Saint George Karslides and the Oil Lamp of Saint Nicholas

"My father," said a woman from Sipsa, "who loved very much and ministered to the Elder and reverently reposed, at first he did not believe, he was an unbeliever. It went from bad to worse. His first children didn't live, they died.

It was during this time that the holy Elder who was also my godfather first came here to the village. He was almost paralyzed and lived in a house of Mr. Spyridopoulos. The whole village went to him, to get his blessing.

My father also went, holding a lamp and some oil, to light it where he lived. But when he went back, he saw the extinguished extinguished and asked the Elder why he did not light it. Then he told him the dream he had seen:

The Church of Saint Pelagia in Kato Karouzana, Crete and the Vow That Led To Its Establishment

In Kato Karouzano, Crete in the former province of Pediados, upon entering the village, we encounter the Church of Saint Pelagia, the patron saint of the settlement.

It is a building probably from the beginning of the 20th century, the result of a vow of Irene Katsounakis who really wanted to have a baby girl.

A resident of our village told us that the founder was a rich woman and only daughter who fell in love and married one of her workers and wanted as much as anything else to have a daughter with him, because only sons were born to her. In fact, in order for her wish to come true, she made a vow to build a church and dedicate it to Saint Pelagia.

The Chapel of Saint Solomone With the Sea Turtle Located at the Base of Mount Olympus

Litochoro is a town located at the base of Mount Olympus, on the western shore of the Thermaic Gulf. "Hidden" in the picturesque alleys of Litochoro, the small Chapel of Saint Solomone is really very small for the great history it carries. There are many features and peculiarities that make it unique. The magnificent frescoes inside, which testify to the antiquity of the building. Its history and contribution during the years of Ottoman rule as a secret school. Saint Solomone to whom it is dedicated, is a Saint who is not widely known. And finally, the shell of the sea turtle, which is in a showcase of the Narthex. These make it one of the most remarkable chapels of the wider area. For all these reasons, it has been designated since 1992 as a historical monument, by decision of the Ministry of Culture (ΦΕΚ461/Β/15-6-92).

The Wonderworking Icon of Saint Anna with the Theotokos from Smyrna

The icon of Saint Anna with the twelve-year-old Theotokos was originally located in Smyrna of Asia Minor. During the Asia Minor Catastrophe of 1922, the Turks set the city of Smyrna on fire to banish the Greeks who formed the majority population of the city, including the Cathedral of Saint Photini in the city square, in which was this icon of Saint Anna and the Theotokos. The icon was saved from the fire by a faithful Christian.

Saint Chrysostomos, Metropolitan of Smyrna at the time, who was ripped to pieces and slaughtered by the Turkish mob, would bring childless couples to this icon. He would have them fast for forty days, say prayers to Saint Anna, and at the end of the forty days to commune of the Divine Eucharist. When this was completed, the faithful couple could be sure that they would now be able to have a child. And when they did have a child, they would make a metallic offering to the icon. Because this icon was so wonderworking, it was full of vow offerings, even from childless Muslims who would come and pray before this icon and become partakers of the miraculous grace.

Saint Theodore of Kythera as a Model for our Lives

By Protopresbyter George Papavarnavas

Saint Theodore was from Koroni in the Peloponnese and lived at the end of the ninth century and beginning of the tenth century. His mother was barren, which is why she prayed and begged God, together with her husband, to grant them a child. And when they became worthy of their desire, they gave him the name Theodore, because to them he was a gift from God. After Theodore learned sacred letters, he was ordained a Reader by the Bishop of Koroni. When his parents reposed, he was placed under the protection of a Priest from Nafplio, who had been friends with his parents. He later married, and from his marriage he had two children, whom he and his wife raised "in the education and admonition of the Lord." Later, he was ordained Deacon by the Bishop of Argos and with his blessing he went to Rome and venerated the places of the martyrs. Upon his return, he went to Monemvasia where he remained for some time in a secluded cell where he lived in asceticism and prayer. Then, despite the request of his family to not live in asceticism too far away, he decided to go to a remote place, because he loved silence and wanted to dedicate himself completely to God. Eventually he went to Kythera, where at that time it was considered a "deserted" and "uninviting" place, after it was abandoned by its inhabitants due to the raids of the Saracens of Crete, and he lived as a monk in the old Christian Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus.

