September

Commemoration of Sts. Abraham and Khoren, Kozma and Damianos

This year is celebrated in:: 2023-09-07
St. Abraham and St. Khoren were the disciples of St. Ghevond and his companions. After their teachers’ martyrdom they are exiled to Assyria. As living confessors to the faith they deserve the Christians’ respect. St. Khoren, being unable to suffer the hardships, passes away in exile. St. Abraham returns to Armenia and becomes the Bishop of Bznounik.

St. Kozma and St. Damianos who are called also “moneyless (or penniless or silver less) doctors (physicians)”, were born and lived in the last decades of the third century, in Arabia. They have been brought up and educated by their virtuous and honest mother and upon her advice they have always moved from one place to another and have treated the sick free of charge. During the period of Christians’ persecutions by the King Dioklethianos the brothers are imprisoned, subjected to torments and are beheaded in 285 AD.

 

This feast has been and will be on the following dates
 

2030-11-25 Commemoration of Sts. Abraham and Khoren, Kozma and Damianos

2029-09-06 Commemoration of Sts. Abraham and Khoren, Kozma and Damianos

2028-09-07 Commemoration of Sts. Abraham and Khoren, Kozma and Damianos

2027-11-18 Commemoration of Sts. Abraham and Khoren, Kozma and Damianos

2026-12-21 Commemoration of Sts. Abraham and Khoren, Kozma and Damianos

2025-12-22 Commemoration of Sts. Abraham and Khoren, Kozma and Damianos

2024-11-25 Commemoration of Sts. Abraham and Khoren, Kozma and Damianos

2023-09-07 Commemoration of Sts. Abraham and Khoren, Kozma and Damianos

2022-11-17 Commemoration of Sts. Abraham and Khoren, Kozma and Damianos

2021-11-18 Commemoration of Sts. Abraham and Khoren, Kozma and Damianos

2020-12-21 Commemoration of Sts. Abraham and Khoren, Kozma and Damianos

Commemoration of the Martyr St. Astvatsatoor

This year is celebrated in:: 2023-09-07

St. Astvatsatoor was martyred during the reign of the Persian King Khosrov. He was a Persian magus, who comes to Armenia together with Denshapouh and, witnessing there the martyrdom of St. Gregory Razhik, believes in Christ and is baptized. He is martyred by the Persians and is buried by the Catholicos Nerses II, in Dvin.

 

This feast has been and will be on the following dates

2020-12-22 Commemoration of the Martyr St. Astvatsatoor

2021-11-18 Commemoration of the Martyr St. Astvatsatoor

2022-11-17 Commemoration of the Martyr St. Astvatsatoor

2023-09-07 Commemoration of the Martyr St. Astvatsatoor

2024-11-25 Commemoration of the Martyr St. Astvatsatoor

2025-12-22 Commemoration of the Martyr St. Astvatsatoor

2026-12-22 Commemoration of the Martyr St. Astvatsatoor

2027-11-18 Commemoration of the Martyr St. Astvatsatoor

2028-09-07 Commemoration of the Martyr St. Astvatsatoor

2029-09-06 Commemoration of the Martyr St. Astvatsatoor

2030-11-25 Commemoration of the Martyr St. Astvatsatoor

Commemoration of Sts. Gevorg the Captain, Adoktos and Romanos the Singer

This year is celebrated in:: 2023-09-30

St. Gevorg the Captain (St. George the Warrior) was from Cappadocia. He was born in a pious Christian family. Becoming a soldier of the Roman Army in a short period he deserves the honor of becoming Captain thanks to his courage and devotion. During the council convened by the Roman Emperor Dioklethianos he opposes to his plans on Christians’ execution, and thus the fact that he is Christian, is revealed. The King, becoming surprised and astonished, orders to imprison the Captain and subjects him to severe torments. Many people, among them the Queen Alexandria, become Christians thanks to the preaching of St. George. A magician is ordered to prepare two kinds of remedies for trying the saint and changing his faith. By the first cup the saint should change his mind, and drinking the second cup, he should die. St. Gevorg drinks both cups, but thanks to the power of his faith towards God he remains alive. He also raises a man from the dead.

