101 Orthodox Saints by Ancient Faith Publishing

illustrated by

guide

Sarah Wright and Alexandra Schmalzbach i l lu st rat e d b y

Nicholas Malara

CHE STERTON, INDIANA

101 Orthodox Saints Text copyright © 2021 Sarah Wright and Alexandra Schmalzbach Illustrations copyright © 2021 Nicholas Malara All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher. Printed in Malaysia

published by:

Ancient Faith Publishing A division of Ancient Faith Ministries PO Box 748 Chesterton, IN 46304 store.ancientfaith.com ISBN: 978-1-944967-88-8 Library of Congress Control Number: 2021931790

The cost of printing this book was helped by a generous contribution from a faithful Ancient Faith Ministries donor.

I dedicate this book to my family: my husband Brian and our children Stella Virginia, Peter, Josiah, Sebastian, and Raphael. May the lives of the Lord’s saints inspire courage and piety in their lives. —AS For Andrew, Elizabeth, and George: May your patron saints guide, inspire, and intercede for you always. —SW This work is dedicated to my two dear children and all others who are in need of real heroes. May the stories of the saints inspire you and bless your futures! —NM Text copyright © 2021 Sarah Wright and Alexandra Schmalzbach. Illustrations copyright © 2021 Nicholas Malara All Rights Reserved. Published by Ancient Faith Publishing

table of contents Introduction

Symbols Key

Feast Days by Month

Timeline

SAINTS Abraham and Sarah Adrian and Natalia Aidan of Lindisfarne Alexandra the Empress Anastasia the Great Martyr Andrew the First-Called Anthony the Great Artemius of Verkola Athanasius the Great

14 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22

Barbara the Great Martyr Basil the Great Benedict and Scholastica Brigid of Kildare

23 24 25 26

Cecelia the Great Martyr Chinese New Martyrs Christina the Great Martyr Christopher the Mighty Martyr Columba of Iona Constantine and Helen Cosmas and Damian Cyprian of Carthage Cyril and Methodius

27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35

Daniel the Prophet David the King Demetrios the Myrrh-Streamer

36 37 38

Elijah the Prophet Elizabeth the New Martyr Ephraim the Syrian

39 40 41

Genevieve of Paris George the Trophy-Bearer Gregory of Nyssa Gregory the Theologian

42 43 44 45

Hannah the Prophetess Herman of Alaska Hilarion the Great

46 47 48

Ignatius of Antioch Innocent of Alaska Irene Chrysovalantou Irene the Great Martyr Ivan of Rila

49 50 51 52 53

Joachim and Anna John Chrysostom John Climacus John of Kronstadt John of San Francisco John the Baptist John the Beloved Jonah the Prophet Joseph of Arimathea Joseph of Damascus Josiah the Tenderhearted Juliana of Lazarevo Justin Martyr

54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66

Kassiani the Hymnographer Katherine the Great Martyr Kieran of Clonmacnoise

67 68 69

Leo the Great Lucia of Syracuse Luke of Crimea Luke the Evangelist Lydia of Philippi

70 71 72 73 74

Maria of Paris Marina of Antioch Mary of Egypt Mary the Theotokos Michael and Gabriel Moses of Ethiopia

75 76 77 78 80 81

Nektarios of Aegina Nicholas of Myra Nikolai Velimirovic Nina, Enlightener of Georgia Noah the Patriarch

82 83 84 85 86

Sample pages only. Purchase the full book at http://store.ancientfaith.com/101-saints/

Panteleimon the Healer Paraskeva the New Patrick of Ireland Peter and Paul Peter the Aleut Philaret the Merciful Photini the Samaritan Woman

87 88 89 90 91 92 93

Quadratus, Apostle of the 70

Raphael of Brooklyn Romanos the Melodist

95 96

Sava of Serbia Sebastian Dabovic Seraphim of Sarov Sergius of Radonezh Silouan the Athonite Simeon the God-Receiver Sophia and Her Daughters Spyridon the Wonderworker

97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104

Tatiana of Rome Thekla the Protomartyr Theodora the Empress Theodore the Tyro Thomas the Apostle Tikhon of Moscow

105 106 107 108 109 110

Vladimir and Olga

111

Wenceslas of Prague

112

Xenia of St. Petersburg

113

Zachariah and Elizabeth Zoe of Phrygia

114 115

Glossary

116

Index

118

About the Authors

120

About the Illustrator

120

INTRODUCTION o n e day , a b o u t

2,000 y e a r s ag o , two sets of brothers were fishing. They fished all night but didn’t catch a single thing. Frustrated and tired, they returned to shore, ready to clean up and head home. Instead, a traveling preacher named Jesus asked to use their boat so He could better teach the crowds on the shore. Then He asked the brothers something more. “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” Go back out again? After an entire night of wasted labor? It seemed pointless, but they obeyed. And, their nets overflowed. They hauled so many fish into the boat that it began to sink. One of the brothers— his name was Peter—realized how special this man named Jesus was. “O Lord,” he said, “depart from me, for I am a sinful man.” Instead of leaving, Jesus called him closer. He told Peter to leave everything and follow Him and promised that he would become a “fisher of men.” Peter did indeed become a fisher of men. As the leader of the disciples, he eventually went out into the world and spread the Good News to thousands of people. He told them about Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who came down from heaven and became man so that all of humanity might be brought back to God.

