Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church Saskatoon Saskatchewan Canada

06/03/2026

If you are not sick, if you do not suffer, it is … because the Lord calls you to participate in the suffering of others! You must be eyes to the blind, ears to the deaf, legs to the lame. You must be a helper to the disabled, to people who cannot move on their own, so that the love of Christ may be revealed in this service!

☦️Saint Luke of Crimea

06/03/2026

🔸 June 3 - Saint Kevin of Glendalough 🇮🇪🐦‍⬛🔸

Today, we commemorate our venerable father Saint Kevin of Glendalough, one of the great saints of Ireland. St Kevin was born in 498 in Leinster, Ireland, to a noble and pious Christian family. From his youth he displayed a deep love for God and was entrusted to holy teachers who instructed him in the Sacred Scriptures and the spiritual life. Desiring to dedicate himself completely to Christ, he embraced the monastic life and sought solitude in the wilderness. After being ordained to the priesthood, St Kevin withdrew into the rugged mountains of Glendalough. There he spent many years as a hermit, dwelling in a small cave now known as St Kevin’s Bed.

Through prayer, fasting and self-denial, he attained great spiritual perfection and became a vessel of divine grace. One of his most intense ascetic feats was to stand up to his neck in the ice cold water of the Upper Lake of Glendalough to pray. He once dropped his prayer book into the water, and an otter appeared from the bottom of the lake and returned the prayer book, undamaged and unstained, in its mouth. From that time, the otter would also bring fish to St Kevin, who lived off this and wild herbs.

One of the most beloved stories tells how, while St Kevin stood praying with his arms outstretched, a blackbird built a nest in his hand. Rather than disturb the bird, he remained motionless until the eggs hatched and the young birds had flown away, demonstrating his patience and remarkable harmony with God’s creation. As news of his sanctity spread throughout Ireland, many disciples gathered around him seeking spiritual guidance.

Though he had desired a life of solitude, St Kevin accepted this as God’s will, and established the great monastery of Glendalough. Under his leadership, it became one of the most important spiritual centres in Ireland, attracting monks, pilgrims and those seeking instruction in the Christian faith. St Kevin reposed peacefully on this day in 618, having lived for 120 years. His monastery continued to flourish for centuries after his repose, and his memory remains cherished throughout Ireland.

06/03/2026

06/03/2026

🔸 June 2 - Saint John the New of Suceava 🔸

Yesterday, we also commemorated the Great-Martyr Saint John the New of Suceava. St John was born in 1300 in Trebizond, Asia Minor, to devout Orthodox parents. He was a merchant known for his piety, steadfast faith, and generosity to the poor. While sailing across the Black Sea on a trading voyage to Cetatea Alba of Moldova (modern Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi, Ukraine), he frequently discussed the Christian faith with a Venetian merchant named Reiz. Unable to overcome John’s arguments, Reiz sought to take revenge. Upon arriving in the city, Reiz accused John of wanting to leave Christianity and embrace Islam.

Since Cetatea Alba was under Muslim Tartar rule, John was summoned before the governor and questioned. He firmly declared that he would never deny Christ nor forsake the true Faith. Sent to prison in chains, he was again brought before the governor who ordered him to renounce Christ or face torture. The Saint prayed secretly, and the Holy Spirit gave him the strength to confess Christ and denounce the governor as a tool of Satan. The enraged governor then had John mercilessly beaten with rods until his body was torn and covered with wounds.

Yet he endured everything with patience, giving thanks to God for being found worthy to suffer for Christ. Finally, the governor ordered that the Saint be tied to the tail of a horse and dragged through the streets of the city, including through the Jewish quarter where the residents mocked and threw stones at him. At last, one of his tormentors struck off his head with a sword, and thus the holy Martyr reposed in 1330. That night, a pillar of light appeared over his body. Witnesses saw heavenly lamps burning and 3 radiant men censing the Saint while chanting Psalms.

One of the Jews attempted to shoot an arrow at them, but he was restrained by the invisible power of God. The archer was anchored to the ground until he confessed his vision to the people, after which he was released of his invisible bonds. When the ruler heard of this miracle, he permitted the Christians to bury the holy Martyr. His relics are kept in “Saint John the New Monastery” in Suceava, Romania.

06/02/2026

The Holy Great Martyr John the New of Sochi, lived in the fourteenth century in the city of Trebizond. He was a merchant, devout and firm in his Orthodoxy, and generous to the poor.

Once, he happened to be sailing on a ship while pursuing his trading activities. The captain of the ship was not Orthodox, but got into an argument about the Faith with Saint John. Having been vanquished by the saint’s words, the captain resolved to make trouble for him when they got to Belgrade. During the ship’s stay at Belgrade, the captain went to the city ruler, a fire-worshipper, and suggested that on his ship was a studious man who also desired to become a fire-worshipper.

The city ruler invited Saint John to join the fire-worshippers and renounce his faith in Christ.

