Apostle Icons, Hurghada (2026)

20/08/2026

🔸 August 20 - Saint Theocharis of Neapolis 🔸

Today, we also commemorate Saint Theocharis the New-Martyr of Neapolis in Cappadocia (modern-day Nevsehir, Turkey). He was an 18th century martyr who refused to renounce Christianity, even after an Ottoman judge offered his daughter to be married to him.

Around the time Saint Theocharis was born, the Ottoman Empire was waging several military conflicts in Europe, and Sultan Ahmet ordered for all the male children of Christians to be taken off to army camps to be trained as soldiers. Theocharis, who was orphaned at a young age, was taken into one of these camps.

There, Theocharis was spotted by the Turkish judge of Neapolis who took a liking to the boy. The judge took him out of the camp and brought him to work on his own estate.

The judge and his wife liked Theocharis so much that they decided to offer their daughter to him in marriage, upon the condition that he convert to Islam. Theocharis however refused to renounce his faith in Christ, and this caused the judge such great offense that he threatened Theocharis with starvation, torture and death.

Theocharis fled to the nearby church of Saint George, to Archimandrite Father George, where he confessed his sins and received Holy Communion. He then triumphantly returned before the judge, remaining steadfast in his refusal to embrace Islam. Theocharis was then imprisoned, and passed his time in prayer.

After some time, Theocharis was again given the chance to embrace Islam, but again he adamantly refused. Therefore, he was tied to a horse and taken one hour away from Neapolis where the executioners hanged him from a poplar tree and stoned him to death on 20 August 1740. His body was buried under the poplar.

With the exchange of populations between Greece and Turkey in 1923, holy relics of Saint Theocharis were brought to the Church of Saint Catherine in Thessaloniki where they are kept to this day.

20/08/2026

🔸 August 20 - The Holy Prophet Samuel 📣 🔸

Today, we commemorate the Holy Prophet Samuel. He was the 15th and last of the Judges of Israel who ushered in the period of Kingship.

From the tribe of Levi, Samuel was from the city of Ramathaim and was born in 1155 BC to Elkanah and Hannah the Prophetess. His mother gave him the name “Samuel” meaning “besought from God”, because having previously been childless, her prayers for a child were heard by the Lord.

When Samuel reached 3 years of age, his mother brought him to Shiloh, where the Ark of the Covenant was. Fulfilling her vow, she dedicated him to God’s service, entrusting him to the care of the High Priest Eli who was also a judge over Israel.

Samuel’s piety and reverence was pleasing to God: “he grew and matured and found favor both with the Lord and with men” (1 Samuel 2:26).

While the young child slept in the Tabernacle, he received a revelation that God would punish the house of the High Priest Eli because he did not restrain the impiety and lawlessness of his sons.

The prophecy was fulfilled when the Philistines
slain 30,000 Israelites in battle (among them were Hophni and Phinees, the sons of Eli) and captured the Ark of the Covenant. Upon hearing this news, Eli fell off his seat at the city gate, and breaking his neck, he died.

Samuel was chosen to replace Eli as the judge of Israel, and the Philistines returned the Ark on their own initiative. Samuel led his people righteously telling them, “Far be it from me to sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you; but I will serve the Lord and show you the good and right way.” (1 Samuel 12:23).

The justice and selflessness with which he directed the people was acknowledged by all when he asked them, with God as witness, to confess if he had ever wronged anyone. The people replied, “You have not wronged us or oppressed us or crushed us, nor taken anything from anyone’s hand” (1 Samuel 12:2-4).

When Samuel grew old and the people asked for a king, he anointed Saul. Saul however was disobedient to God, and so Samuel anointed the next king David with a horn of oil (1 Samuel 16:13). Having lived around 98 years, Samuel died around 1057 BC.

#☦️

18/08/2026

🔸 August 18 - Saints Floros and Lavros 🔸

Today, we also commemorate the holy martyrs and twin brothers Saints Floros and Lavros.