After the King’s repeated requests St. Gevorg finally agrees to offer sacrifice to the idols. However, reaching the heathen church he breaks all idols one by one. For this act the King orders to behead St. Gevorg and he is martyred in about 303 A. D.

St. Adoktos (Adauctus) has been martyred in 320 A. D., in the Armenian Melitene, during the reign of Maximianos. He has been a state servant in Ephesus. Not willing to marry her daughter – Kalistene, with the Heathen King, he takes her away to the East. For being Christian upon the King’s order he is deprived of his title and property and is exiled to Melitene. The local governor also fails to convert Adoktos to the heathen religion. Remaining steadfast and unshaken in his faith, the saint is beheaded. His wife and the other daughter - Pelopia, bury him. Costantsa - sister of the Emperor Kostandianos, defends and protects Kalistene, he transfers the relics of his father to Ephesus, where a chapel is built over the saint’s tomb of in the future.

St. Romanos the Singer (the Melodist) is considered to be the author and creator of the church hymns’ canons. He has served as a deacon in the Church of St. Sophia, of Constantinople. Many people have mocked at him for his being unable to sing and read well. Once St. Mary appears to him in his dream and giving him a paper roll, orders to eat it. After the dream Romanos is granted the virtue to create and sing church hymns and songs. St. Romanos passes away in 556 A. D.

 

This feast has been and will be on the following dates


2020-09-26 Commemoration of Sts. Gevorg the Captain, Adoktos and Romanos the Singer

2021-09-25 Commemoration of Sts. Gevorg the Captain, Adoktos and Romanos the Singer

2022-09-24 Commemoration of Sts. Gevorg the Captain, Adoktos and Romanos the Singer

2023-09-30 Commemoration of Sts. Gevorg the Captain, Adoktos and Romanos the Singer

2024-09-28 Commemoration of Sts. Gevorg the Captain, Adoktos and Romanos the Singer

2025-09-27 Commemoration of Sts. Gevorg the Captain, Adoktos and Romanos the Singer

2026-09-26 Commemoration of Sts. Gevorg the Captain, Adoktos and Romanos the Singer

2027-09-25 Commemoration of Sts. Gevorg the Captain, Adoktos and Romanos the Singer

2028-09-30 Commemoration of Sts. Gevorg the Captain, Adoktos and Romanos the Singer

2029-09-29 Commemoration of Sts. Gevorg the Captain, Adoktos and Romanos the Singer

2030-09-28 Commemoration of Sts. Gevorg the Captain, Adoktos and Romanos the Singer

Commemoration of Sts. Pontiffs Baragham, Antimos and Yeranos

This year is celebrated in:: 2023-09-28

St. Baragaham (Barlaam) (250-304) has lived in Antioch and has been martyred during the reign of the Roman Emperor Dioklethianos. For being Christian he is imprisoned and taken to the court. He refuses to offer sacrifice to the idols, and that fact annoys the judge. He orders to place in the saint’s palm a boiling incense container hoping that the old man will not endure the pain and will pour the incense on the heathen altar for offering sacrifice. However, the honest and pious man, ignoring the pain, holds his arm unmoved till his hand is burnt, and the saint is martyred suffering from severe pains.

St. Antimos (Anthimus) has been the Bishop of Nikomedia. During the reign of the Roman Emperors Dioklethianos and Maximos the Christians are blamed in setting a fire to the royal palace, and persecutions against Christians start. Because of persecutions Antimos is forced to leave the town and live in the mountains. During that period deacon Theophilos is martyred not willing to betray the Bishop Antimos. However, the King finds out the Bishop’s place and sends the soldiers to the mountains ordering to find the saint and to bring him. The soldiers find the saint and although they persuade him not to go with them to Nikomedia, the saint voluntarily returns and goes to the royal court. 20 soldiers, witnessing the saint’s unshaken faith and listening his sermons, are converted to Christianity and are baptized. During the examination in the court the saint gives brave answers, for which he is beheaded after many torments in 303 A. D.

