From the Menaion - 2 February

Synaxarion

On 2 February, we celebrate the Hypapanty, or Encounter of our Lord Jesus Christ, when He was received in the arms of Just Simeon.

The arms of Simeon, carrying Christ Jesus, resemble the bosom of the Father, where He is enthroned above. Simeon receives Him within the Temple on the second.

All glory and power to our God throughout all the ages. Amen.

From the Menaion - 29 February

Synaxarion

On 29 February, we commemorate our venerable father Cassian the Roman.

To his glory, Cassian passed from earth to Heaven like a smoking censer fragrant with cassia. Once in every four years, we keep the memorial of this great-hearted monk on the twenty-ninth.

By his holy prayers, O our God, take pity on us and save us. Amen.

From the Menaion - 28 February

Synaxarion

On 28 February, we commemorate our venerable father Basil the Confessor, companion in asceticism to holy Procopios.

Basil carried Christ in his soul. But he renders up that soul, releasing the shadow for the sake of the true Good. On the twenty-eighth, the earth offers his body a refuge, but his spirit exults in joy in Heaven.

By his holy prayers, O our God, take pity on us and save us. Amen.

From the Menaion - 27 February

Synaxarion

On 27 February, we commemorate our venerable father Procopios the Decapolitan, a Confessor of the Faith.

O inhabitant of the Ten Cities of the Decapolis, no city on earth was able to please you as much as the Heavenly City for which you longed. Remaining constant in adversity, O Procopios, you finished your race on the twenty-seventh, and now you rejoice.

By his holy prayers, O our God, take pity on us and save us. Amen.

From the Menaion - 26 February

Synaxarion

On 26 February, we commemorate our venerable father Porphyrios, bishop of Gaza.

Who would dare to pass over Porphyrios in silence? Especially since he passed over from earth to Heaven! On the twenty-sixth, the earth buried his remains, but time can never bury his fame.

On the same day, we commemorate the holy martyr Photina the Samaritan, to whom Christ had spoken by the well.

They cast into a well that Samaritan woman who had found at the well the fountain of living waters in Christ.

By their holy prayers, O our God, take pity on us and save us. Amen.

From the Menaion - 25 February

Synaxarion

On 25 February, we commemorate our father among the saints Tarasios, Archbishop of Constantinople.

Saved from the storm as an able sailor, he found a serene harbor far from the world. Having brought about the triumph of Orthodoxy, Tarasios enters into rest on the twenty-fifth.

By his holy prayers, O our God, take pity on us and save us. Amen.

From the Menaion - 24 February

Synaxarion

On 24 February, we commemorate the first and second findings of the venerable head of the holy Prophet and Forerunner, John the Baptist.

“Bear worthy fruits of repentance!” exhorts the Forerunner once again, after the finding of his head. He who once baptized the multitudes in the waters now plunges them into the river of miracles. O Forerunner, you once fell under the headsman’s sword: on the twenty-fourth, you reveal your blessed head.

By the prayers of Your Forerunner, O Christ our God, take pity on us and save us. Amen.

From the Menaion - 23 February

Synaxarion

On 23 February, we commemorate the holy hieromartyr Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna.

Because the fire of love bore so much fruit, Polycarp was offered to the Lord in a fiery holocaust. On 23 February, the holy martyr came into the harbor of Heaven, to which his fire had led him.

By his holy prayers, O our God, take pity on us and save us. Amen.

From the Meanion - 22 February

Synaxarion

On 22 February, we commemorate the discovery of the remains of the holy martyrs in the district of Evgenios, at the time of the Emperor Arcadios.

The martyrs who had lain hidden under the ground, now purify the face of the earth from all evil. Their remains were rescued from eternal oblivion on the twenty-second. Their memory shall never again be forgotten.

By their holy prayers, O our God, take pity on us and save us. Amen.

From the Menaion - 21 February

Synaxarion

On 21 February, we commemorate our venerable father Timothy the Symbolite.

He who is God of the living and the dead has granted a life adorned with ineffable joy to Timothy, who was adorned by wondrous miracles. On the twenty-first, his body was placed in the tomb.

On this same day, we commemorate our father among the saints Eustathios, Patriarch of Antioch the Great.

O Eustathios, good shepherd and double-edged sword cutting down heresy, you are the subject of our hymns!

By the prayers of Your saints, O Christ our God, take pity on us and save us. Amen.

From the Menaion - 20 February

Synaxarion

On 20 February, we commemorate our venerable father Leo the Wonderworker, Bishop of Catania.

Behold the body of Leo! “Who is he?” You ask. And the response comes, “He is the Bishop of Catania, a holy hierarch, who was laid in the tomb on the twentieth of February.”