The holy brothers were inseparably united by their faith and love for Christ. They lived in Byzantium in the 2nd century, and had been instructed in the True Faith as well as the trade of stonemasonry by Christians named Patroklos and Maximos.

After the martyrdom of their teachers, Floros and Lavros moved to the city of Ulpiana in Illyria. In this city they worked on their art, but at the same time they also worked to spread the Gospel to the pagans.

The Roman prefect of Illyria, Likaion, recognising the brothers talents in the art of stonecutting, gave the Saints money, and sent them to a nearby district to construct a temple to the idols, the plans of which he drew up on paper as to how he wanted it to look.

The Saints took the money and secretly distributed it among the poor, and at night they turned to God in prayer. When day came, they went to work at their trade, and they quickly built the temple with the help of a divine Angel who strengthened them.

By their preaching, the Saints managed to convert the local pagan priest Merentios and his son Athanasios to Christ. The brothers then gathered the poor, to whom they had given the money, and with their help they tied ropes around the idols from their necks and they cast them to the ground.

They then lit many lamps and consecrated the temple to Christ while holding a procession of the honorable Cross. When Likinios learned of this, he ordered for the poor who had received the money and destroyed the idols to be cast into a hot furnace where they delivered their souls.

Saints Floros and Lavros were tied to the wheel of a cart and were lacerated. Likinios then had them sent to the ruler Lykonas who shut them in a deep dry well. When the Saints were shut within there, they entreated God first for those Christians who in the future would remember them and celebrate them.

Secondly they entreated God to uphold peace in the world. And third they entreated God to cause the persecution against the Christians to cease. After this they delivered their souls to the Lord.

#☦️

18/08/2026

🔸 August 18 - Saints Barnabas and Sophronios of Soumela 🦅🔸

Today we commemorate Saints Barnabas and Sophronios, the founders of the Monastery of Panagia Soumela in Pontus.

The two Saints were relatives, Barnabas being the uncle of Sophronios, and were born and raised in Athens where they embraced the monastic life.

According to tradition, the icon which is today known as Panagia Soumela was painted by Luke the Evangelist. After Saint Luke reposed, his disciple Ananias transferred the icon to Athens, and thus it became known as the “Panagia Athiniotissa”.

While celebrating the Divine Liturgy one day, Barnabas received a vision in which he was commanded by the Theotokos to take the Athiniotissa icon to Trebizond on the Black Sea, and to build a monastery there.

Under the protection of the Panagia Athiniotissa, Barnabas and Sophronios endured many dangers and hardships before eventually reaching the steep cliffs of Mount Mela (“Soumela”). Here, in 386 AD, they built the famous Monastery of Panagia Soumela to house the Athiniotissa icon, which thereafter became known as the “Panagia Soumeliotissa”.

The Saints lived in holiness at the monastery, and reposed on this day in 412 AD. The monastery continued to flourished as a spiritual and educational centre, attracting many pilgrims who came to venerate the wonderworking Soumeliotissa icon.

Being on the outskirts of the Empire, the monastery suffered from invasions, pillaging and destruction by Arab and Seljuk raiders. Yet the Byzantine and Trapezuntine emperors repeatedly restored the monastery.

After Trebizond fell to the Turks in 1461, the monks remained at the monastery, which became a haven for the Pontic Greeks and served as a beacon of Orthodoxy and Hellenism in Asia Minor throughout the centuries of Ottoman rule.

Following the events of WWI and the Pontic Genocide, the last monks abandoned the Soumela Monastery in 1923 during the Greece-Turkey population exchange, thus ending the 1500 years of monastic presence in the Pontic mountains.

The Soumeliotissa icon is today kept at the new church of Panagia Soumela in Mount Vermion, Northern Greece, which was built in 1951 by Pontian refugees.

#☦️

17/08/2026

🔸 August 17 - Saint Demetrios the New-Martyr of Samarina 🪨🔸

Today, we commemorate the New-Martyr Saint Demetrios of Samarina. He was a monk and disciple of St Kosmas Aitolos who was martyred by the Ottoman Ruler Ali Pasha of loannina in the early 19th century.