St. Bishop Yeranos (Irenaeus) also has been martyred during the reign of the Roman Emperor Dioklethianos in the town Sirmia of Panonia. During the trial in the court the saint’s parents and relatives persuade him to feel pity for himself and his children. The saint answers that his children have God as their protector who always takes care of them. He remains unshaken in his faith and does not give up. After severe torments the saint is beheaded.

 

This feast has been and will be on the following dates

2020-09-24 Commemoration of Sts. Pontiffs Baragham, Antimos and Yeranos

2021-09-23 Commemoration of Sts. Pontiffs Baragham, Antimos and Yeranos

2022-09-22 Commemoration of Sts. Pontiffs Baragham, Antimos and Yeranos

2023-09-28 Commemoration of Sts. Pontiffs Baragham, Antimos and Yeranos

2024-09-26 Commemoration of Sts. Pontiffs Baragham, Antimos and Yeranos

2025-09-25 Commemoration of Sts. Pontiffs Baragham, Antimos and Yeranos

2026-09-24 Commemoration of Sts. Pontiffs Baragham, Antimos and Yeranos

2027-09-23 Commemoration of Sts. Pontiffs Baragham, Antimos and Yeranos

2028-09-28 Commemoration of Sts. Pontiffs Baragham, Antimos and Yeranos

2029-09-27 Commemoration of Sts. Pontiffs Baragham, Antimos and Yeranos

2030-09-26 Commemoration of Sts. Pontiffs Baragham, Antimos and Yeranos

Commemoration of Sts. Peprone, Mariane and Shoushan, daughter of Vartan the Great

This year is celebrated in:: 2023-09-26

St. Peprone was from the town Nisibis and since childhood she had entered the church vowing to renounce from secular life and devote herself to the Church. As St. Hripsime, she also has been subjected to persecutions by the Roman Emperor Diokletianos. When the Emperor’s servants reach the town Nisibis in 305 A. D., the nuns living in the monastery are forced to leave the town, while Peprone, who was ill, stays in the monastery with her teacher Vren and Sister Toumayis. Heathen judge Seghinos tries to persuade the pretty nun to renounce from Christianity and promises to marry her with his noble nephew Lusimakos. In response Peprone tells that she has already become the bride of Christ vowing to remain a virgin and not to marry. Seghinos, becoming annoyed, orders to cut off first her hands and feet and than her head. Lusimakos, witnessing her death, becomes faithful and orders to bury her with proper honors, and Seghinos, witnessing the nun’s indescribable torments, goes mad and commits suicide.

St. Mariane was from Antioch in Pisidia. She was the only daughter of the town’s heathen priest and, losing her mother in childhood, she was brought up a Christian nurse. When she had already grown up, her father wishes to make her a heathen priest. The young woman refuses to renounce Christ and to serve the idols. Her father turns her off his house and she goes to her nurse. But soon she is imprisoned and beheaded.

St. Shoushan was Captain Vardan Mamikonian’s elder daughter. Her real name is Vardenie, but in the Armenian history and hagiography she is known by the name Shoushan. She was married to Vazgen, son of the Georgian consul Asousha. Although they had three sons and one daughter, her husband converts to Persian faith and marries the mother-in-low of the Persian knight Peroz. Shoushan begins to live in a small house near the church and prays all the time, always rejecting her husband’s suggestions to give up her faith and ignoring his threats. Shoushan is persecuted for 7 years, but remains unshaken in her faith. She is martyred in 470 A. D. According to the historian Ukhtanes she is buried in Yourtav.