But Peter never forgot the lesson that he learned in the fishing boat. On his own power, he could do nothing. When Jesus was with him, however, all things were possible. The nets overflowed. The same thing is true for us and for all those who have followed Christ throughout the centuries. This book tells the stories of some of these followers of Christ. We call them saints because the love of God flowed through them in beautiful and powerful ways. They lived their lives for the glory of God and inspired others to do the same. Because Jesus was with them, all things were possible. May reading about these saints cause you to praise God and to give glory to Jesus Christ, who was at work in the disciples so many centuries ago and is still at work in you , today .

BECAUSE JESUS WAS WITH THEM, ALL THINGS WERE POSSIBLE. 4

How Did We Choose These 101 Saints? Diversity. We wanted to show the amazing breadth and diversity of the saints of the Orthodox Christian Church. This means that we tried to find saints from various parts of the world: from Saint Peter the Aleut in Alaska to the Chinese New Martyrs, from Saint Brigid in Ireland to Saint Moses of Ethiopia. We also looked for saints from different time periods, ranging from Righteous Noah and King David, whom we read about in the Old Testament, to Saint Maria of Paris and Saint John of San Francisco, who both lived only decades ago. Finally, we wanted to explore the variety of vocations that the saints demonstrate. It is possible to become a saint whether you are a monastic (such as St. Silouan the Athonite) or a mother (such as St. Sophia), a bishop (such as St. Spyridon) or a soldier (such as St. Theodore the Tyro), a queen (such as St. Theodora) or a farmer’s son (such as St. Artemius). God can use people from all walks of life!

Why Did You Use New Calendar Dates? For each saint, we have created a “Fast Facts” section on the sidebar of each page to give a brief overview. This includes such information as the date, location, and feast day of that saint. To simplify this section, we have included only the New Calendar (Gregorian calendar) feast day. This is not intended as a slight to our Old Calendar (Julian calendar) brothers and sisters! Instead, it is to help make this section easier to read. In order to know the Old Calendar feast day, simply add 13 days to the New Calendar date.

How Does Someone Become a Saint? First off, the word saint means “holy.” Only God is one hundred percent truly holy! But because God gave us the gift of the Holy Spirit, we can be like Him. We know that saints are people who weren’t perfect, but they were friends of God who tried to live holy lives. So, how does a person officially become a saint? Is there some kind of

process? A committee that decides? A number of miracles that the saint has to perform? The common saying is that the Church does not make saints, but instead the Church recognizes them. This may seem like a technicality, but it’s actually very important. When a person has shown visibly the image of God in the way that he or she has lived—when that person was like a living icon of Christ—then that person might be considered for canonization (also called “glorification”). Canonization is the official process of recognizing that somebody already was, during his or her lifetime, a saint. We understand that there have been thousands of saints who have lived before us. Some became well known very quickly, and others lived quiet, obscure lives and may be known only to God. In the early Church, no special canonization process existed. Instead, Christians kept the bones and relics of early apostles, bishops, and martyrs and began to remember and celebrate the dates of their death (often called their “repose”) or martyrdom. Later this same practice occurred with famous ascetics— monks and nuns—who rejected a worldly life and sought to live a holy life, often away from other people. What is required for people to become saints today? Saints today will have lived holy lives, and through their speech, teaching, or writing upheld the Orthodox Faith as given to the apostles. After a saint dies, the local community generally begins to hold him or her in particularly high regard by visiting the grave, keeping relics, asking for prayers, and even painting icons of the person. Then, someone makes a request for that holy person to be officially recognized as a saint. A committee may be formed to investigate the person’s life and to make a recommendation that the person should be acknowledged as a saint in the Church. Next, the Rite of Glorification begins, and the new saint’s feast day, hymns, and icons are created. Finally, other Orthodox churches of different jurisdictions are informed so that they can also add the new saint’s feast to their calendars to be commemorated.

Sample pages only. Purchase the full book at http://store.ancientfaith.com/101-saints/

Venerating the Saints Scripture and Church Tradition are very clear that we worship God alone. Worship is most fully expressed when we take the Eucharist at the Divine Liturgy, intermingling Christ’s very Body and Blood with our own. We never worship a saint. Instead, we give them honor and respect—we “venerate” them as holy people who lived a life pleasing to God. We venerate the saints by: • • • •

bowing before and kissing their icons singing specials hymns to them on their feast days celebrating their feast days kissing their relics (parts of their holy bodies or, sometimes, clothing) • asking for their prayers (also called “intercessions”) • following their examples of holy living The Church has venerated the saints from its earliest days because it recognized the power of God at work in them. Respect and honor shown to saints is ultimately respect and honor shown to the God who made them holy.

Asking the Saints to Pray for Us Why do we ask the saints to pray for us? Aren’t they, well, dead? Orthodox Christians believe that the saints are alive in Christ. They are part of our family in Christ—but we can’t see them on earth with us right now. And, just as we would ask our parents or friends to pray for us, we can ask the saints to pray for us.

If you are an Orthodox Christian, you were given a saint’s name at your baptism. This is your patron saint. Sometimes this is the name that your parents gave you when you were born, the name that everyone calls you. Other times it is a different name that was chosen specifically for you by your parents, godparents, or priest. If your name is George, for example, you may have a special relationship with Saint George the Trophy-Bearer. You can ask the saint to pray for you, to comfort you when you are afraid or sad, and to help you learn more about Jesus. Saint George can help you live in a way that pleases God as you follow his holy example.

