(Feast Day ~ January 23) The New Testament is filled with stories of our Lord’s admonitions to his listeners – and to us, today – to be merciful and generous to the poor, to feed the hungry and clothe the naked, to go out of our way to help those in need. Many of the […]

(Feast Day ~ January 22) Six centuries after Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar followed the star and brought gifts to the Christ child, another magus learned of Christ, believed, and gave his life for his faith. Magundat, a Persian, was the son of a magician, who had taught him all the practices of his art. Magundat […]

(Feast day ~ January 20) Some of the most tragic incidents in war are the occasional “friendly fire” accidents, when soldiers mistakenly fire upon (and often kill) members of their own military force. But these incidents, regrettable as they are, are still understandable in the midst of the chaos and confusion of war. It would […]

(Feast Day ~ January 17) Reprinted from The Prologue from Ochrid by Bishop (St.) Nikolai Velimirovic Antony was an Egyptian, born about 250 in a village called Quemen-el-Arons near Heracleopolis. After the death of his rich and noble parents, he shared his inherited possessions with his sister, who was still in her minority, made sure […]

(Feast Day ~ January 16) The two sons in a Roman senatorial family living in northern Gaul led a typical life, receiving a good education and enjoying the privileges of society to which they were entitled by their class. But when, at age 18, Honoratus converted to Christianity, followed soon by his brother, Venantius, the […]

(Feast day, January 14) The ways of the world have drifted far from the ways of God. In the world, power and riches and prominent positions are important. But Holy Scripture reminds us that God’s way is the opposite. We are told that even great and powerful people must be “born again” and become like […]

(Feast Day ~ January 14) St. Hilary of Poitiers was a defender of the Orthodox faith during the struggle of the Church with the Arian heresy in the fourth century. Hilary was born in Poitiers around 315, the son of aristocratic pagan parents in the portion of the Roman Empire called Gaul. His life at […]

(Feast Day ~ January 13) The stories of the saints show us time and time again how God can take the unfortunate and sinful events of our lives and bring about good. The life of St. Kentigern is an example of God’s redeeming intervention. Kentigern’s mother, Thenaw, was not married when she became pregnant. Her […]

(Feast Day ~ January 12) With the Bible as our record of the long history of God’s purpose for his people over many centuries, we Christians are aware that every decision, every action, every turning point, can have far-reaching consequences beyond what is immediately apparent. Such was the legacy of St. Benedict Biscop, Abbot of […]

(Feast Day ~ January 10) There are many reasons why Christians have fled to the desert or a monastery to live an ascetic life. Doing this because your brother-in-law was going to report you to the authorities is not a common one! But that is how the monastic life of St. Paul, the first hermit, […]