 

Commemoration of Sts. Mamas, Piliktimon and Simeon Stylite

This year is celebrated in:: 2023-09-25

St. Mamas was born in the town Gangra, of the Province of Paplagonia, in a poor Christian family. During persecutions against Christians his parents are imprisoned and exiled to Caesaria. While giving birth to her son, his mother passes away. A pious Christian woman adopts Mamas and brings him up. Already at the age of 15 he is imprisoned and subjected to severe torments for being a devout Christian and brave preacher. Overcoming the hardships he lives an isolated life on the Mountain Argos. St. Mamas devotes all his life to serving the poor, but is betrayed and handed over to the judge. After severe torments St. Mamas is killed by means of trident in 273 A. D.
St. Piliktimon (Philomenos), known in Greek and Latin sources also by the name Filomenos, was a grain trader. For being Christian he is imprisoned during the period of persecutions by the King Avrelios. He is subjected to torments and is finally martyred in 274 A. D.

St. Simeon the Stylite was born in 390 A. D. in Caesaria. He has been a shepherd. One day he goes to the church and, not understanding the meaning of the Gospel passage read that day, asks about it an old man standing beside him. The old man explains him the meaning of the Gospel passage saying that the passage is about abstinence, that is, it is by means of ascetic way of life, deprivations and fasting that the people should deserve the heavenly kingdom. Thinking over the old man’s words Simeon leaves for the Hata Province, of Syria, where he is isolated in a monastery for three years, after which he asks God to grant him the grace to preach and heal. Seeing that the visitors and the sick cause too much trouble to him, Simeon digs a deep dungeon, from where only his head was seen while preaching, and later he climbs up a high column. He lives without a shelter, only standing or kneeling during the day, and only taking Holy Communion as food once a week. For many years he stays on the column and preaches and heals many sick people by means of prayers.

 

Eve of the Fast of the Holy Cross of Varague

This year is celebrated in:: 2023-09-24

This is the Sunday preceding the week prior to the feast of the Appearance of the Holy Cross on the Mount Varague, lasting from Monday to Friday. Being hidden by St. Hripisime on the Mount Varague, the relic of the Lord’s Wooden Cross was found by a miracle in the 7th century and the Armenian Apostolic Church established another purely national feast dedicated to the Holy Cross, which is famous as the Holy Cross of Varague.

 

This feast has been and will be on the following dates


2020-09-20 Eve of the Fast of the Holy Cross of Varague

2021-09-19 Eve of the Fast of the Holy Cross of Varague

2022-09-18 Eve of the Fast of the Holy Cross of Varague

2023-09-24 Eve of the Fast of the Holy Cross of Varague

2024-09-22 Eve of the Fast of the Holy Cross of Varague

2025-09-21 Eve of the Fast of the Holy Cross of Varague

2026-09-20 Eve of the Fast of the Holy Cross of Varague

2027-09-19 Eve of the Fast of the Holy Cross of Varague

2028-09-24 Eve of the Fast of the Holy Cross of Varague

2029-09-23 Eve of the Fast of the Holy Cross of Varague

2030-09-22 Eve of the Fast of the Holy Cross of Varague

Feast of Exaltation of the Holy Cross

This year is celebrated in:: 2023-09-17

Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross is the last one of the five major feasts of the Armenian Apostolic Church. It is the most important feast among the feasts dedicated to the Holy Cross, as it is dedicated to the history of the return of the Holy Cross from imprisonment, its elevation and glorification. In the Armenian Apostolic Church the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross is celebrated on Sunday during the period between September 11-17. This year that date is September 17, and the Monday following the Feast is a Memorial Day.

In 610 A. D, the Persian King Khosrov with a large army attacks the Byzantine Empire. Enthusiastic about the initial victory, in 614 A. D. the Persian army enters Jerusalem. Many people are killed and many are imprisoned. Pontiff Zakaria, the Patriarch of Jerusalem is imprisoned, too. However, the Persians are not satisfied and enter the Church of Holy Sepulcher and take the Holy Cross kept in the Church. The Holy Cross had been found and installed in the Church for the Christians to worship by Heghineh, the mother of the King Costandianos, in the beginning of the 4th century.

