Saints R - S

Orthodox icon of Saint Gerasimos the Hymnographer, Αγ. Γεράσιμος ο Υμνογράφος

Commemorated: July 12

According to the abbot of the Holy Monastery of Gregory, Archimandrite George, Elder Gerasimos was "a humble monk, eager for the kingdom of heaven, transcending the flesh and the things of the flesh, prayerful, gentle, sweet, affable, God-loving and philanthropic, instructive, forgiving, easygoing, vigilant with the eye of his soul, strict with himself and condescending to his fellow men."

He was born in Droviani, Northern Epirus, in 1903 AD (and not in 1905 AD, as mistakenly written in the archives) and his secular name was Anastasios - Athanasios Grekas. From his father, Ioannis, he inherited his strictness towards himself, and from his mother, Athina, his deep, sincere, and unhypocritical religious devotion. He frequented the church in his village and the chapels in the mountains. He excelled in his studies because he was intelligent and had a good memory. He received his basic education in Piraeus and Athens, where he also met Saint Nektarios of Pentapolis (see November 9). He left Piraeus by ship for Mount Athos on August 15, 1923 AD.After five years, his Elder departed for the world and he remained alone in the desert. The presence of God became more noticeable to him then. His only consolation was prayer and study. He studied constantly, insatiably, carefully. After twenty years, he acquired a small group of good fathers. The blessed Elder taught both through silence and through his words. He considered silence to be "the mother of the wisest concepts." His words were always thoughtful, beautiful, instructive, and soul-nourishing. His guests were captivated by their conversations with him. He used to say: "Saint Gregory Palamas says that the only thing that Almighty God cannot do is to unite with unclean man. He is incapable of this.

"However, it was his hymnography that brought him fame and recognition everywhere. This is how he describes the beginning of his work around 1926 AD: "When I composed the first canon to the Virgin Mary, my late Elder saw it; he knew a little about letters. He said it was very beautiful. I took it to Kallinikos in Katounakia. He had been a recluse for forty years, praying silently, with divine inspiration, and I consulted him. He knew few letters, but he had great experience and the grace of God. After all, 'ask your elders and they will tell you'. Kallinikos says, "The rule is excellent, but I tell you one thing: humility, modesty. Be careful that the devil does not fight you." He writes hymns after careful study and much prayer. He says again: "Everything I do, I owe to prayer. Before work, I will say a fervent prayer, improvised, but very warm, which acts and works and brings whatever good results it brings. Prayer is everything. Let us not rely on external wisdom, on measures. It is a cold word. This cold word must become alive. And it will only become alive through prayer." His rich hymnographic work is estimated at more than 2,000 sacred services. Many have written about him and his work, and many have honored and awarded him for it, this great Hymnographer of the Great Church of Christ.

In fact, on June 25, 1963, during the patriarchate of Athenagoras, the Ecumenical Patriarchate awarded Saint Gerasimos Mikragiannanitis for his contribution to the celebrations for the millennium of Mount Athos, while on December 28, 1968 AD, the Academy of Athens honored him with a silver medal.

As his subordinates recount, he had begged the Virgin Mary to keep him sane until the end so as not to tire anyone. Indeed, he remained lucid until his last breath. He said three times, "Saint Nektarios, help me," and then he passed away. A sweetness was painted on his face; you would have thought he was sleeping peacefully. He passed away on December 7, 1991 AD. His biographer, Elder Theoklitos Dionysiatis, describes him as a modest and excellent hymnographer, a rare personality and a true man of God. Archimandrite George Chrysostomou says that the Elder was a prominent figure of Mount Athos monasticism, a leading, famous, charismatic, and unique figure. He departed with the name of the miracle-working Saint Nektarios on his lips, to whom he had composed one of his most beautiful sacred services.

On January 10, 2023 AD, the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate decided to include Saint Gerasimos Mikragiannanitis in the Synaxarion of the Orthodox Church.

Orthodox icon of Saint Paul the Simple of Egypt. Copy of a contemporary icon.

The icon will have a burgundy border.