St Demetrios was from the Vlach village of Samarina in the Pindos region of Greece. At a young age he entered the nearby Monastery of St Paraskevi where he was tonsured a monk.

In 1808, a local insurrection against the Ottomans broke out, but this was ruthlessly suppressed by Ali Pasha. After this, Demetrios left his monastery and toured the neighboring villages to comfort his fellow Christians. This drew the attention of some Muslims who accused Demetrios of stirring the rebellion.

After being arrested and brought before Ali Pasha, Demetrios explained that he only went to strengthen the faith of his fellow Christians. Ali Pasha was not satisfied with this answer however, and accused Demetrios of conspiring to rebel against the Ottomans.

While questioning the saint, Ali Pasha noticed that Demetrios bore on his chest an icon of the Mother of God. Asking the saint why he wore this, Demetrios responded, “The Mother of our Savior is our intercessor before her eternal Son and God.”

Ali Pasha responded, “Let’s see if she will protect you”, and then ordered the saint to be tortured and killed. The executioners spat in the face of the saint, forcibly took his icon, and pierced his arms and legs with nails. Despite the pain, Demetrios was heard praying, “Lord, have mercy on Your servant. Queen of heaven pray for us.”

Next, an iron band was placed around his forehead which was tightened and inflicted excruciating pain. With each twist they called upon him to name his fellow conspirators, but he remained in silent prayer. The torturers then placed weighted boards on the body of Demetrios and jumped on them to break his bones.

Finally, they enclosed Demetrios in a wall of stones, leaving only his head exposed to keep him alive until he confessed. St Demetrios remained steadfast in his faith, and after 10 days of being enclosed in the stones, gave up his soul on this day in 1808 in loannina.

#☦️

16/08/2026

🔸 August 16 - Saint Apostolos the New-Martyr 🔸

Today we also commemorate Saint Apostolos the New-Martyr.

St Apostolos was born in Agios Lavrentios of Pelion in 1667. Orphaned at 15, he went to Constantinople in 1682 where he worked in a tavern.

At this time, the people of Agios Lavrentios were being heavily and unjustly taxed. A committee of residents therefore travelled to Constantinople to appeal to the Ottoman authorities, and they succeeded in obtaining a slight tax reduction.

Upon their return, however, the local Ottoman Voivode refused to recognise the documents confirming the reduction, dismissing them as fake. He arrested three committee members and took them to Constantinople, where they were imprisoned.

Having lived in Constantinople for four years, and since he knew the Turkish language well, Apostolos took up the cause of his countrymen before the Ottoman authorities. He boldly defended their rights and, for this, was also arrested and imprisoned.

While in prison, an old and jealous countryman slandered Apostolos to the Turks, accusing him of being responsible for instigating the entire affair. So they were released and Apostolos was ordered to be tortured to death.

During his imprisonment, Apostolos attempted to escape, but the sound of his chains gave him away. The enraged Voivode beat him with an axe, but Apostolos remained steadfast, declaring: “I am a Christian, and I will never leave my holy faith.”

The Turks then tried to persuade him to renounce Christ through flattery and promises. Apostolos rejected them all, saying:

“I tell you again, as an honorable Christian, whatever death you wish to inflict on me, by the grace of my Christ I will accept gladly. Do you wish to burn me? I will gather the wood myself and prepare the fire. Do you wish to hang me? I will prepare the noose with my very own hands. Do you wish to behead me? Give me the sword to sharpen as much as is needed.”

The 19-year-old St Apostolos was beheaded on August 16, 1686. His relic was thrown into the Bosporus, but Christians recovered his skull. In 1796, it was transferred to his hometown of Agios Lavrentios where it remains in a church bearing his name.

#☦️

16/08/2026

🔸 August 16 - Saint Stamatios of Volos 🔸

Saint Stamatios was born in the village of Agios Georgios Nileias in Magnesia, Ottoman-controlled Greece, in the 17th century. From a young age, he was distinguished for his faith and his love for his enslaved homeland, whose people suffered greatly under Ottoman oppression.