Celebrating the Feast Days of the Saints As you read this book, you will notice that each saint has a feast day. What is a feast day? A feast day is a day when we celebrate and remember a certain saint. Each day of the year we celebrate (also called “commemorate”) different saints. Often we remember them on the day when the saint died (reposed) or on another special day associated with the saint. How do we celebrate a feast day? On that day there may be a special liturgy, and the chanters or church choir may sing special hymns for that saint. The priest will ask that saint to pray for us and may talk about the saint during the homily. If your church has an icon of that saint, you will be able to venerate it when you come to church. And, if your church has a relic of the saint, you may bow before it and venerate the relic as well. What is a name day? The feast day of your patron saint is a very special day called your “name day.” On this day you celebrate the feast of the saint you were named after! Your family might celebrate by going to church, having a special meal, or inviting guests to your home. Do you know when your name day is?

You can ask any saint to pray for you. However, you also have a very special relationship with one particular saint—the saint that you were named after. 6

We Are All Called to Be Saints

reflect the corresponding color of the time period in which he or she lived. Did you know that you, as a Christian, are also • We’ve also created a list of symbols. These symbols a saint? Saint Paul, in his letters, calls the people correspond with the saints’ vocations. (For example, a he was writing to “saints.” These people sword represents a soldier.) You can quickly search for were ordinary Christians who believed all of the saints with that vocation by looking for these in God and tried to serve Him, though symbols on the page sidebars. they often made mistakes. That means • IC ON VER SUS IL LUSTR ATION: In the sidebar that you, too, are a saint! You are made in on each saint’s page, you will find a section of “Fast Facts” the image of God, and the Holy Spirit dwells and a small icon of that saint. This will help you identify in you. You are a “holy one” because the holy saints when you see them depicted iconographically in presence of God lives inside of you. your church. The illustration in the center of the page is However, it is not enough just to sit back an artist’s interpretation of the saint based on information and say, “I’m a saint!” Instead, we need to follow Christ’s from his or her life. teachings. As He told His disciples, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” So, our love for Christ causes us to live • SEE A L SO: On the sidebar section of many saints, you will notice a “SEE ALSO” line. This means that the saint is in a way that will please Him: by loving God with all of our associated with another saint also included in this book. heart, soul, mind, and strength, and by loving our neighbors For example, Saint Spyridon’s page says, “SEE ALSO: St. as ourselves. Nicholas.” This is because Saint Spyridon and Saint Nicholas How to Use This Book were good friends who wrote letters to each other. Here are a few things to know about this book. • R EF ER ENCE: This book is meant to be a reference. You don’t have to read it from cover to cover, although • The saints are arranged alphabetically. you certainly can! Instead, you are welcome to flip • Some saints’ lives were recorded in history with through it, to use it for research, and to learn more about remarkable detail. Some stories of saints were handed a saint on their feast day. down orally from one generation to the next, and various versions of their lives abound. You may stumble across • MAPS: We have included a world map on each page as details of these saints that are different than what is in a reference. Since the names this book. That’s okay! We used all the resources at our and borders of cities and disposal to write about these beloved saints as truthfully countries change over as possible, but only God knows the full and true story time, we’ve done our of their lives, just as He knows all about you down to the best to show you, using tiniest detail. These stories are meant to bring glory to a modern-day map, the God and to inspire you in your faith. lands where the saints • You will find a color-coded timeline on pages 12 and 13. once lived. The colors refer to different time periods in which the saints lived. Also, the sidebar on each saint’s page will

No matter how you use this book, we pray that the lives of the saints will inspire you to live your own life as a holy offering to God. Sample pages only. Purchase the full book at http://store.ancientfaith.com/101-saints/

We are all called to be saints! In this book you will realize the Church has recognized monks and mothers, soldiers and surgeons, and even children as saints.

OLD TESTAMENT

One of the many saints who lived during the time before Jesus. Some well-known Old Testament saints are Moses, Abraham, Ruth, and King David.

PROPHET

A person who is filled with the Holy Spirit to bring warnings and messages from God. The words of a prophet can shed wisdom and light when people begin to stray from God.

APOSTLE

Someone sent out by Jesus to share the Good News with others. Like St. Andrew, all of the apostles were called to become “fishers of men.”

MONASTIC

A monk or nun who makes a vow to practice the Christian virtues, focusing on prayer, fasting, and spiritual discipline. Some monastics live in communities, and some live alone—in the wilderness or even in cities—like St. Maria of Paris.

WONDERWORKER

A saint who, through God’s power, is known for performing miracles before or after his or her death. People travel all over the world to visit healing springs or saints’ relics, such as the incorrupt body of St. John Maximovitch in San Francisco.

legend of vocations ROYALTY

Several saints started their lives born into royal families, like St. Elizabeth the New Martyr. Being royal does not make them saintly; it’s how they chose to live their lives that brought them into the circle of saints.

SOLDIER

Many Christians, such as St. George, have served both God and their country as soldiers. Because of their faith in Christ, they are able to serve with courage, honor, and humility.

BISHOP

A bishop not only dedicates himself to the Church, but he also takes on a role of leadership. After years of selflessly serving Christ, some bishops like St. Raphael of Brooklyn are eventually recognized as saints.

WRITER

God gives some people the gift of expressing ideas clearly through their writings. Saints like St. Gregory the Theologian have written books that help Christians understand important teachings of the Faith, such as the doctrine of the Trinity or the Incarnation.