Commemorated March 7th

Saint Paul the Simple of Egypt also lived in the fourth century and was called the Simple for his simplicity of heart and gentleness. He had been married, but when he discovered his wife’s infidelity, he left her and went into the desert to Saint Anthony the Great (January 17). Paul was already 60 years old, and at first Saint Anthony would not accept Paul, saying that he was unfit for the harshness of the hermit’s life. Paul stood outside the cell of the ascetic for three days, saying that he would sooner die than go from there. Then Saint Anthony took Paul into his cell, and tested his endurance and humility by hard work, severe fasting, with nightly vigils, constant singing of Psalms and prostrations. Finally, Saint Anthony decided to settle Paul into a separate cell.

During the many years of ascetic exploits the Lord granted Saint Paul both discernment, and the power to cast out demons. When they brought a possessed youth to Saint Anthony, he guided the afflicted one to Saint Paul saying, “I cannot help the boy, for I have not received power over the Prince of the demons. Paul the Simple, however, does have this gift.” Saint Paul expelled the demon by his simplicity and humility.

After living for many years, performing numerous miracles, he departed to the Lord. He is mentioned by Saint John, the Abbot of Sinai (Ladder 24:30): “The thrice-blessed Paul the Simple was a clear example for us, for he was the rule and type of blessed simplicity....”

Ref: O.C.A.

Orthodox icon of Apostle Philemon of the Seventy. Contemporary icon.

Commemorated November 22.

The Holy Apostle of the Seventy Philemon lived in the city of Colossa in Phrygia. After they were baptized by the holy Apostle Paul, they converted their house into a house of prayer, where all those who believed in Christ gathered and attended services. They devoted themselves to serving the sick and downcast.

Saint Philemon became bishop of the city of Gaza, and he preached the Word of God throughout Phrygia. The holy Apostle Paul continued to be his guide, and addressed to him his Epistle filled with love, and in which he sends blessings “to Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellow laborer, and to our beloved Apphia, and to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in thy house” (Phil 1:1-3).

Saint Philemon received the crown of martyrdom during the persecution of Nero (54-68). During a pagan festival an enraged crowd rushed into the Christian church when services were going on. All fled in terror, and only Saints Philemon, Archippus and Apphia remained. They seized them and led them off to the city prefect. The crowd beat and stabbed Saint Archippus with knives, and he died on the way to the court. Saints Philemon and Apphia were stoned to death by order of the prefect.

Reference: O.C.A.

Orthodox icon of Saint Procopius, Prokopios, the Great Martyr. Copy of an icon of 13th cent. Protato Karyes, Mount Athos.

Commemorated July 8th.

Orthodox icon of Saint Procopius, Prokopios, the Great Martyr (2). Copy of a contemporary icon.

Commemorated July 8th.

Orthodox icon of Saint Remigius, Bishop of Reims and Apostle of the Franks. Copy of a contemporary icon.

Commemorated October 1st

Saint Remigius was born in 438 in northern Gaul.

After devoting himself for awhile to secular and sacred learning, he withdrew to a small house near Laon, to live in reclusion and prayer. But when a bishop was needed in Rheims, the clergy and people carried him off from his hermitage and made him their bishop. He was only twenty-two years old at the time.

The holy bishop soon became renowned throughout northern Gaul. He converted heretics, brought Arian heretics back to the Orthodox Faith, cared for the many who suffered at the hands of barbarian marauders.

Wherever he went, miracles attended him. He healed the sick and demonized and once, when a town was on fire, threw himself into the flames and quenched them. Birds would come to his table whenever he ate, and he would share his meal with them.

In 482 the young warrior Clovis became leader of the Frankish tribes in that region. Though he was a pagan, he knew and admired St Remigius, and was married to a Christian, St Clotilde (June 3).

Once, when his army faced defeat by the Alemanii, Clovis prayed to 'the God of Clotilde and Remigius' and won a great victory. This answer to his prayers convinced him of the truth of the Christian Faith, and he asked St Remigius to instruct him. Two years later he gathered all his chieftains in Rheims to attend his baptism. The baptism was accompanied by many miracles, seen by all in attendance. Two of the king's sisters and three thousand of his lords and soldiers were baptized at the ceremony. This event is considered the birth of France as a Christian nation.

In great old age, St Remigius went blind, but miraculously recovered his sight. He reposed in peace at the age of 105, immediately after serving the Divine Liturgy.

Orthodox icon of Saint Rodanthe, Rodanthi the Martyr, (Αγ. Ροδάνθη).

Commemorated June 9th.