In 628 A. D., the Byzantine army led by the King Herakles fight against the Persians to return the Holy Cross. The Armenian army regiment, led by Mzhezh Gnounie, supported the Persian army. With the Lord’s help the Byzantine army wins the battle.
The Holy Cross is solemnly brought to the Armenian town Karin, from where it is carried to Constantinople, and then - to Jerusalem. On the way the Holy Cross was raised for the people to see and worship.

For Christians the Cross is God’s power and strength and pride of all prides, on which Christ’s innocent blood was shed. By means of the Cross Jesus proved His love towards mankind, and the Cross became for us the symbol of hope, love and saving.

 

This feast has been and will be on the following dates

 

2030-09-15 Feast of Exaltation of the Holy Cross

2029-09-16 Feast of Exaltation of the Holy Cross

2028-09-17 Feast of Exaltation of the Holy Cross

2027-09-12 Feast of Exaltation of the Holy Cross

2026-09-13 Feast of Exaltation of the Holy Cross

2025-09-14 Feast of Exaltation of the Holy Cross

2024-09-15 Feast of Exaltation of the Holy Cross

2023-09-17 Feast of Exaltation of the Holy Cross

2022-09-11 Feast of Exaltation of the Holy Cross

2021-09-12 Feast of Exaltation of the Holy Cross

2020-09-13 Feast of Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Eve of the Feast of Exaltation of the Holy Cross

This year is celebrated in:: 2023-09-16

The Saturday preceding the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross is the eve of the feast. That day, as well as the Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday following the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross are the feasts of the Holy Church.

 

This feast has been and will be on the following dates


2020-09-12 Eve of the Feast of Exaltation of the Holy Cross

2021-09-11 Eve of the Feast of Exaltation of the Holy Cross

2022-09-10 Eve of the Feast of Exaltation of the Holy Cross

2023-09-16 Eve of the Feast of Exaltation of the Holy Cross

2024-09-14 Eve of the Feast of Exaltation of the Holy Cross

2025-09-13 Eve of the Feast of Exaltation of the Holy Cross

2026-09-12 Eve of the Feast of Exaltation of the Holy Cross

2027-09-11 Eve of the Feast of Exaltation of the Holy Cross

2028-09-16 Eve of the Feast of Exaltation of the Holy Cross

2029-09-15 Eve of the Feast of Exaltation of the Holy Cross

2030-09-14 Eve of the Feast of Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Birth of St. Mary from Anna

This year is celebrated in:: 2023-09-08

The birth of the Holy Mother of God in not described in the Holy Bible. We learn about from the Holy Tradition of the Church. Parents of the Holy Virgin, Jehoiakim and Anna did not have children for many years. Once, when Anna goes to the garden to pray, suddenly God’s Angel appears to her and tells her that she will have a baby. Anna thanks God for hearing her prayers and promises to present her baby to God. Jehoiakim also has the same vision. He also renders glory to God for deserving him that grace and offers sacrifice. Anna gives birth to a girl, who is named Mary, which means “Illuminated”. It was she whom God granted the grace to be the Mother of God. As mother she worried, suffered for her Son, but never opposed to God very well understanding the importance of the mission entrusted to her by God.

Commemoration of 318 Pontiffs participating in the Ecumenical Council of Nicaea

This year is celebrated in:: 2023-09-09

This council is the First Ecumenical Council in the history of the Church, which was convened upon the order of the King Costandianos the Great in the town Nicaea near Constantinople, in 327 A. D. 318 prominent pontiffs representing the Universal Church participated in the Council. The reason for convening the council was priest Arios of Alexandria, who preached that Christ was not without beginning, that he was created upon the Will of God before times and centuries, in order the creation of God to be realized by means of Christ. The only one not having birth, the only one eternal and without beginning is God the father. Son has been created not from the essence of the Father, but from nothing. There was a time when the Son did not exist. Although the Son has received all the virtues of the Father and is adopted, he is not pure as the Father is, he is changeable, as all human beings.

