Office
Oct 27, 2026, 1:02 AM
SNOC.AppSt. Nicholas Orthodox Church
Tuesday, October 27, 2026
Office
Oct 27, 2026, 1:02 AM
Office
Oct 27, 2026, 1:01 AM
A Real Person in the Eyes of God and Man In the wide stillness of the Alaskan tundra—where the sky stretches open like a prayer and the rivers flow between worlds—God planted a soul full of hidden beauty. On February 3, 1916 (January 21, Julian Calendar), in the village of Kwethluk, at the…
The holy Martyr Nestor was very young in age, handsome in appearance, and he was known to the holy Great Martyr Demetrios (October 26), for he had instructed Nestor in the faith. The Emperor was visiting Thessaloniki, and he built a high platform in the midst of the city so that a gigantic…
Saint Nestor the Chronicler, of the Kiev Caves, Near Caves was born at Kiev in 1050. He came to Saint Theodosius (May 3) as a young man, and became a novice. Saint Nestor took monastic tonsure under the successor to Saint Theodosius, the igumen Stephen, and under him was ordained a hierodeacon.…
Saints Capitolina (Καπιτωλίνη) and Eroteis (Ἐρωτηΐς) lived during the reign of Emperor Diocletian, when Zilikinthios (Ζιλικίνθιος) was the magistrate of…
Saint Matthew is the only Evangelist to mention Pilate’s wife, who told him “Have nothing to do with that just man, because I have suffered many things in a dream today because of him” (Matthew 27:19). She is not identified by name, but the author of the apocryphal Acts of Paul…
Saints Mark, Soterikhos, and Valentine were from Asia. They were arrested by the idolaters in the year 304 because they were Christians. After enduring many tortures, they were dragged over sharp stones until they were dead. Later, their holy relics were brought to the island of Thasos, which lies…
Saint Demetrius of Basarabov in Bulgaria lived in the wilderness as an ascetic near the city of Ruschuk, Bulgaria. He died in 1685. On July 8, 1779 his relics were transferred to Bucharest.
Saint Nestor (not the Chronicler) of the Kiev Caves, who lived as an ascetic in the Far Caves, is to be distinguished from Saint Nestor the Chronicler of the Near Caves. His memory is celebrated October 27 it seems, because he was named for the Saint Nestor of Thessalonica. The name of Saint…
The holy hierarch Alexander (Alexi Okropiridze in the world) was born in 1824, in the village of Disevi in the Gori district, to the family of the village priest. Growing up around the church, he received his primary education at Gori Theological School and later continued his education at Tbilisi…
Oct 26, 2026, 12:33 PM
Do We Have a Name?
Father Lawrence's sermon on Sunday 10/25/2026.
Fine clothes, a rich table, a comfortable life. And at the gate — a sick man with nothing to eat. This man’s name is Lazarus. The rich man in this story is simply the rich man.
In his sermon, Father Lawrence draws attention to this detail and asks each of us: what stands behind our own name?
Buying a new car, earning money, caring for our home — none of this is a sin in itself. But everything we have is given to us by God. How do we use it? Amid our own concerns, is there room for someone who is suffering right now? For our own Lazarus? Or are we as nameless as that rich man?
Office
Oct 26, 2026, 1:02 AM
Office
Oct 26, 2026, 1:02 AM
The Great Martyr Demetrios (Dēmḗtrios) the Myrrh-gusher of Thessaloniki was the son of a Roman proconsul in Thessaloniki. Three centuries had elapsed and Roman paganism, spiritually shattered and defeated by the multitude of martyrs and confessors of the Savior, intensified its persecutions. The…
Saint Theophilus of the Kiev Caves, Far Caves and Archbishop of Novgorod, was chosen by lot after the death of the holy hierarch Jonah (November 5). He was elevated to the dignity of Archbishop of Novgorod on December 15, 1472 at Moscow. Until his elevation, he had pursued asceticism in the Otensk…
The Martyr Lupus lived at the end of the third century and beginning of the fourth century, and was a faithful servant of the holy Great Martyr Demetrius of Thessalonica (October 26). Being present at the death of his master, he soaked his own clothing with his blood and took a ring from his hand.…
Saint Athanasius of Medikion Monastery (+ ca. 814) loved the monastic life and secretly left his parental home, but was forcibly returned by his father. After a certain time Athanasius entered the Medikion monastery in Bithynia with his father’s consent. He was a companion of Saint Nicetas…
Saint Joseph was a monk of Dionysiou Monastery on Mt. Athos, where he shone forth with the virtues of monastic life. He was an iconographer, and he painted the icon of the holy Archangels on the iconostasis of Dionysiou’s main church. In obedience to the instructions of Igumen Stephen, Saint…