Saint Sophia of Suzdal (+ 1542)

St. Sophia of Suzdal (Feast Day - December 16);
17th cent. wonderworking icon of the Saint

Saint Sophia, in the world known as Solomonia Saburov, the Grand Princess, was the daughter of the boyar Yuri Saburov. In the year 1505 she was chosen as a bride by the heir to the throne, the future Great Prince Basil III, out of a choice of 500 potential brides. She was the first boyar princess, as opposed to a foreigner or noble. Their marriage was unhappy, because Solomonia remained childless, so Basil divorced her with the approval of Metropolitan Daniel and the boyars. Basil perfectly understood that if he died childless his brothers would inherit the throne. In order to preclude this scenario, they were incarcerated or forbidden to marry until his own son was born. In the long term, this led to the extinction of the Rurikid dynasty and to the succession crisis known as the Time of Troubles.

Synaxis of the Panagia Engymonousa in Katerini (Celebrating the Six Month Pregnancy of the Theotokos)

It has been established that on September 25th the Panagia Engymonousa is honored, the protectress and guardian of all child-bearing women and childless families. Engymonousa is translated into English as "the one who is pregnant," and she is called this because in the icon of the Panagia Engymonousa the Mother of God is depicted as being six months pregnant. The reason her six month pregnancy is commemorated today is because it is exactly six months ago, on March 25th, that we celebrated her Annunciation which resulted in her conception, and in exactly three months, on December 25th, we will celebrate the Birth of our Lord.

The Miraculous Vine of Saint Symeon the Myrrhgusher at Hilandar Monastery

Although they had been blessed with children, the most-pious Grand Prince Stefan Nemanja of Serbia and his wife Anna, after twenty-five years of marriage, in ca. 1175, desired another child. However, Anna was sick and was fifty years old, while Stefan was sixty-one, but with faith in God they prayed for this with tears and fasting. The Lord hearkened to the imperial couple and granted them a third child, whose name was Rastko at baptism, but later became the famed Saint Sava of Serbia. After the conception of this beautiful child, the imperial couple did not have marital relations, since they had promised God that they would remain in chastity to the end of their lives.

Holy Martyr Oraiozele of Reuma

St. Oraiozele of Reuma (Feast Day - July 26)

Verses

Oraiozele was cast into the fire O Word,
Who gushes forth a spring of miracles for all.

Saint Oraiozele lived in the first century, though nothing is known of where she was born or her youth. All we know is that her parents were Greek pagans who worshiped idols.

It happened that one day she heard the Apostle Andrew preaching the gospel, and by his message she was moved to forsake paganism and embrace the faith of Christ. Thus around the year 52 she was baptized by the Apostle Andrew.

A Recent Miracle of St. Savvas of Kalymnos for a Couple from England

The radio producer of the ecclesiastical station Aletheia FM Kalymnos, Nikos Mamakas, on a Sunday morning when Saint Savvas the New of Kalymnos was celebrating, was on the radio program Peiraiki Ekklesia with Lykourgos Markoudis, where he spoke about an amazing miracle.

Every Friday he does a shift at the ecclesiastical bookstore of Kalymnos. Three years ago, an elderly couple who were tourists from England came into the bookstore, and after they bought something he gave them as a blessing a small icon of Saint Savvas.

Saint Macedonios the Barley-Eater

St. Macedonios the Barley-Eater (Feast Day - January 24)

Verses

Alone and without a paternal home,
Macedonios O Christ received one.

By Bishop Theodoret of Cyrus in Syria

1. Macedonios,1 called the Barley-eater - for this food won him the name -, is known by all, Phoenicians, Syrians, and Cilicians, and known too by the neighbors bordering on them, of whom some were eyewitnesses of the man's miracles, while others heard reports that celebrated and circulated them. Not all know everything, however, but some have learnt this and others that, and naturally they admire only what they know. I, who possess more accurate knowledge than others concerning this sacred person - for I had many incentives to go to him and go often -, shall relate each point as I may be able. I have reserved this position for him and placed his story after many others, not because he was second to the others in virtue - for he was a match for the perfect and first - but because, having lived an especially long time, he came to the end of his life after those whom I have recalled already.

5 Testified Miracles of the Holy Zoni of the Theotokos

1. The Healing of Elder Philotheos Zervakos

The blessed Elder Philotheos Zervakos describes how he was cured of unbearable pains which caused him constant headaches. Here is how he recounts the event.