Orthodox icon of Saint Romanus, Romanos the Melodist.

Commemorated November 1st.

Saint Romanus the Melodist was born in the fifth century in the Syrian city of Emesa of Jewish parents. After moving to Constantinople, he became a church sacristan in the temple of Hagia Sophia. The monk spent his nights alone at prayer in a field or in the Blachernae church beyond the city. St Romanus was not a talented reader or singer. Once, on the eve of the Nativity of Christ, he read the kathisma verses. He read so poorly that another reader had to take his place.

The clergy ridiculed Romanus, which devastated him. On the day of the Nativity, the Mother of God appeared to the grief-stricken youth in a vision while he was praying before her Kyriotissa icon. She gave him a scroll and commanded him to eat it. Thus was he given the gift of understanding, composition, and hymnography. That evening at the all-night Vigil St Romanus sang, in a wondrous voice, his first Kontakion: Today the Virgin gives birth to the Transcendent One...

All the hymns of St Romanus became known as kontakia, in reference to the Virgin's scroll. St Romanus was also the first to write in the form of the Oikos, which he incorporated into the all-night Vigil at his places of residence (In Greek, oikos ). For his zealous service St Romanus was ordained as a deacon and became a teacher of song. Until his death, which occurred about the year 556, the hierodeacon Romanus the Melodist composed nearly a thousand hymns, many of which are still used by Christians to glorify the Lord. About eighty survive.

Reference: O.C.A.

Orthodox icon of Saint Romanus, Romanos the Melodist (2). Copy of a contemporary icon.

Commemorated November 1st.

Saint Romanus the Melodist was born in the fifth century in the Syrian city of Emesa of Jewish parents. After moving to Constantinople, he became a church sacristan in the temple of Hagia Sophia. The monk spent his nights alone at prayer in a field or in the Blachernae church beyond the city. St Romanus was not a talented reader or singer. Once, on the eve of the Nativity of Christ, he read the kathisma verses. He read so poorly that another reader had to take his place.

The clergy ridiculed Romanus, which devastated him. On the day of the Nativity, the Mother of God appeared to the grief-stricken youth in a vision while he was praying before her Kyriotissa icon. She gave him a scroll and commanded him to eat it. Thus was he given the gift of understanding, composition, and hymnography. That evening at the all-night Vigil St Romanus sang, in a wondrous voice, his first Kontakion: Today the Virgin gives birth to the Transcendent One...

All the hymns of St Romanus became known as kontakia, in reference to the Virgin's scroll. St Romanus was also the first to write in the form of the Oikos, which he incorporated into the all-night Vigil at his places of residence (In Greek, oikos ). For his zealous service St Romanus was ordained as a deacon and became a teacher of song. Until his death, which occurred about the year 556, the hierodeacon Romanus the Melodist composed nearly a thousand hymns, many of which are still used by Christians to glorify the Lord. About eighty survive.

Reference: O.C.A.

Orthodox icon of Saint. Salome the Myrrh bearer.

Commemorated August 3.

This is the Orthodox icon of Saint Salome who was the daughter of St. Joseph the Betrothed and his first wife (who was also named Salome). THe Theotokos would have been her stepmother. She married Zebedee who was a fisherman and became mother of the disciples James and John. She was probably a widow at the time of the Crucifixion of Christ as Zebedee is no longer mentioned.

She is the one who asked Jesus, "Command that these two sons of mine might sit, one on thy right hand and one on thy left, in thy kingdom" (Mt 20:20,21). She was also one of the witnesses of the Crucifixion (Mt 27:55,56). She also was one of the myrrh bearers who helped put Christ into the tomb and went to the tomb later to anoint Christ and witnessed His Resurrection.  

When she came with the other women they found the stone of the tomb rolled away. and when they entered they saw a young man sitting on the right clothed in a white robe. They saw Christ was missing and the angel told them that He was raised was not there and to go tell the disciples and Peter that He went before them to Galilee. (Mk 16:1-8) She is celebrated as one who first brought tidings of the Resurrection to the world, especially on the Sunday of Myrrh-bearing Women.

Orthodox icon of Saint Sampson the Hospitable of Constantinople. Copy of a contemporary icon.

Protector of people with restaurants or hotels

NOTE: the name of the web store on the icon is a watermark. The icon will not have it.