Because of such viewpoints of Arios the Divinity of Christ was denied and the entire Christian doctrine was endangered. Archbishop Alexander of Alexandria opposed to Arianism. In his sermons he stressed that God is eternal, and Son is eternal, Father and Son are of the same time. Father does not precede the Son even for a moment, Father has always existed and Son has always existed. The false teaching of Arios is condemned during the first Ecumenical Council and it is declared to be heresy.

Aristakes, son of St. Gregory the Illuminator, also participates in the first Ecumenical Council. The doctrinal formulation adopted by the Council, which is known as Nicene Creed, is brought to Armenia by Aristakes and is presented to St. Gregory the Illuminator.  The latter added to it the following passage: “As for us, we shall glorify him who was before the ages, worshipping the Holy Trinity and the one Godhead, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and always and unto ages of ages. Amen.”.

The Nicene Creed, adopted in Nicaea, and the passage added by St. Gregory the Illuminator, are up to date used in the rites of the Armenian Apostolic Church without any change. Aristakes brings to Armenia also 20 canons adopted by the Council of Nicaea, which are also ratified by St. Gregory the Illuminator.

 

Commemoration of Sts. Stepanos of Ulnia, Martyrs Goharine, Tsamides, Tyoukikos and Ratikos

This year is celebrated in:: 2023-09-28

St. Stepanos (Stephen) of Ulnia (Oulnia) was born in the town Kokison near the mountain Tyouros. Being a promised son, he has been brought up and educated under the care of the priest who had baptized him. He was educated according to the divine commandments and was familiar with the Holy Bible. It was said about the priest that “each Sunday together with the other Christians he communicated young Stepanos with the mystery of the Lord’s Body and Blood.”

During the persecutions realized by the King Julianos the Betrayer St. Stepanos has been subjected to severe torments and has been martyred together with his family and other Christians. Later a church has been built over his tomb.

Martyrology of St. Stepanos of Ulnia is the best example of Christian education.

Martyrs Goharine (Goharinus), Tsamides (Zamidus), Tyoukikos (Teuchuicus) and Ratikos (Ratigus), who are known by the name Goharine and his companions, were four brothers. Their father was an Armenian prince who being captivated together with his elder son – Aregh, had been released only after converting to the Moslem faith. However, Davit’s wife brings up and educates her sons in the spirit of Christianity. When they grow up and enter the Islamic Army of Sebastia, they courageously defend Christianity. When it is found out that their father is Moslem and that they have become Christians, they are handed over to the local authorities, but by the efforts of their elder brother are somehow released.

After a while they are handed over again and courageously announce about their being Christian. After threats and tortures they are finally beheaded in 1156 AD, thus displaying their willingness to be martyred for the sake of the truth. Meanwhile by means of their life they realized the following words of Our Lord Jesus Christ: “If anyone wants to come with me, he must forget himself, carry his cross, and follow me.” (The Gospel according to Mathew 16:24).

 

This feast has been and will be on the following dates

 

2030-09-02 Commemoration of Sts. Stepanos of Ulnia, Martyrs Goharine, Tsamides, Tyoukikos and Ratikos

2029-08-27 Commemoration of Sts. Stepanos of Ulnia, Martyrs Goharine, Tsamides, Tyoukikos and Ratikos

2028-08-28 Commemoration of Sts. Stepanos of Ulnia, Martyrs Goharine, Tsamides, Tyoukikos and Ratikos

2027-08-30 Commemoration of Sts. Stepanos of Ulnia, Martyrs Goharine, Tsamides, Tyoukikos and Ratikos

2026-08-31 Commemoration of Sts. Stepanos of Ulnia, Martyrs Goharine, Tsamides, Tyoukikos and Ratikos

2025-09-01 Commemoration of Sts. Stepanos of Ulnia, Martyrs Goharine, Tsamides, Tyoukikos and Ratikos

2024-09-02 Commemoration of Sts. Stepanos of Ulnia, Martyrs Goharine, Tsamides, Tyoukikos and Ratikos