PRIEST

A priest’s main job is to be a shepherd to his community, serving the Divine Liturgy and tending to his people. Priests like St. John of Kronstadt did everything in their power so that the people they served would know and love God.

HYMNOGRAPHER

Some saints, like St. Kassiani, use their gift of language to compose hymns for the Church. Through their beautiful words, Christians are able to praise God and worship together.

MISSIONARY

Someone who travels to other cultures and lands to tell people about Christ. Like St. Patrick, a missionary leaves behind people and places that are familiar to them in order to live among new people, learn a new language, and start churches and monasteries in new places.

FOOL FOR CHRIST

Someone who looks foolish in the eyes of the world in order to show people the mysteries of Christ’s love. Like St. Xenia of St. Petersburg, they live differently than the people around them but love God and their neighbors with all their hearts.

MARTYR

From the Greek word for “witness,” martyrs are people who bore witness to Jesus through their deaths. Martyrs like St. Katherine the Great Martyr refused to give up their faith even when it meant that they would lose their lives.

MOTHER

God blesses some saints with the gift of children. Mothers like St. Sophia learn compassion, service, and obedience, and they become holy through their sacrificial role as parents.

Sample pages only. Purchase the full book at http://store.ancientfaith.com/101-saints/

f e ast days by m o n t h

—— January ——

—— April ——

Basil the Great (see also January 30)

Mary of Egypt (also celebrated Fifth Sunday of Great Lent)

Juliana of Lazarevo

Tikhon of Moscow (see also Second Sunday after Pentecost)

Seraphim of Sarov

23 Alexandra the Empress

Genevieve of Paris

23 George the Trophy-Bearer

Synaxis of the Seventy Holy Apostles

John the Baptist (see also June 24, August 29)

—— May ——

10 Gregory of Nyssa 12

Tatiana of Rome

14 Nina, Enlightener of Georgia 14 Sava of Serbia 17

Anthony the Great

18 Athanasius the Great 24 Xenia of St. Petersburg

Zoe of Phrygia

Irene the Great Martyr

John the Beloved (see also September 26, June 30)

Christopher the Mighty Martyr

Cyril and Methodius

20 Lydia of Philippi

25 Gregory the Theologian (see also January 30)

28 Ephraim the Syrian 30 Three Holy Hierarchs (Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, John Chrysostom)

Constantine and Helen (Helen; see also March 6, Third Sunday of Great Lent)

29 Luke of Crimea

—— June ——

—— February —— 1

Brigid of Kildare

Simeon the God-Receiver

10 Scholastica (see also March 14) 11

Theodora the Empress (also celebrated First Sunday of Great Lent)

Theodore the Tyro

Justin Martyr

Columba of Iona

Chinese New Martyrs

23 Artemius of Verkola 24 John the Baptist (his nativity; see also January 7, August 29) 24 Zachariah and Elizabeth (birth of their son, John the Baptist; see also September 5)

18 Leo the Great 26 Photini the Samaritan Woman (Greek traditional feast day; see also March 20, Fourth Sunday after Pascha) 27 Raphael of Brooklyn (see also Second Sunday after Pentecost)

29 Peter and Paul (see also June 30) 30 Synaxis of the Twelve Apostles Second Sunday after Pentecost All Saints of North America

—— July ——

—— March —— 5

Nikolai Velimirovic

Saturday closest to July 2nd John of San Francisco (see also Second Sunday after Pentecost)

Helen (Finding of the Precious Cross; see also May 21, Third Sunday of Great Lent)

10 Joseph of Damascus

14 Benedict (see also February 10)

11 Olga

13 Synaxis of the Archangel Gabriel (see also March 26, November 8)

Patrick of Ireland

20 Photini the Samaritan Woman (Slavic traditional feast day; see also February 26, Fourth Sunday after Pascha)

15 Vladimir

25 Mary the Theotokos (the Annunciation; see also August 15, September 8, October 1, November 21, December 9, December 26)

18 Elizabeth the New Martyr

26 Archangel Gabriel (see also July 13, November 8)

Marina of Antioch

20 Elijah the Prophet 20 Maria of Paris

30 John Climacus (also celebrated Fourth Sunday of Great Lent) 31 Innocent of Alaska (see also Second Sunday after Pentecost)

24 Christina the Great Martyr 25 Anna, Righteous Ancestor of God (Dormition of Righteous Anna; see also September 9) 27 Panteleimon the Healer 28 Irene Chrysovalantou 31 Joseph of Arimathea

f e ast days by m o n t h

—— November ——

—— August —— 9

Herman of Alaska (see also Second Sunday after Pentecost)

Cosmas and Damian

Mary the Theotokos (her Dormition; see also March 25, September 8, October 1, November 21, December 9, December 26)

Archangel Michael and All the Bodiless Powers

Nektarios of Aegina

18 Ivan of Rila

13 John Chrysostom (see also January 30)

26 Adrian and Natalia

28 Moses of Ethiopia

Mary the Theotokos (her Entrance into the Temple; see also March 25, August 15, September 8, October 1, December 9, December 26)

29 John the Baptist (his beheading; see also January 7, June 24)

22 Cecelia the Great Martyr

31 Aidan of Lindisfarne

25 Katherine the Great Martyr

31 Cyprian of Carthage

30 Andrew the First-Called (see also June 30) 30 Sebastian Dabovic (see also Second Sunday after Pentecost)

—— September ——

—— December ——

Zachariah and Elizabeth (see also June 24)