Saint Elesa of Kythera as a Model for our Lives

St. Elesa of Kythera (Feast Day - August 1)

By Protopresbyter Fr. George Papavarnavas

Saint Elesa came from the Peloponnese from a wealthy family. Her father was a pagan named Elladios, and her mother was a Christian named Eugenia. Elesa was the fruit of the prayers of her pious mother, who was barren, and she constantly prayed to God, begging for a child. One day while praying she was informed, internally within her heart, that she received mercy from God and would become a mother. And because, according to her biographer, the words she heard were: "God has had mercy on you" (ὁ Θεός ἐλέησέ σε), she was named Elesa (Ἐλέσα). She was baptized at a young age and nurtured in the fount of the Gospel. And as she grew her faith and love for the true God became firm.

The Miraculous Icon of Saint Anna in Boeotia

In hilly Boeotia, specifically the village of Skourta, is the Convent of the Holy Ascension of the Lord. It is a relatively new Monastery, under the spiritual guidance of Elder Polykarpos. The Monastery was slowly and steadily built, and it is a living ecclesiastical artwork revealing the passion and love of its founders. It is truly a gem of Orthodoxy and of the monastic community.

Among the important treasures of the Monastery, besides relics of Saint John the Russian and Saint David of Evia, is the miraculous icon of Saint Anna, which is located in the Church or Catacomb of Saint John the Forerunner, beneath the Church of the Ascension.

As befits a miraculous icon, its history is wondrous.

The Miraculous Palm Tree of Saint Savvas the Sanctified

Archimandrite Eudokimos,

Sacred Monastery of Saint Savvas

Most revered pilgrims to the Holy Land and the Sacred Monastery of Saint Savvas the Sanctified, you are holding in your hands a precious blessing of a few leaves from the miraculous palm tree planted by Saint Savvas himself at his Lavra.

This tree of the Saint had dried up decades ago, but in a miraculous way sprouted anew at the same spot and continues to work numerous miracles, especially for sterile and pious couples.

Saint Euthymios the Great as a Model for our Lives

St. Euthymios the Great (Feast Day - January 20)

By Protopresbyter Fr. George Papavarnavas

Saint Euthymios the Great was the fruit of the prayers of his pious parents Paul and Dionysia. He was born in Melitene, Armenia in 377 A.D. and received the name Euthymios, because his birth caused cheer and joy to his parents [euthymia, or εὐθυμία, in Greek means "cheer"], but also because the angel of the Lord who announced the birth to his parents told them "be cheerful, be cheerful". That is, be happy, because God has heard your prayer and you will become parents. And Saint Euthymios, like another Samuel, was dedicated to God from the womb of his mother.

Saint Dionysios of Zakynthos Answers a Pious Woman's Prayers

There was a modest and God-revering woman named Angela. She had no male child, but four daughters. She was greatly distressed at not having given birth to a son and spoke of it on several occasions with some of the Saint's pious kinswomen. She heard them recount the extraordinary miracles taking place on a daily basis through the Saint. After listening to these accounts, she was inspired to invoke the Saint with faith. She did indeed believe unhesitatingly and began calling upon the Saint with fervent tears that through his intercessions she might obtain a male child and be consoled.

A Miracle of Saint Anna for a Barren Woman

Published on 06/24/2006:

I've been married eight years and we could not have a child. My wife had a problem with her period and while we went to many doctors they could not do anything. They found that everything was well with her and they would lift their hands in surrender. For the first six years of our marriage, my wife did everything she could, taking many pills, receiving many injections and various other things suggested by physicians.

Homily on the Prophet Samuel, the Fruit of Noetic Prayer (Metr. Hierotheos of Nafpaktos)

Holy Prophet Samuel (Feast Day - August 20)

By Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos and Agiou Vlasiou

The person of the Prophet Samuel, who we celebrate today, holds a great place in the Old Testament, as well as in the Church of Christ. He is one of those people who paved the way for the incarnation of the Son and Word of God and was obedient in all things to the will of God throughout his life. In today's homily we will highlight some points of his life.

Testimony of a Miracle of Saint Raphael for the Kaltsas Family

In the video below is a testimony of a miracle done by Saint Raphael that was delivered by George and Maria Kaltsas from Giannitsa, having to do with the birth of their 2 1/2 year old son Raphael Kaltsas.

When George and Maria got married they immediately wanted to start having children and expand their family. For a long time Maria was unable to become become pregnant. She began to read various books about St. Raphael and his miracles. One night while reading one of these books she fell asleep and in her dream saw herself walking up stairs towards a church, and from inside the church she heard the cries of a little child. She walked into the church and saw a baptism taking place, but she didn't recognize anyone. To her right she saw a priest dressed in white and she also was dressed in white. He looked at her and smiled, but next to her were two women dressed inappropriately, and he made a look to her as if saying he disapproved of the way they were dressed. Then she suddenly woke up.