(Feast day ~ January 26) Tradition holds that St. Polycarp, born in Smyrna in the year 69, was baptized by St. John, the beloved disciple. Smyrna was an important Mediterranean seaport, and many Christians fled to it and other area cities after the destruction of Jerusalem in the year 70. St. John, living in Ephesus, […]

(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 […]