Kassiani the Hymnographer

Philaret the Merciful

Mary the Theotokos (her Nativity; see also March 25, August 15, October 1, November 21, December 9, December 26)

Barbara the Great Martyr

Nicholas of Myra

Joachim and Anna (see also July 25)

Hannah the Prophetess

Kieran of Clonmacnoise

Sophia and Her Daughters Faith, Hope, and Love

Mary the Theotokos (her Conception; see also March 25, August 15, September 8, October 1, November 21, December 26)

Jonah the Prophet

Peter the Aleut (see also Second Sunday after Pentecost)

Quadratus, Apostle of the Seventy

Spyridon the Wonderworker

24 Silouan the Athonite

13 Lucia of Syracuse

24 Thekla the Protomartyr

Sunday of the Forefathers (Second Sunday before Christ’s Nativity) Abraham and Sarah; Josiah the Tenderhearted; Noah the Patriarch

25 Sergius of Radonezh

26 John the Beloved (his repose; see also May 8, June 30)

Daniel the Prophet

20 Ignatius of Antioch

28 Wenceslas of Prague

20 John of Kronstadt 22 Anastasia the Great Martyr

—— October —— 1

Mary the Theotokos (her Protection; see also March 25, August 15, September 8, November 21, December 9, December 26)

Romanos the Melodist

Thomas the Apostle (also celebrated First Sunday after Pascha)

26 Mary the Theotokos (Synaxis; see also March 25, August 15, September 8, October 1, November 21, December 9) Sunday after Christ’s Nativity David the King

9 Abraham (see also Sunday of the Forefathers in December) 14 Paraskeva the New 18 Luke the Evangelist 21

Hilarion the Great

26 Demetrios the Myrrh-Streamer

Sample pages only. Purchase the full book at http://store.ancientfaith.com/101-saints/

AD 1500–1900 • THE NEW WORLD

nit e

osc ow

of M

uan

Silo

Tik h

Bro ok ly

Da bo vic

ian

ael

Seb ast

sta

ron

asc

Sar ov

CHURCH FATHERS & BUILDERS OF THE CHURCH

Joh

ho fD am

Jos ep

Ser aph

rsb urg

Pe te

ska

Ala

Ale

St.

Pe ter t

nia

Inn oc ent

las

are

Laz

of Ve rko la

of A

He rm an

Jul ia

Ar tem ius

the

f Io

dar

Kil

ois

acn

tic a

las

Sch o

Clo

and

Co lu

Bri g

ran

Kie

ict

ned

fP aris

ve o

vie

Ge ne

and

Ire l

eat

Eg yp

ick

Pat r

Leo

ary

arty

fE thi

ose

eat

ian

log

Ny ssa

the

Ire n

ego

Syr i

rea

the

l th

Ba si

hra

he He ale

lia

hag e Na ta

Ca rt

arty

igh ty

eat

the

imo

and Pan tel e

rian

Cy p

her

the rist op

lia

Ce ce

nti oc h

cus

eat

arty

ian

eat

Da m

ana

Tat i

the

and

the

of Syr a arin

cia

ara

Ba rb

Co sm

ina

rist

Da ugh ter s

Ph ryg ia

and

M arty

Jus t

Zo e

hia

So p

2000 BC–1 BC • OLD TESTAMENT NEW TESTAMENT (BORN BEFORE CHRIST)

AD 100–310 • ROMAN PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS

AD 450–1500

MODERN SAINTS

ar y

tok os

ist

ive r

zab e th

ece

the a

E li ima

Th eo

he Ba pt

the

Joh nt

Jos e

Za cha ri a

he Go dR

het

Pro p

and

nt Joa chi m

Sim

Ten de rhe ar t ed

het

Pro p

the

het

ing

Pro p

he K

het e

S ar ah

iarc h

Pro p

and

Pat r

the

Da nie l

Jos iah

Jon

Eli j ah

Da vid t

the

rah a

Ha nn

No ah

ich ael

and

San isc o

Ga bri el

Fra nc

of Par is

20TH CENTURY • MODERN SAINTS

Sample pages only. Purchase the full book at http://store.ancientfaith.com/101-saints/ of

ius

Ser g

nez

fS erb

Ne w

ion

Hi lar

rea

the

fG eo

eat

rgi a

rea

arty

de rw or k er

Wo n the

the asi us

han

rid

Sp y

He le

fM yra

he G

ola

Ni ch

ny t

tho

eat

ost om

hry s

Joh

and ,E nlig hte ne

Ni na

nti ne

sta

Co n

Ty ro

rea

r es s

he My rrh -S t

the

he G

trio

sia

asta

rin

the

he Em p

hyBe are

AD 1–100 • CHRIST AND THE NEW TESTAMENT

Sav ao

gue

Pra

va t

ske

Par a

We nce sl

Ril

ir a

dim

Vla

Iva n

ius

nto

res s

Em p

eth

l an

Cy ri

rap h

ifu

erc

hry sov ala

Ire n

the

far

dis

Lin

ra t

ssi a

ilar

AD 100–310 • ROMAN PERSECUTION

Joh n

aria

iro vic

Ve lim

Cr im

Aid

dra t

xan

Ale

he Tro p

he Sev e

nti oc h

fA Qu adr at u so

ius o

nty

arty

he Pro tom

fP hili pp Th ekl at

Lyd ia o

Ign at

os t

he Be lov ed

the

-C alle he Eva nge lis as Joh nt

Th om

Lu ke t

nW om

arita

Fir st

Pau l

S am

the

dre w

Pe te

Ph ot i ni

lai

Ni ko

acu

dis

elo

rge t

Ge o

arty

egi

Ne w

lim

Joh

ist is bor

the

arty

rio so fA

Ne kta

eth

se Ne w

ine

zab

Eli

r ch

AD 100–310

AD 320–450 • BUILDERS OF THE CHURCH

AD 450–1500 • MIDDLE AGES & THE CONVERSION OF EUROPE

Imagine yourself here.