2023-09-28 Commemoration of Sts. Stepanos of Ulnia, Martyrs Goharine, Tsamides, Tyoukikos and Ratikos

2022-08-29 Commemoration of Sts. Stepanos of Ulnia, Martyrs Goharine, Tsamides, Tyoukikos and Ratikos

2021-08-30 Commemoration of Sts. Stepanos of Ulnia, Martyrs Goharine, Tsamides, Tyoukikos and Ratikos

2020-08-31 Commemoration of Sts. Stepanos of Ulnia, Martyrs Goharine, Tsamides, Tyoukikos and Ratikos

Commemoration of Sts. James and Simon Apostles

This year is celebrated in:: 2023-09-02

In order to differ St. James Apostle from James, the son of Zebedee, he is named “James son of Alphaeus” and “James Junior”. The Apostle James son of Alphaeus has preached the Gospel in the Southern parts of Palestine and in Egypt, where he has been martyred.

St. Simon the Patriot Apostle is famous as “Simon of Canaan”, which also means “Zealous”. There was a grouping with that name among the Jews, who without making distinctions between means struggled against the foreign Roman yoke and for eliminating the betraying and fond of foreigners Jews. St. Simon has preached and has been martyred in Persia.

 

This feast has been and will be on the following dates
 

2020-08-29 Commemoration of Sts. James and Simon Apostles

2021-08-28 Commemoration of Sts. James and Simon Apostles

2022-08-27 Commemoration of Sts. James and Simon Apostles

2023-09-02 Commemoration of Sts. James and Simon Apostles

2024-08-31 Commemoration of Sts. James and Simon Apostles

2025-08-30 Commemoration of Sts. James and Simon Apostles

2026-08-29 Commemoration of Sts. James and Simon Apostles

2027-08-28 Commemoration of Sts. James and Simon Apostles

2028-09-02 Commemoration of Sts. James and Simon Apostles

2029-08-25 Commemoration of Sts. James and Simon Apostles

2030-08-31 Commemoration of Sts. James and Simon Apostles

Commemoration of Sts. Captain Andre and his army, Martyrs Kalinikos and Dometios

This year is celebrated in:: 2023-09-04

The quick spreading of Christianity especially on the territory of the Roman Empire since the 3rd century started to worry the kings. Royal charters were issued ordering the Christians to adopt the heathen religion, otherwise they should be persecuted to death. During that period of persecutions any Christians preferred to die than to Betray Jesus Christ.

The Church always appreciated the torments of the people for the sake of Christ, their courage and strength of their faith. Among such people are the martyrs Eugenios and Makarios, martyred during the reign of the King Julianos the Betrayer. Martyrs Valerios, Canditos and Akyoughas have been martyred during the reign of the Kings Diokletianos and Maximianos.

Commemorating the martyrs’ memory, the Church teaches the faithful to remain loyal to Christ even under most severe circumstances.

Captian Andre is a Uni-Christian saint, who was martyred for the sake of spreading of Christianity. He was from Cilicia and lived during the period of reign of the Roman Emperor Dioklethianos. As a high-ranking officer he served in the Royal Army of Syria and he was a Christian.

During the war against Persians, when his Army consisting of nearly 600 soldiers was forced to retreat, the brave Captain encouraged the soldiers by the name of Jesus Christ and returning the Army to the field of battle, won the war. Following the victory the whole Army converted to Christianity. General Commander of the entire Army, becoming aware of that fact, sent armed forces and killed all Christian soldiers in the gorge of Turos.

Kalinikos was a Christian from Galatia. Being a seller of vegetable oil, he moved from one place to another and preached the Christian faith. He was imprisoned and forced to renounce Christ; he refused, and being subjected to severe torments, was martyred.
Dometios was from a noble Christian family from Tarson. He was the contemporary of the Emperor Dioklethianos. Being a physician, he traveled to various places and healed the needy patients by means of both his medical knowledge and skills and the strength of his faith. Meanwhile he consoled the Christians who were being subjected to torments. However, soon he was imprisoned and was taken to Nicomedia for being subjected to trial. Despite his great desire to be martyred, while being carried for subjecting to torments, on this way he stopped for a minute to pray and passed away.