Around 1680, a certain Aga came to the region to collect the Harac (Ottoman tax imposed upon non-Muslims). This Aga was extremely unjust and often violent towards the Christians in his collection of the tax.

The desperate residents therefore sent a delegation to Constantinople, to the Sublime Porte, in hopes of finding justice. Stamatios was a key member of this delegation. There they presented themselves to the Vizier and complained about the injustice of the Aga.

The Vizier, however, was a friend of the tax-collector, and ordered them to be thrown out and beaten. When Stamatios protested, he was brought before the Vizier and falsely accused of having become a Muslim and then returned to Christianity, making him an apostate deserving of death.

The Saint firmly denied this accusation and was sent to a judge for interrogation. The judge told him: “So if you never became one [a Muslim], become one now.” The Holy Martyr replied: “I certainly would not be so mindless as to deny my Christ. It would be better for me to die and be with my Christ, than to live in this world with its myriad of pleasures and glories.”

Seeing the Martyr’s firm resolve, the judge sent him back to the Vizier, who tried with flatteries, promises and honours to persuade him to deny Christ. He even promised to make him his aide, but Stamatios rejected every offer and temptation.

The Vizier then ordered him to be imprisoned and tortured. The Martyr declared: “Even if you condemn me to innumerable deaths, I will never deny my Christ. I am ready to be tormented for His Name for the rest of my life.”

Enraged, the Vizier handed him over to the prefect, and Saint Stamatios was beheaded on August 15, 1680, in front of the Royal Palace, next to Hagia Sophia. As his martyrdom fell on the Feast of the Dormition, his memory is celebrated the following day, August 16.

#☦️

16/08/2026

🔸 August 16 - Saint Joseph the Hesychast 📿 🔸

Today we also commemorate our Holy Elder Saint Joseph the Hesychast.

St Joseph was born with the name Francis on the island of Paros in 1898. His father died while he was in his teens, so he went to work in Piraeus to support his struggling family. Though he did not consciously lead a spiritual life, he was always honest and kind towards others.

He was engaged to a pious young woman, but her untimely death from tuberculosis turned his heart from the world towards God. Embracing fasting, prayer, and the study of the holy Fathers, he soon set out to pursue the ascetic life on Mt Athos.

With a fierce zeal for asceticism, Francis became deeply devoted to the hesychastic tradition of inner stillness and unceasing prayer through the repetition of the Jesus Prayer. After his daily obediences, he would withdraw to a cave at sunset, where he remained in prayer for up to 6 hours.

Francis soon met Fr Arsenios, who became his lifelong co-struggler in the hesychastic life. Together they placed themselves under the spiritual guidance of Elder Ephraim of Katounakia, at the Hut of the Annunciation of the Theotokos.

There, Elder Ephraim tonsured Francis into the Great Schema, giving him the name Joseph. After the repose of Elder Ephraim, Joseph and Arsenios wandered from place to place, drawing wisdom from many holy monks.

Wearing tattered monastic garments and eating only a few ounces of dried bread each day, Joseph and Arsenios preserved their silence and unceasing prayer. During these ascetic trials, St Joseph was fiercely assailed by the spirit of fornication for 8 years. He overcame these temptations through extended vigils, fervent prayer, and by sleeping on a chair instead of a bed.

In 1938, Joseph moved to a cell at Little Saint Anna (image 3), where he led a brotherhood of monks which included Elder Ephraim of Arizona (image 10).

In 1951, St Joseph moved to the New Skete of Mt Athos. Shortly before his death, he was foretold of his approaching repose in a vision of the Dormition of the Theotokos. On August 15, 1959, after attending the vigil for the Dormition, St Joseph peacefully delivered his soul.

#☦️

16/08/2026

🔸 August 16 - Saint Gerasimos of Kefallonia 🔸

Today we also commemorate Saint Gerasimos of Kefallonia, the 16th century ascetic, priest, monk, and wonderworker.

St Gerasimos was born in 1509 in Trikala of Corinthos in the Peloponnese during the Turkish occupation of Greece. He studied the sacred writings from a young age, and decided to serve the Lord by embracing the monastic life.

