allowed him to preach freely within Le Mans.

Saint Auxibios, Bishop of Soli in Cyprus

St. Auxibios of Soli (Feast Day - February 17)

Verses

Auxibios was not overlooked by the Word,
Appearing at the end of his life in His presence.

Saint Auxibius was born in Rome to a wealthy family. He was raised with his brother Themistagoras, and from an early age he displayed remarkable talents. In the schools of Rome he easily learned the secular sciences. His parents wanted their son to marry. Learning of this, the youth secretly left Rome and arrived in the village of Limnites, not far from the city of Soli in Cyprus.

Saint Philip the Apostle Resource Page

St. Philip the Apostle (Feast Day - November 14)

Verses

Your feet were fastened on the cross O Philip,

Those feet that were washed by the Savior are avenged.

Philip on the fourteenth was lifted upside down.

Holy Apostle Philip, One of the Twelve

Saint Philip the Apostle as a Model for our Lives

November: Day 14: Teaching 1: Holy Apostle Philip

Saint Philip the Apostle in the Hymnography of the Orthodox Church 

The Fate of the Relics of the Apostle Philip

Translation of the Sacred Relics of the Apostle Philip to Cyprus

The Tomb of the Apostle Philip Discovered In Hierapolis

Ecumenical Patriarch In Hierapolis, Where the Apostle Philip Was Martyred

How I Discovered the Tomb of the Apostle Philip: Interview With Archaeologist Francesco D’Andria

On the Mission of the Apostles (Hymns by St. Romanos the Melodist)

Saint Stachys, Bishop of Hierapolis

Saints Firmilian, Archbishop of Caesarea, and Melchion the Sophist, Presbyter of Antioch

St. Firmilian of Caesarea and Melchion of Antioch (Feast Day - October 28)

Verses

The friends of peace died peacefully,
Firmilian together with Melchion.

Born to a noble family of Caesarea in Cappadocia, our Venerable Father Firmilian studied under Origen with his friend Saint Gregory the Wonderworker (Nov. 17). He became Bishop of Caesarea around 230. In 252 he took part in the Synod of Antioch, which condemned the schismatic Novatian and his followers, who denied all hope of repentance and restoration to the Church for those who had denied the Christian faith to avoid persecution.

 

15 Orthodox Shrines Dedicated to the Holy Apostle Jude Thaddaeus

1. Chapel of Saint Jude Thaddeus in the center of Athens in the courtyard of the Church of Saint Isidore at Lycabettus.

Apostolic Tradition and Apostolic Succession in the Mystery of the Church

By Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos

In a previous article I announced that I was going to publish a text in which I would attempt to interpret what the Apostolic Tradition and the Apostolic Succession are within the mystery of the Church. This is the purpose of this present article, which does not claim to be authoritative, but emphasizes a few truths and is open to correction. In any case, in the Church we always remain in the fear of God and in a state of discipleship. The Apostles of Christ have continued as Disciples of Christ for ever.

From time to time different ecclesiological issues arise on account of contemporary problems, and an attempt is made to deal with them and resolve them in the best manner. Thus ecclesiological issues emerge in our day as well, and many responses are formulated.

The decisions of the Local and Ecumenical Councils are significant and divinely inspired. They show how the Fathers resolved the issues that arose in their time, according to the words of the Apostle Peter, “For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us” (Acts 15:28). The illumination of the Holy Spirit is sought, which is given to the Saints, who are vessels of the Holy Spirit and instruments of God.

Commemoration of the Recognition of Christ by the Holy Apostle Nathanael

Commemoration of the Recognition of Christ by the Apostle Nathanael
(Feast Day - April 22)

Verses

The Nazarene was recognized by Nathanael the great,
Nazareth was reckoned useless in its silence.

The Holy Apostle Nathanael, elsewhere known as Simon the Zealot or Bartholomew, was from Cana of Galilee, where our Lord Jesus Christ was invited to a wedding together with His all-blameless Mother, and performed His first miracle, changing water into wine. He awaited the incarnate presence of Christ, since he was a student of the Mosaic Law, and learned from the Prophets that the Messiah, namely Christ, was to come. The Holy Apostle Philip, having first followed Christ, went and told his friend Nathanael about Him.