When is celebrated

05.08.2008
27.01.2009
15.11.2010
14.11.2011
03.09.2012
06.08.2013
28.01.2014
04.08.2015
14.11.2016
04.09.2017
03.09.2018
29.01.2019
28.01.2020
15.11.2021
14.11.2022
04.09.2023
06.08.2024
28.01.2025
04.08.2026
15.11.2027
04.09.2028
03.09.2029
29.01.2030

Commemoration of Sts. Adrianos and his wife - Anatolia, Martyrs Theodoros and Elevturos

This year is celebrated in:: 2023-09-05

St. Adrianos was a high-ranking officer, who served in the Roman Army during the reign of the Roman Emperor Maximianos. Initially he was heathen and subjected Christians to persecutions. However, witnessing the Christians’ courage and patience and thanks to the prayers and efforts of his wife – Anatolia, he finally becomes Christian. For conversion to Christianity he is imprisoned and subjected to most severe torments and is martyred in 310 A. D. Anatolia, who encouraged the prisoners during the persecutions realized against Christians, exhorted them to remain loyal to their faith. She served the imprisoned Christians so devotedly that received the name “sister of martyrs”. After the death of her husband she leaves for Byzantine and lives there.

St. Theodoros served as a captain in the Roman Army during the reign of the Roman Emperor Likianos. Despite the fact that Likianos had signed with Kostandianos a Charter on liberating Christians, changes his decision and starts persecutions against Christians. Becoming aware that Theodoros is Christian and, moreover, converts other people to Christianity, Likianos orders him to give up his faith and to follow his previous faith. Thodoros prefers to be subjected to torments than to renounce Christ. Upon the king’s order he is severely beaten, bound to the wooden cross with his head downwards and is beheaded in 319 A. D.

St. Elevturos has lived in Galatia during the reign of the King Dekos. One of the citizens of Galatia criticizes the King Koumvria for his cruelty and as the result of criticism is beheaded. Elevturos, who attended the ceremony of beheading, more strictly criticizes the court and is persecuted for that, but miraculously escapes death. Witnessing the miarcle, many heathens become Christian, and among them - the heathen priest Kalinikos, who proclaims himself Christian and is beheaded. Elevturous, enduring many torments, passes away.

When is celebrated

07.08.2008
29.01.2009
16.11.2010
15.11.2011
04.09.2012
08.08.2013
30.01.2014
06.08.2015
15.11.2016
05.09.2017
04.09.2018
31.01.2019
30.01.2020
16.11.2021
15.11.2022
05.09.2023
08.09.2024
30.01.2025
06.08.2026
16.11.2027
05.09.2028
04.09.2029
31.01.2030

Feast of the Discovery of St. Mary’s Box

This year is celebrated in:: 2023-09-27

According to tradition, while en route to Jerusalem on a pilgrimage, two Greek princes come across a chest that once belonged to St. Mary. In Galilee, they see a large crowd gathered in front of a Jewish woman’s house. They inquire and find that the sick are being healed due to the inexplicable power of the chest. The princes bring the box to Constantinople and present it to the Patriarch, who places it in the Church of St. Mary.  The Patriarch then establishes the Feast of the Discovery of St. Mary’s Box.

The Armenian Church celebrates this feast upon the order of the Catholicos Simeon from Yerevan, who accepted this tradition from the Greek Orthodox Church in the late 18th century.

When is celebrated

31.08.2008
30.08.2009
29.08.2010
28.08.2011
26.08.2012
01.09.2013
31.08.2014
30.08.2015
28.08.2016
27.08.2017
26.08.2018
01.09.2019
30.08.2020
29.08.2021
28.08.2022
27.09.2023
01.09.2024
31.08.2025
30.08.2026
29.08.2027
27.08.2028
26.08.2029
01.09.2030

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