OUTSIDE OF TIME

Abraham and Introduction Sarah BORN: Ur of the Chaldeans REPOSED: Canaan VOCATION: Old Testament Saints DATES: c. 1200 BC FEAST DAY: October 9 (Abraham); Sunday of the Forefathers (Sarah) STORY FOUND: Genesis 12—25

BR AHAM lived in the land of Ur until God called him to move to a new land. Abraham trusted God and set out on the journey with his wife, Sarah, and his nephew, Lot. God made a covenant with Abraham and promised to give him land and as many descendants as stars in the sky. God then led Abraham to the land of Canaan. When Abraham was 100 years old and Sarah was 90, they received three visitors who told them that Abraham and Sarah would soon have a son. That son, Isaac, was born, bringing

great joy. However, when Isaac was 12, God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son. Abraham obeyed, taking Isaac up on a mountain. When God saw Abraham’s faith, He told Abraham to stop, and provided a ram for the sacrifice instead. Isaac had children who had children, and eventually Abraham and Sarah became the founders of a great nation—the people of Israel.

Abraham was willing to sacrifice his son, Isaac, because Abraham loved God and had faith in God’s plan. Ur of the Chaldeans is located in modern-day Iraq. Canaan is in parts of modern-day Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, Jordan, and Syria.

When the three visitors told Sarah that she would have a baby, she laughed because she believed she was too old.

FA S C I N AT I N G FAC TS On Holy Saturday we read from the book of Genesis the story of Abraham’s obedience in his willingness to sacrifice Isaac. The story points to Christ and His ultimate sacrifice for His people.

Abraham and Sarah were considered too old to have children, but God worked a miracle so that they could have Isaac. This foreshadows other elderly couples who bore children for God’s glory, such as Zachariah and Elizabeth, and Joachim and Anna.

Sarah lived to be 127 years old, and Abraham lived to be 175.

Whenever Abraham moved or something big happened in his life, he immediately built an altar and worshipped God before doing anything else.

St. Natalia held St. Adrian’s hand even as the executioner cut it off. She managed to save the hand by hiding it in her clothing.

Sample pages only. Purchase the full book at http://store.ancientfaith.com/101-saints/

Nicomedia is located in modern-day Turkey.

FA S C I N AT I N G FAC TS The Romans tried to burn the body of St. Adrian, but God sent a heavy rain that doused the fire. A Christian named Eusebius saved the relics, burying them near the city of Byzantium.

St. Natalia was able to reunite St. Adrian’s hand with the rest of his body. Later, St. Adrian appeared to her in a shining vision and called her to God with him, and she peacefully died.

LOCATION: Nicomedia VOCATION: Martyr

After St. Adrian’s death, a powerful general wanted to marry St. Natalia. She asked St. Adrian’s intercession to help her escape the city so she could remain faithful to their marriage.

Old view of Nicomedia (modern-day Izmit), senior capital city of the Roman Empire

coming from uncut mountain

DATES: 3rd Century AD FEAST DAY: August 26

Sts. Adrian and Natalia had been married for only 13 months when Adrian received his crown of martyrdom.

return home to say goodbye to his wife. Entering his house, Natalia called him a coward, quoting a passage from the Gospel of Matthew: “Whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven” (10:33). But when he explained why he was there, St. Natalia hugged him and said she would stay with him until the end. He was martyred with the 23 others, and St. Natalia lived with a group of devout women near his burial site until her own death.

Adrian and Natalia

AINTS A DRIAN AND NATA L IA were newly married and living in Nicomedia, where Adrian was a high-ranking Roman officer and Natalia was a secret Christian. When Emperor Diocletian heard that 23 Christians were hiding in a cave, he commanded that they be arrested and tortured. St. Adrian saw their suffering and asked why they chose to remain Christians. They told him of the Kingdom of God, and his soul was instantly illumined. He asked to be added to the list of Christians, and he was immediately handcuffed and imprisoned. When St. Natalia heard that her husband had been arrested for his faith, she went to the prison to encourage him. Later he was sentenced to death but was allowed to

DATES: Died AD 651 FEAST DAY: August 31 SEE ALSO: St. Columba

BORN: Ireland REPOSED: Lindisfarne, England VOCATION: Monastic, Bishop, Missionary

Aidan of Lindisfarne

R IS H BY BIRTH, St. Aidan became a monk at the Monastery of Iona, founded in AD 563 by St. Columba. St. Oswald, king of Northumbria (located in what is now southeast Scotland and northern England), had become a Christian when he was exiled to the monastery. He asked the monastics of Iona to send a new missionary to Northumbria to replace St. Edwin, who had died. One missionary was sent but didn’t stay long, saying that the Northumbrians were stubborn. The fathers of the monastery discussed the problem, and Aidan observed that the pagan Saxons must be fed first with the “milk” of doctrine then little by little be brought into the fullness of the Faith. The fathers marveled at St. Iona is located on the western coast of Scotland.