When he reached a mature age, he left his homeland and went to Zakynthos, and from there he traveled throughout Greece; from Thessaly through Constantinople, to Chalcedon and to the Black Sea.

Around 1535, he finally arrived at Mount Athos where he gathered the nectar of virtues and wisdom from the holy fathers. He then settled in Jerusalem, and Patriarch Germanos I ordained him a deacon and then priest.

For a year, St Gerasimos served at the Holy Sepulchre as a lamp-lighter, and then a further 12 years at the Patriarchate. Known for his zealous asceticism, he once went into the Jordan desert where he fasted for 40 days just as our Savior did.

Gersaimos later left Jerusalem and went to Mount Sinai, Alexandria, Antioch, Damascus, Crete, and finally Zakynthos where he lived for 5 years in a cave as an ascetic, eating only greens and legumes soaked in water, while immersing himself in prayer.

For his exalted life, St Gerasimos was granted a miraculous gift - the ability to heal the sick and cast out unclean spirits.

He left Zakynthos and arrived in Kefallonia where he lived in a small cave for 6 years (images 2/3). From there he went to Omala in Kefallonia where he restored a small ancient church and turned it into a convent of 25 nuns which he called “New Jerusalem”. His holy relics remain there to this day.

Having reached a ripe age, the Saint foresaw the day of his death and gathered his nuns around him to pass on his final instructions and teachings. After blessing the nuns, he delivered his soul on August 15, 1579. So as to not clash with the Great Feast of Panagia, his feast day is celebrated today.

In 1581, the tomb of St Gerasimos was opened and his holy relics were found to be fragrant and incorrupt, and remain the source of many miracles to this day.

#☦️

16/08/2026

🔸 August 16 - The Image Not-Made-By-Hands 🔸

Today we commemorate the icon of the Savior known as ‘The Image Not-Made-By-Hands’ also called ‘The Holy Mandylion of Edessa’.

During the earthly ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ, Abgar, the ruler of the Syrian city of Edessa (today Urfa, Turkey), heard reports of His great miracles. Abgar wanted to go to Jerusalem to see the Lord with his own eyes, but was unable to, as he was suffering from an incurable case of leprosy which caused him arthritis and unbearable pain.

He therefore wrote a letter requesting for Christ to come and heal him, and sent his court painter Ananias to deliver this message. He also instructed Ananias to paint an image of the Divine Teacher, with an accurate depiction of His face, hair color, and height.

In Jerusalem, Ananias was unable to get close to Christ, since He was surrounded by a large crowd. Standing on a high rock, Ananias attempted to draw an image of the Lord, but was unable to capture His likeness from so far away.

The Lord, who perceived the pure intentions of Ananias, saw him in the distance and approached him. Requesting a towel and water, Christ washed His face, and His image was left imprinted on the towel.

Christ then gave this towel to Ananias and said, “Go, give this back to the one who sent you”. He also gave Ananias a letter praising Abgar’s faith, and assuring that he would be healed of his disease by His disciple Thaddeus.

When Ananias returned, Abgar fell down and venerated this holy image of the Lord, and instantly he was healed of all but a small patch of leprosy which remained on his forehead. After the Lord’s Ascension, Thaddeus of the Seventy arrived Edessa and baptized Abgar, after which his disease was cleansed completely.

Abgar adorned the holy icon over gates of the city where it was venerated for centuries, even after Edessa was seized by the Arabs in 630. In 944, Emperor Constantine Porphyrogenitus had the holy image brought to Constantinople, and on August 16, It was placed in the Pharos Church of the Theotokos.

The fate of the Mandylion of Edessa remains unknown, though is believed to have been taken by Crusaders in the 13th century.

#☦️

Apostle Icons

20/08/2026

20/08/2026

18/08/2026

18/08/2026

17/08/2026

16/08/2026

16/08/2026

16/08/2026

16/08/2026

16/08/2026

Address

Website

Alerts

Shortcuts

Share

Category

Listing takedown request