Saint Sampson the Hospitable was the son of rich and illustrious Roman parents. In his youth he received an excellent education, he studied the medical arts, and doctored the sick without charge. After the death of his parents Saint Sampson generously distributed alms and set his slaves free, preparing himself to go into the wilderness.

With this intent in mind he soon journeyed from Rome to the East. But the Lord directed him onto a different path, that of service to neighbor, and so Saint Sampson came to Constantinople. Settling into a small house, the saint began to take in homeless wanderers, the poor and the sick, and he attended to them. The Lord blessed the efforts of Saint Sampson and endowed him with the power of wonderworking. He healed the sick not only through being a skilled physician, but also as a bearer of the grace of God. News of Saint Sampson spread abroad. The patriarch heard of his great virtue and ordained him to the holy priesthood.

It was revealed to the grievously ill Emperor Justinian (527-565), that he could receive healing only through Saint Sampson. In praying, the saint put his hand on the afflicted area, and Justinian was healed. In gratitude the emperor wanted to reward his healer with silver and gold, but the saint refused and instead asked Justinian to build a home for the poor and the sick. The emperor readily fulfilled his request.

Saint Sampson devoted the rest of his life to serving his neighbor. He survived into old age and after a short illness he departed peacefully to the Lord. The saint was buried at the church of the holy Martyr Mocius, and many healings were effected at his grave. His hospice remained open, and the saint did not cease to care for the suffering. He appeared twice to a negligent worker of the hospice and upbraided him for his laziness. At the request of an admirer of Saint Sampson the hospice was transformed into a church, and beside it a new edifice was built for the homeless. During the time of a powerful fire at Constantinople the flames did not touch the hospice of Saint Sampson. Through his intercession a heavy rain quenched the fire.

Reference: O.C.A.

Orthodox icon of Saint Savvas the New, Σάββας  of Kalymnos.

Commemorated April 7.

Saint Savvas the New is the patron saint of the Greek Island of Kalymnos where he lived during the last twenty years of his life as the priest and spiritual father of the nuns of the Convent of All Saints. Saint Savvas was born in 1862 in Eastern Thrace. From his youth he had a calling for monastic life. He left for Mount Athos as a teen where he entered St. Anne's Skete. He learned iconography and Byzantine music.

After a few years, he traveled to Jerusalem for a pilgrimage to the holy sites, and there he entered the monastery of St. George Hozevitou. After a period of being a novice, he was tonsured a monk and given the name of Savvas.  In 1902, St. Savvas was ordained a deacon and a year later he was ordained to the Holy Priesthood. He spent almost 10 years in the desert by the Jordan where he led an austere life and occupied himself with prayer and iconography. His dwelling consisted of two cells which he reached by ascending up a rope ladder.

This isolation was necessary for successful inner concentration and noetic prayer and he made great spiritual progress there. Due to health reasons and the political situation in Palestine which made life unsafe, St. Savvas returned to Greece where he searched for a quiet place to continue his monastic life. He traveled throughout Greece for three years but could not find a suitable place. His prayers were answered when another saint, St. Nektarios of Aegina, had asked St. Savvas to come to the Holy Trinity Convent in Aegina and serve as a priest for nuns. St. Savvas stayed at the convent for six years, from 1919 until 1925. During his stay at the Convent St. Savvas had the opportunity to confess and receive counsel from St. Nektarios.

After St. Nektarios reposed, more and more pilgrims would come to the convent due to the growing reputation of St. Nektarios as a miracle-worker. This disrupted the quiet life that St. Savvas loved and so he departed the convent in 1925, again for a quieter life. St. Savvas spent the last years of his life as the priest and spiritual father at the Convent of All Saints on the island of Kalymnos. As a confessor, he combined leniency with severity. He was lenient on certain sins and severe to others.

He remained an ardent spiritual striver until the end of life and practiced extreme forms of self-restraint with regard to food, drink and sleep. Towards the end of his life, St. Savvas was in a state of intense concentration and holy contrition. For 3 days he did not receive anyone and he gave his last counsels: requested love and obedience in Christ. When he was on the point of death taking his last breath, suddenly he received strength, brought his blessed small hands together, and clapped them repeatedly saying his last holy words: "The Lord! The Lord! The Lord!".

