St Athanasius of Paros (Commemorated 24 June) Born to devout parents in the small village of Kostos on the island of Paros in 1722, St Athanasius was educated in Smyrna at the Athonite Academy under two of the greatest scholars of that age: Neophytus of Kavsokalyvia and Eugenius Voulgaris. He became known for his study of Holy Scripture and preaching, and soon became a teacher at the Academy. He was then appointed to head the School of Thessalonica where he shone because of his faith in God, which showed in his sermons. Because of a plague, St Athanasius went to [...]

St Theodore the Sanctified (Commemorated 16 May) Saint Theodore came from Egypt and was the son of wealthy Christian parents. At a very young age he displayed a yearning for monastic life. His parents once held a large party at their house during the feast of Theophany, but Theodore did not want to take part in the festivities, grieving that because of earthly joys he might be deprived of joys in the life to come. He secretly left home when he was fourteen and entered one of the monasteries near the modern town of Esna, in Egypt. At this monastery, [...]

Saints Aquila and Priscilla (Commemorated on 13th February) Saints Aquila and Priscilla were a married Christian couple who lived in the first century. The two tentmakers were close companions and disciples of St Paul, who described them as his “fellow workers in Christ Jesus” (Romans 16:3). In AD 49, Saints Aquila and Priscilla were among the Jews who were expelled from Rome by Emperor Claudius. They made their way to Corinth where they met St Paul who baptised them and lived with them for 18 months. They then travelled with him to Ephesus, where they stayed to support and build [...]

St Macarius the Great of Egypt, the Lamp of the Desert (Commemorated 19th January) St Macarius is one of the founding fathers of monasticism. He was born in the fourth century AD in the village of Jijber, Egypt. From a young age, he realised his calling from God was to apply himself to a life of ascesis and prayer. Having dwelt in the Nitrian desert for three years, he went to Saint Anthony the Great and became his devoted disciple and follower. St Macarius struggled against demonic attacks. As his apolytikion states “By fasting, vigil and prayer thou didst obtain [...]

St John Chrysostom (Commemorated 13 November) St John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople, is one of the most influential and important Fathers of our Church. In addition to writing the Divine Liturgy, which we celebrate most Sundays, he gave countless sermons to the people, of which more than 1,400 are available today. His words have inspired and shaped countless Christians and, for that reason, his Apolytikion begins with the words, “the grace of your words illuminated the world like a shining beacon.” Indeed, his great eloquence earnt him the title of “Chrysostom” (“goldenmouth” in Greek), and he is regarded as one [...]