By his holy prayers, O our God, take pity on us and save us. Amen.

From the Menaion - 19 February

Synaxarion

On 19 February, we commemorate the holy apostles Archippos, Philemon, and Apphia.

For the love of his Master, who is the Corner-Stone, Archippos endured being stoned. Philemon was flayed by green branches for the sake of Him who led him into repose in green pastures. Apphia, that holy woman, was executed on the ground, while she lifted up the eyes of her soul to the heavens. Courageously suffering his passion on the nineteenth, Archippos was stoned to death for Christ.

On the same day, we commemorate our venerable mother Philothea of Athens.

I believe that Philothea is well worthy of Athens, for she conquered it by the armor of the Cross.

By their holy prayers, O our God, take pity on us and save us. Amen.

From the Menaion - 18 February

Synaxarion

On 18 February, we commemorate our father among the saints Leo, Pope of Rome.

Leo peacefully commended his soul to the Lord, then the hosts of demons roared with fear. On the eighteenth, he passed on to a better place.

By his holy prayers, O our God, take pity on us and save us. Amen.

From the Menaion - 17 February

Synaxarion

On 17 February, we commemorate the holy great-martyr Theodore the Recruit.

Shortly after being recruited, the soldier Theodore was immediately burned for the sake of the One whom he worshiped. On the seventeenth, he became a sweet-smelling holocaust.

By his holy prayers, O our God, take pity on us and save us. Amen.

From the Menaion - 16 February

Synaxarion

On 16 February, we commemorate the holy martyrs Pamphilos, Valens, Paul, Seleucos, Porphyros, Theodulos, Julian, Elias, Jeremiah, Samuel, Isaiah and Daniel.

Cherishing You above all things, O Word, Pamphilos voluntarily surrendered his head and died as the first in line. Like Paul, Seleucos and Valens joyfully suffered their decapitation. Burning with love for Christ in their souls, two proven witnesses are cast into the fire. The servants of error crucified on a tree Theodulos, the servant of the True God who had been sent to the cross. By their beheading, five athletes joined the glory of martyrdom to their names taken from the prophets. By a sword, on the sixteenth, the unforgettable Pamphilos drew his last breath.

By the prayers of Your saints, O Christ our God, take pity on us and save us. Amen.

From the Menaion - 15 February

Synaxarion

On 15 February, we commemorate the holy apostle Onesimos, the disciple of the holy Paul

In martyrdom, as an athlete, Onesimos stretched out on the ground his legs, which had been so prompt to run the race of holy Paul; and they shattered them with stones. On the fifteenth, he won the laurel wreath and victory hymn.

By his holy prayers, O our God, take pity on us and save us. Amen.

From the Menaion - 14 February

Synaxarion

On 14 February, we commemorate our venerable father Auxentios, who lived on Mount Skopa.

The mount was for Auxentios what Carmel had been for the prophet Elijah. Imitating his career in all but the final ascent, he left this life for Heaven on the fourteenth.

On this same day, we commemorate our venerable father Maron.

O Maron, your flesh which was withered by nature was transplanted into Eden as it became a blossoming flower.

By their holy praeyrs, O our God, take pity on us and save us. Amen.

From the Menaion - 13 February

Synaxarion

On 13 February, we commemorate our venerable father Martinian.

Martinian, you blew out the flame of the passions and did not give in to the woman's charms. Thus, after death, you escaped the unending flame. On the thirteenth, his soul was freed from the pull of the flesh.

By his holy prayers, O our God, take pity on us and save us. Amen.

From the Menaion - 12 February

Synaxarion

On 12 February, we commemorate our father among the saints Meletios, Archbishop of Antioch the Great.

To imitate Christ in His last words, Meletios lifted up his arms and said this prayer, "Into Your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit!" On the twelfth, he was buried in the earth like a grain of wheat.

By his holy prayers, O our God, take pity on us and save us. Amen.

From the Menaion - 11 February

Synaxarion

On 11 February, we commemorate the holy hieromartyr Blaise, Archbishop of Sebastea.

Holy Blase, the martyr slaughter by the sword, visits the sick and heals those who suffer physical ailments in their throats. The iron cut your throat on the eleventh, O Blaise, and you died.

On the same day, we commemorate the two holy infants and the seven holy women, companions in martyrdom with holy Blaise, who perished under the sword.

With courage those two infants showed in their martyrdom! They both hastened to see who would arrive first. The seven women believed in Christ. O sword, you split them asunder, but their courage was not diminished.

On the same day, we commemorate the empress Theodora, who strengthened Orthodoxy by restoring the veneration of the icons.

Theodora, the pious empress has a right to the crown which is offered to her by Christ the King!

By their holy prayers, O Christ, take pity on us and save us. Amen.