He went to the Lord in 1948 on the eve of the feast of the Annunciation. After about 10 years when the saint's grave was opened in accordance to the Greek Orthodox custom, a heavenly fragrance emanated from the grave. This was a testament to the sanctity of the saint. Numerous miracles and healings have since been attributed to St. Savvas the New of Kalymnos.

Orthodox Icon of the Saint Savvas, Sabbas the Sanctified with others Saints of his Monastery. Copy of a 13 cent. icon.

Commemorated December 5th.

Saint Sava the Sanctified was born in the fifth century at Cappadocia of pious Christian parents, John and Sophia. His father was a military commander. Journeying to Alexandria on military matters, his wife went with him, but they left their five-year-old son in the care of an uncle. When the boy reached eight years of age, he entered the monastery of St Flavian located nearby. The gifted child quickly learned to read and became an expert on the Holy Scriptures. In vain did his parents urge St Sava to return to the world and enter into marriage.

When he was seventeen years old he received monastic tonsure, and attained such perfection in fasting and prayer that he was given the gift of wonderworking. After spending ten years at the monastery of St Flavian, he went to Jerusalem, and from there to the monastery of St Euthymius the Great (January 20). But St Euthymius sent St Sava to Abba Theoctistus, the head of a nearby monastery with a strict cenobitic rule. St Sava lived in obedience at this monastery until the age of thirty. After the death of the Elder Theoctistus, his successor blessed St Sava to seclude himself in a cave.

On Saturdays, however, he left his hermitage and came to the monastery, where he participated in divine services and ate with the brethren. After a certain time St Sava received permission not to leave his hermitage at all, and he struggled in the cave for five years. St Euthymius attentively directed the life of the young monk, and seeing his spiritual maturity, he began to take him to the Rouba wilderness with him. They set out on January 14, and remained there until Palm Sunday. St Euthymius called St Sava a child-elder, and encouraged him to grow in the monastic virtues.

When St Euthymius fell asleep in the Lord (+ 473), St Sava withdrew from the Lavra and moved to a cave near the monastery of St Gerasimus of Jordan (March 4). After several years, disciples began to gather around St Sava, seeking the monastic life. As the number of monks increased, a lavra sprang up. When a pillar of fire appeared before St Sava as he was walking, he found a spacious cave in the form of a church. St Sava founded several more monasteries.

Many miracles took place through the prayers of St Sava: at the Lavra a spring of water welled up, during a time of drought there was abundant rain, and there were also healings of the sick and the demoniacs. St Sava composed the first monastic Rule of church services, the so-called Jerusalem Typikon , accepted by all the Palestine monasteries. The saint surrendered his soul to God in the year 532.

Reference: O.C.A.

Orthodox Icon of Saint Savvas, Sabbas the Sanctified (2). Copy of 13 cent. icon

Commemorated December 5th.

Saint Savvas was born in the village of Mutalaska, in the province of Cappadocia. When he was seventeen years old he received monastic tonsure. After spending ten years at the monastery of St Flavian, he went to Jerusalem, and then to the monastery of St Euthymius the Great (January 20). But St Euthymius sent St Savas to Abba Theoctistus, the head of a nearby monastery with a strict cenobitic rule. St Savas lived in obedience at this monastery until the age of thirty. After the death of the Elder Theoctistus, he was blessed to seclude himself in a cave.

On Saturdays, however, Saint Savvas left his hermitage and came to the monastery, where he participated in divine services and ate with the brethren. He struggled in the cave for five years. When St Euthymius fell asleep in the Lord (+ 473), St Sava withdrew from the Lavra and moved to a cave near the monastery of St Gerasimus of Jordan (March 4). After several years, disciples began to gather around St Savas, seeking the monastic life. A lavra sprang up. When a pillar of fire appeared before St Savas as he was walking, he found a spacious cave in the form of a church.

St Savas founded several more monasteries. Many miracles took place through the prayers of St Savas: at the Lavra a spring of water welled up, during a time of drought there was abundant rain, and there were also healings of the sick and the demoniacs. St Savas composed the first monastic Rule of church services, the so-called u201cJerusalem Typikon, accepted by all the Palestine monasteries. The saint surrendered his soul to God in the year 532. His Great Lavra long continued to be the most influential monastery in those parts, and produced several distinguished monks, among them St John of Damascus. It is now known as the monastery of Mar Saba