Aidan’s discernment, consecrated him a bishop, and sent him off. He founded the monastery on the island of Lindisfarne, a place of learning much like the monastery on Iona, and he traveled all around Northumbria, preaching the gospel in public places and private homes and setting up churches. St. Aidan died peacefully in 651 and was buried on Lindisfarne.

Lindisfarne is located on the northeast coast of England.

St. Aidan lived in great poverty and used the money given to him to help the poor—especially orphans—and to buy freedom for slaves.

Above: Ruins of Lindisfarne Abbey and modern statue of Saint Aidan Right: A page from the Lindisfarne Gospel

St. Aidan started a school, educating the next generation of Christians after him so that the gospel would continue to spread. In addition to practical skills, the students learned to read and write in Latin.

FA S C I N AT I N G FAC TS St. Aidan’s good judgment came from the words of St. Paul in 1 Corinthians 3:2: “I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it. . . .”

St. Aidan was greatly admired for his abstinence, which strongly inspired this warlike people to the gentleness of Christian living. St. Aidan was the spiritual father of St. Hilda, who founded the first monasteries for women in Northumbria.

He traveled from village to village on foot, talking gently with the people. The king once gave him a horse, but in turn he gave it to a beggar.

Nicomedia (now known as İzmit) is located in the northwest of modern-day Turkey.

She was sentenced to death along with her daughter, Valeria.

St. Alexandra was a popular empress even before her conversion to Christianity because of her strong consideration and concern for others.

DATES: 3rd Century AD FEAST DAY: April 23 SEE ALSO: St. George

St. Alexandra kneeled before St. George and thanked him for ridiculing the pagan idols.

become a Christian, he angrily sent her to prison and ordered her to be beheaded. However, that night in prison as St. Alexandra prayed, she died, thus depriving Emperor Diocletian of her murder.

coming from uncut mountain

Alexandra the Empress

St. Alexandra gladly traded her royal crown for a heavenly crown of martyrdom for Christ.

Illustrated re-creation of the Palace of Diocletian

T. A LEX ANDR A was the wife of Emperor Diocletian and a Roman empress. During one of her routine inspections of the state, she noticed the persecution of St. George, who was a Roman soldier. Upon questioning him, St. Alexandra found that he was being punished for refusing to acknowledge the pagan gods because he was a Christian. His calm explanation of his faith and his bravery under persecution convinced St. Alexandra of the truth of Christ. She advocated to her husband that St. George should be released. When the emperor understood that his wife had also

St. Alexandra’s servants Apollo, Isaccius, and Codratus visited her in prison and were also converted to Christ. They advocated for her to the emperor, who sentenced them to death.

REPOSED: Nicomedia VOCATION: Royal, Martyr

FA S C I N AT I N G FAC TS The emperor Diocletian ruled from AD 284–305 and wanted to use religion as a unifying element in the Roman Empire. He consulted an idol in Apollo’s temple, which told him that the Christians were interfering with the idols’ ability to predict the future. Starting in 303, he began to compel Christians to participate in the worship of pagan idols.

Icon of Saint

BORN: Rome, Italy REPOSED: Sermium, Serbia VOCATION: Martyr

Anastasia the Great Martyr

coming from uncut mountain

T. ANA STA SIA was born into a noble Roman family to a pagan father and a Christian mother. When her mother died, her father forced Anastasia to marry a pagan senator named Publius. With the protection of her guardian angel, she was able to avoid him by pretending to be perpetually sick. In the evenings, she disguised herself and visited the prison to care for the Christians. When her husband discovered this, he was enraged, beat her, and kept her confined at home. However, three months later, the emperor sent Publius to Persia, and he was drowned at sea. St. Anastasia used her inheritance to help the poor and minister to imprisoned Christians. Finally, she was found

One night Emperor Diocletian declared that all remaining imprisoned Christians should be killed. St. Anastasia came to the prison the next morning to find them all dead. She was overwhelmed by grief and fell crying at the gates. Her tears revealed her to be a Christian.

Rome

The Roman-era city of Sermium is located in modern-day Serbia, on the site of modern Sremska.

St. Anastasia was imprisoned for a month with nothing to eat. When this did not break her, she was sentenced to another month with no food or nourishment.

DATES: Died AD 304 FEAST DAY: December 22

FA S C I N AT I N G FAC TS The name Anastasia means “resurrection.”

out as a Christian herself. Various officials and pagan priests tried to make her renounce Christ, but she remained steadfast. Eventually St. Anastasia and many criminals were put onto a ship and taken out to sea. Holes were bored in the floor of the boat, and they were left to drown, but St. Theodota appeared at the helm and safely guided the ship to land. The criminals were thankful for their deliverance, embraced the Faith, and were baptized; however, the authorities discovered they had survived and sent soldiers to the island. St. Anastasia and the others were martyred.

The relic of St. Anastasia’s head is still venerated and kept at the Monastery of St. Anastasia Pharmokolitria in Greece. St. Theodota appeared to St. Anastasia in prison to console and encourage her. St. Theodota, a friend to Anastasia, had recently been martyred along with her three sons.

St. Anastasia paid gold coins to the prison guards to allow her to minister to the Christians.