Synaxarion of the Holy Venerable Martyr Conon of Isauria

St. Conon of Isauria (Feast Day - March 5)

Verses

God brought him to take a seat among the gods,
Leaving behind your dust in the earth Father Conon.
On the fifth Conon released his stout-hearted soul.

He lived during the time of the Holy Apostles, the son of lieutenant parents Nestor and Nada, and was from a village called Bydane, which was a distance of eighteen stades, or a little over two miles, from Isauria. When he came of age, his parents urged him to take a woman named Anna as his wife. The Saint persuaded his wife to prefer virginity over marriage. So he cohabited with her, but not as a couple, rather as a sister in a community of virginity and purity. There the Saint was led by the Archangel and Chief Commander Michael, who, it is said, appeared to him in a bright garment, taught him the faith of Christ, baptized him in the name of the Holy and Life-Giving Trinity, and communed him with the Immaculate Mysteries. Until the end of the Saint's life, he was not absent from standing by his side invisibly, granting him the power to perform awesome wonders. By this means the Saint persuaded his wife Anna to embrace virginity, and he converted his parents to the faith of Christ and baptized them.

The Martyrdom of the Apostle James the Just (George Synkellos)

George Synkellos (died after 810) was a Byzantine chronicler and ecclesiastic. He had lived many years in Palestine (probably in the Old Lavra of Saint Chariton or Souka, near Tekoa) as a monk, before coming to Constantinople, where he was appointed synkellos to Tarasius, Patriarch of Constantinople. He later retired to a monastery to write what was intended to be his great work, a chronicle of world history, Ekloge Chronographias (Ἐκλογὴ Χρονογραφίας), or Extract of Chronography. There he quotes the second-century historian Hegesippus, also quoted by Eusebius, concerning the martyrdom of the Apostle James, who was also the first Bishop of Jerusalem. The writings of Hegesippus are for the most part lost to us.

Holy Hieromartyr Apollinaris, Bishop of Ravenna

St. Apollinaris of Ravenna (Feast Day - July 23)

Verses

Apollinaris was cut down,
Vitale hastened at once to arrive.

Saint Apollinaris was a disciple of the Apostle Peter, whom he followed from Antioch to Rome sometime during the reign of the Roman Emperor Claudius (41-54). Saint Peter appointed Apollinaris as Bishop of Ravenna. Arriving in Ravenna as a stranger, Apollinaris asked shelter of a local inhabitant, the soldier Irenaeus, and during their conversation he revealed the purpose for which he had come.

Holy Hieromartyr Pankratios, Bishop of Taormina

St. Pankratios of Taormina (Feast Day - July 9)

Verses

Pankratios set himself as a foundation,
By his contest he built a house of stones.
On the ninth Pankratios saw clearly the All-Powerful.

This Saint lived in the time of the Lord and the Holy Apostles, and was from Antioch. Hearing about the miracles of Christ, the parents of Pankratios desired to see the Lord Jesus. Together with Pankratios, they traveled to Jerusalem where they saw Jesus, heard His words and witnessed His miracles. It was in Jerusalem that Pankratios became acquainted with the Apostle Peter. After the Ascension of the Lord, both parents and Pankratios were baptized in Antioch.

Church of the Holy Twelve Apostles in Sudak of Crimea

The Church of the Holy Twelve Apostles is a monument of architecture that is part of the complex of a medieval Genoese fortress in Sudak of Crimea.

The Church of the Twelve Apostles is located at the base of Mount Palvani-Oba, next to Astragver Tower, its other name is the Port Tower. The church, built in the Byzantine style, is referred to in the Middle Ages (13th-15th centuries) as being built for the Greek community of medieval Sudak.

On the Fast of the Apostles (St. Symeon of Thessaloniki)

By St. Symeon of Thessaloniki

(Responses to Various Questions, 104)

The fast of the Apostles was established in their honor, and rightly so for through them we have been deemed worthy of many good things, having been made manifest to us as practitioners and teachers of fasting and obedience, even unto death itself persevering in self-control. To this even the Latins bear witness unintentionally, honoring the Apostles on the days of their memorials with fasting; but we, in adhering to the Apostolic Constitutions compiled by Clement,* after the Descent of the Holy Spirit rejoice for one week and then, immediately after, we fast for a week, that we may not grow weak through soft living, as we are taught. At the same time we honor through fasting the Apostles who enjoined fasting.