St Sebastian of Jackson St Sebastian of Jackson is known for being the first American-born Serbian Orthodox priest, and a saint who worked tirelessly to unite the Orthodox people of America. Born on 21 June 1863 in San Francisco, St Sebastian was a part of a devout Serbian immigrant family. After the completion of high school, St Sebastian’s ministry work began. He was the reader and teacher in his local parish, and before making his journey to Russia he spent some time helping with parish ministerial work at Archangel Michael Cathedral in Sitka Alaska. In Russia, St Sebastian studied theology [...]

St Zenobius Metropolitan of Tetri-Tskaro St Zenobius was born on 14 September 1896 with the name Zacharias. He was from Chernigov in Russia, and lost his father when he was three years old and his mother when he was eleven. He lived a humble childhood in poverty and entered the Monastery of Glinsk. After being conscripted into the army during World War I, he was tonsured a monk with the name Zenobius in 1917. When the Communists closed the Monastery, Zenobius was ordained deacon and then hieromonk, serving until 1930 in the Church of St Nicholas in Sukhum. Along with [...]

Hieromonk Nikodimos Kalligiannakis Born Emmanuel Kalligiannakis in 1926 in Krousonas, Heraklion, Crete, he worked in the family vineyards and olive groves by day and studied the Synaxarion by night. From a young age, he loved attending the church services and was never absent. Farewelling his family, he left for the monastery of Saint Anthony at Vrontisi, where he was tonsured a monk with the name Nikodimos. He eventually settled at the Monastery of Koudouma and was ordained deacon and priest. Later, he was also made a confessor and spiritual father and served as abbot for two years. He confessed many, [...]

Fr George Calciu   Imagine spending 21 years in prison for your faith in Jesus Christ. George Calciu (1925-2006) lived in Romania during the communist era (1944- 1989). While a young man, his medical studies were cut short when he was imprisoned for his deep religious convictions and outspoken criticism of the communist regimen. He was tortured until he denied Christ and was then forced to torture others toward the same end. He admired the imprisoned priests, who endured and forgave their tormentors. He was released after 16 years imprisonment in 1964. He then completed a degree in French literature, [...]

Argyro (the Leper)   A German firing squad is about to execute a group of soldiers in WWII. A young woman marches across placing herself between the rifles and the soldiers, pleading for the life of her fiancé. This was Argyro. When the executioner granted her request he was surely caught off guard when she demanded that all should be released or else she would not step aside. After the war she and her fiancé were married but the joy was short lived for after her first child she was diagnosed with the then incurable Hansen’s disease. Forced to go [...]