St. Anastasia cleaned and dressed the wounds of those in prison.

Before he was crucified, St. Andrew removed his clothes and offered them to his tormentors.

furious and ordered Andrew to be crucified. The apostle willingly submitted to torment and prayed for his persecutors while on the cross. His relics are in Patras, and a large church was built over the place where he reposed.

Patras is in western Greece.

The ancient town of Bethsaida was located on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee in ancient Israel.

St. Andrew was the first of the apostles to follow Christ, witnessing the many teachings and miracles of Jesus.

In the city of Sinope, St. Andrew’s prayers delivered the apostle Matthew from prison, which so enraged the people that they beat the apostles. Later the people repented, and St. Andrew established churches and a bishop in the city.

The name Andrew means “manly” or “brave.” Sample pages only. Purchase the full book at http://store.ancientfaith.com/101-saints/

BORN: Bethsaida REPOSED: Patras, Greece VOCATION: Apostle, Martyr

It is said that St. Regulus brought a portion of the relics of St. Andrew to Scotland and founded a church called St. Andrews. St. Andrew has been the patron saint of Scotland for almost 1,000 years.

DATES: Died c. AD 62 FEAST DAY: November 30 SEE ALSO: Sts. Peter, John the Baptist

St. Andrew traveled far to preach the gospel in places such as Greece, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Turkey, and Russia, enduring all sorts of mistreatments and dangers.

FA S C I N AT I N G FAC TS St. Andrew established a church in a small town called Byzantium and placed St. Stachys (one of the 70 apostles) as bishop there. Byzantium eventually became the city of Constantinople.

Icon of Saint

Introduction Andrew the First-Called

T. ANDRE W and his brother, St. Peter, were fishermen in the town of Bethsaida. The Gospel of John tells us that Andrew became a disciple of John the Baptist. Then, after witnessing John calling Jesus the Lamb of God, Andrew asked his brother to join him in following Christ. The two brothers left their fishing nets to become “fishers of men.” After Pentecost, Andrew traveled far and wide spreading the gospel, preaching, baptizing, and establishing churches. In Patras, Greece, he healed the governor’s wife, and she became a Christian. The governor was

Anthony the Great

coming from uncut mountain

T. ANTHONY was born to wealthy Christian parents. From an early age, he dedicated himself to the study of the Scriptures and the life of the Church. After his parents died, he gave his large inheritance to the poor and retreated to the desert to focus on a life of prayer and ascesis (spiritual discipline). At that time, St. Anthony learned how to live a life of prayer from the few hermits already dwelling in the desert. After years of effort, he developed a reputation for holiness and attracted many disciples, which led him to establish monasteries. St.

Anthony was so filled with peace and grace that he could heal people with his prayers and bring enemies together just by his presence. He is regarded as the founder of the monastic movement and is beloved by many around the world.

Above: Today, a monastery dedicated to St. Anthony is hidden in the mountains of the Egyptian desert area where he lived. Right: St. Anthony is known as the father of all monks.

BORN: Coma, Egypt REPOSED: Egyptian desert VOCATION: Monastic

When he was a young man, he heard the words of the Gospel of Matthew, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, . . . and come, follow Me” (Matt. 19:21). He thought the words were specifically meant for him, and he obeyed. Coma, Egypt

FA S C I N AT I N G FAC TS St. Anthony locked himself away, alone, for 20 years. One day some people broke down his door and found his face shining while in prayer.

DATES: c. AD 251–356 FEAST DAY: January 17

The saint once caused a spring to gush forth to quench the thirst of his companions.

One night while St. Anthony was praying, all of the hyenas of the region came out snarling. The saint calmly said, “If God has delivered me into your power, then make a meal of me. If Satan has sent you then be off, for I am Christ’s servant.” The hyenas scattered. St. Anthony lived to be 105 years old. All Rights Reserved. Published by Ancient Faith Publishing

St. Anthony wove baskets to support himself and to help the poor.

St. Anthony once said, “I no longer fear God, but I love Him. For perfect love casts out fear.”

The bark of birch trees can be removed in large sheets.

Church of the holy St. Artemius in Verkola, Russia

DATES: 1532–1544 FEAST DAY: June 23

Verkola is located in the northwestern part of Russia.

Artemius of Verkola

T . A R T E M I U S is one of the few child saints of the Orthodox Church. Born to a pious peasant family, St. Artemius obeyed his parents and loved God throughout his childhood. At the age of 12, he was struck by lightning while helping his father in the fields. His death was seen by some as a sign of God’s anger, and his body was not allowed to be buried but was instead placed in the forest with a birch bark cover. However, more than 30 years later a deacon saw a light shining in the woods and found St. Artemius’s incorrupt body. The saint’s relics were taken to a church, which later became a monastery. St. Artemius has healed many people who have asked for his prayers.

After 30 years in the forest, the body of St. Artemius looked as though he were still asleep.

Sample pages only. Purchase the full book at http://store.ancientfaith.com/101-saints/

The iconographer, Philip Zimmerman, painted the icon, which stands today in the Antiochian Village camp for children in Pennsylvania.

LOCATION: Verkola, Russia VOCATION: Martyr

His relics were chopped to pieces by the communists in 1918, so St. Artemius is considered a martyr for Christ.

FA S C I N AT I N G FAC TS St. Artemius appeared in a vision to an iconographer in Pennsylvania in the 1990s and told him to paint an icon for “all the children.”