The saint prayed secretly, calling on the help of Him Who said, “When they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what you shall speak, neither do you premeditate; but whatsoever will be given you in that hour, speak that, for it is not you that speaks, but the Holy Spirit” (Mark 13:11). And the Lord gave him the courage and understanding to counter all the claims of the impious and firmly confess himself a Christian. After this, the saint was so fiercely beaten with rods that his entire body was lacerated, and the flesh came off in pieces. The holy martyr thanked God for being found worthy to shed his blood for Him and thereby wash away his sins.

Afterwards they put him in chains and dragged him away to prison. In the morning the city ruler ordered the saint brought forth again. The martyr came before him with a bright and cheerful face. The intrepid martyr absolutely refused to deny Christ, denouncing the governor as a tool of Satan. Then they beat him again with rods, so that all his insides were laid bare.

The gathering crowd could not bear this horrible spectacle and they began to shout angrily, denouncing the governor for tormenting a defenseless man. The governor, having the beating stopped, gave orders to tie the Great Martyr to the tail of a wild horse to drag him by the legs through the streets of the city. Residents of the Jewish quarter particularly scoffed at the martyr and threw stones at him. Finally, someone took a sword and cut off his head.

Saint John’s body with his severed head lay there until evening, and none of the Christians dared to take him away. By night a luminous pillar was seen over him, and a multitude of burning lamps. Three light-bearing men sang Psalms and censed the body of the saint. One of the Jews, thinking that these were Christians coming to take up the remains of the martyr, grabbed a bow and tried to shoot an arrow at them, but he was restrained by the invisible power of God, and became rigid.

In the morning the vision vanished, but the archer continued to stand motionless. Having told the gathering inhabitants of the city about the vision and what was done to him by the command of God, he was freed from his invisible bonds. Having learned about the occurrence, the ruler gave permission to bury the body of the martyr in the local church. This occurred between the years 1330 and 1340. There is some question about the year of the saint’s martyrdom. Saint Νikόdēmos of the Holy Mountain gives the year as 1642, while others say it was 1492.

The captain who had betrayed Saint John repented of his deed, and decided secretly to convey the relics to his own country, but the saint appeared in a dream to the priest of the church, and prevented this. After seventy years the relics were transferred to Sochi, the capital of the Moldo-Valachian principality, and placed in the cathedral church.

Troparion — Tone 3

Your holy martyr John, O Lord, / through his sufferings has received an incorruptible crown from You, our God. / For having Your strength, he laid low his adversaries, / and shattered the powerless boldness of demons. / Through his intercessions, save our souls!

Kontakion — Tone 2
(Podoben: “You sought the heights...”)

You appeared as a bright star announcing Christ with your radiance, / which is repulsive to this world, O Martyr John; / extinguishing the allure of false gods, / you enlighten the faithful, / always interceding for us all.

More saints commemorated today: https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2026/06/02

Music downloads: https://www.oca.org/liturgics/music-downloads/june

06/01/2026

☘️“Sadness is the biggest disease; chase it away. In the Church we find health, comfort, hope, and the salvation of our souls.”💟☦️
(St. Iakovos Tsalikis)

06/01/2026

The Saint of the day 2 June

† St Nikephoros the Confessor, patriarch of Constantinople (829)

http://audio.ancientfaith.com/sotd/06_02_nikephoros.mp3

Nikephoros was born in Constantinople around 758, of pious parents: his father had been exiled under Constantine Copronymus for his steadfast veneration of the holy icons. Nikephoros served in the imperial palace as a secretary, but later renounced worldly success to struggle in monastic life near Constantinople.

He built and administered a monastery which soon became filled with monks; but he himself never took the monastic habit, feeling himself unworthy. Though a layman, he took part in the Seventh Ecumenical Council at the request of the Emperor and Patriarch because of his remarkable knowledge of Holy Scripture.

Much against his will, he was made Patriarch of Constantinople at the death of Patriarch Tarasios. He was made a monk, then elevated through all the priestly orders in a few days, then enthroned at St Sophia in 806.

A few years later, the Emperor Leo the Armenian took the throne. Patriarch Nikephoros, as was customary, sent him a Confession of the Orthodox Faith to sign. Leo put off signing the document until his coronation, then revealed himself to be an Iconoclast heretic.

The Patriarch tried quietly to bring him back to the Orthodox faith, but to no avail. When the Emperor, in his turn, tried to make the holy Nikephoros bow to iconoclasm, the Patriarch clearly and publicly upheld the veneration of the holy Icons.

For this he was deposed and driven into exile at the Monastery of St Theodore, which he himself had founded. Here he reposed, having served for nine years as Patriarch, and thirteen years in exile and privation.

Troparion — Tone 3

Through your inspired confession, / you gained victory for the Church, holy Hierarch Nicephorus. / You suffered unjust exile / because of your reverence for the icon of God the Word. / Righteous Father, entreat Christ our God to grant us His great mercy.

Kontakion — Tone 4
(Podoben: “Today You have shown forth...”)

Since you have received from God in heaven / a crown of victory, glorious Nicephorus, / save those who faithfully honor you as a hierarch of Christ and a teacher.