Palestine

Feast Day/Commemorated: July 22 Saint Mary Magdalen's Early Life and Conversion Saint Mary Magdalen, whose name is etched into the Gospel accounts, hailed from the small Galilean city of Magdala. While her early life isn't detailed in the Gospels,...

Feast Day/Commemorated: July 27 Saint Gerasimus, originally from Lycia in Asia Minor, was a devout man from his youth who embraced monasticism, first in the Egyptian desert of Thebaid. Around 450 AD, he moved to Palestine and established a monastery...

Feast Day/Commemorated: May 8 ***This Icon Depicts Saint John and Prochorus in the Cave of Patmos The final earthly moments of Saint John the Theologian, as recounted by tradition, are shrouded in an aura of profound reverence and mystery. At over a...

Feast Day/Commemorated: May 8 The final earthly moments of Saint John the Theologian, as recounted by tradition, are shrouded in an aura of profound reverence and mystery. At over a hundred years old, he led seven of his disciples outside Ephesus to a...

Feast Day/Commemorated: February 6 Early Life and Ascent to the Patriarchate Saint Photius, Patriarch of Constantinople, born in the ninth century, emerged from a family profoundly dedicated to Christianity; his father, Sergius, died a martyr in defense...

Feast Day/Commemorated: February 19 Early Monastic Calling and Journeys to the Holy Land Saint Savvas, born Vasilios in 1862 in Herakleitsa, Eastern Thrace, was the only child of devout but impoverished parents. From a very young age, he felt a strong...

Feast Day/Commemorated: June 29 A Homily of Saint Gregory Palamas for the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul1. The commemoration of each of the saints on the appointed feast day is an occasion for town and country, citizens and their rulers to share in...

Feast Day/Commemorated: March 20 The Samaritan Woman's Unwavering Faith and Family The Holy Martyr Photini, famously known as the Samaritan Woman from her encounter with Christ at Jacob’s Well (John 4:5-42), fearlessly preached the Gospel in...

Feast Day/Commemorated: October 11 Early Life and Ordination as Deacon Holy Apostle Philip of the Seventy, one of the seven deacons, is distinct from Philip, one of the Twelve Apostles. Born in Palestine, this Philip was married and had children...

Feast Day/Commemorated: June 29 From Fisherman to Rock of Faith Brought to Jesus by his brother Andrew, Peter, a fisherman, immediately recognized the Master and committed his life to "casting his nets" for Christ. His personal and total devotion to the...

Feast Day/Commemorated: June 29 Saint Paul's Background and Conversion Saint Paul, originally named Saul, was a prominent figure from the tribe of Benjamin, hailing from Tarsus in Cilicia. He identified himself as a Hebrew, an Israelite descended from...

Feast Day/Commemorated:  September 23rd – Conception of St. JohnJanuary 7th – Synaxis of St. John February 24th – 1st & 2nd Findings of the head of St. JohnMay 25th – 3rd Finding of the head of St. JohnJune 24th...