Saint Demetrius of Tsilibinsk (14th Century), founder of the Archangel Tsilibinsk wilderness monastery in Vologda diocese, was a beloved disciple of Saint Stephen of Perm (April 26). The monk built a church in honor of the Archangel Michael for the newly-converted. Beneath this temple he dug out a…
Office
Oct 25, 2026, 1:01 AM
Office
Oct 25, 2026, 1:01 AM
The Martyrs Marcian and Martyrius, Notaries of Constantinople served in a Constantinople cathedral. Marcian was a reader and Martyrius a subdeacon. They both performed in the capacity of notaries, i.e. secretaries, for Patriarch Paul the Confessor (November 6). Arian heretics expelled and secretly…
Saint Martyrius the Deacon is remembered in the Seventh Ode of the Canon to the Fathers of the Kiev Far Caves. Here his love of toil, justice and ardent purity, and even his gift of expelling demons and healing infirmities are praised. His memory is celebrated also on August 28 and on the second…
The Martyr Anastasius the Fuller lived at Salona in Dalmatia during the third century. He was arrested and brought to trial because of his missionary activity in Salona. Saint Anastasius, boldly and without fear, confessed Christ as the true God and Creator of all. He even painted a cross on his…
Saint Tabitha, the widow raised from the dead by the Apostle Peter, was a virtuous and kindly woman who belonged to the Christian community in Joppa. Being grievously ill, she suddenly died. At the time, the Apostle Peter was preaching at Lydda, not far from Joppa. Messengers were sent to him with…
Oct 24, 2026, 3:05 PM
What Do You Think, Friends?
These are certainly not the church paintings we're used to seeing! They are surprisingly bold, with bright, contrasting colors, exaggerated proportions, unusual details, and unexpected ways of portraying biblical figures and heavenly beings. Traditional Orthodox iconography takes on an almost fantastical artistic style here.
But here's the surprising part: when iconographer Michael Greer painted the walls of Holy Theophany Orthodox Church (OCA) in Colorado Springs, he wasn't inspired by modern surrealism. His inspiration came from the art of Dionysiou Monastery on Mount Athos!
And what do you think, dear St. Nicholas parishioners? Is such bold artistic expression appropriate in an Orthodox church? Or is this going a bit too far — a little too much artistic freedom?
Photos shared by Fr. Michael Vladimirov on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/fr.michael.vladimirov/posts/pfbid02B9QdaWxszErZX3pDqeKMMuDM8h5yG2N5usXxhHT3Acgf2pTyE9LRgggn7h7qwk9sl
Office
Oct 24, 2026, 1:01 AM
Office
Oct 24, 2026, 1:01 AM
The Martyr Arethas and with him 4299 Martyrs suffered for the Lord Jesus Christ in the sixth century. Arethas was prefect of the Christian city of Negran in Arabia. The Arabian (or Omirite) king, Dunaan, who was Jewish, decided to eliminate Christianity from the land. He issued an edict that all…
Saint Arethas (12th century) was a hermit of the Near Caves in Kiev. He struggled at the Kiev Caves monastery and was buried in the Near Caves. Saint Arethas was from Polotsk. While living at the monastery, he kept many possessions in his cell. One day robbers made off with it. Grieving over his…
Saint Sisoes (13th century) was a hermit of the Near Caves in Kiev. He struggled at the Kiev Caves monastery and was buried in the Near Caves. In the general service for the Fathers of the Kiev Caves, Saint Sisoes is called “radiant in fasting.” The general commemoration of all the…
Saint Theophilus (12th-13th century) was a hermit of the Near Caves in Kiev. He struggled at the Kiev Caves monastery and was buried in the Near Caves. Saint Theophilus, in the general service to the Fathers of the Kiev Caves, is called “resplendent in miracles.” The general…
Blessed Elesbaan1 was the Emperor of what is now Ethiopia, and lived when Arabia was ruled by Dunaan, an oppressor of Christians. The pious Elesbaan was unable to stand by while those who believed in Christ were being massacred. He declared war on Dunaan, but his first military campaign was not…
The Martyr Syncletica and her two daughters suffered under the Arabian king Dunaan. Saint Syncletica was a descendant of an illustrious family. Left widowed while still quite young, she devoted herself to the Christian upbringing of her daughters, and she herself led a life both chaste and…
Saint Athanasius I, Patriarch of Constantinople (1289-1293; 1303-1311), in the world Alexius, was from Adrianopolis. While still in his youth, thriving upon the knowledge of the wisdom of Christ, he left his home and went to Thessalonica, where he was tonsured in one of the monasteries with the…
Saint John, Hermit of Pskov (+1616) lived an ascetic life during a terrible time of military troubles. In 1592 the Swedes besieged the city of Pskov. From 1608, for seven years, Polish forces attacked under the leadership of Lisovski. It was only in the week before the death of the monk, through…
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