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The Holy Orthodox Church, Muntinlupa, Manila (2026)

07/06/2026

SYNAXIS OF ALL SAINTS

The Synaxis of All Saints (also known as the Sunday of All Saints) is a major moveable feast in the Eastern Orthodox Church, celebrated on the first Sunday following Pentecost.

It commemorates all the saints of the Church—both those who are widely known and those whose names are known only to God.

The Feast of All Saints beautifully follows Pentecost. It signifies that the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles was meant to sanctify all people, transforming ordinary men and women into saints through grace.

Originally, this day was established to honor all the Christian martyrs. Over the centuries, the Church expanded it to include all categories of saints, including prophets, apostles, hierarchs, monastics, and the righteous.

In Orthodox theology, "Synaxis" (derived from Greek for "gathering together" or "assembly") highlights that holiness is communal. On this day, the faithful gather to celebrate the "cloud of witnesses" who achieved the likeness of God.

The Icons traditional icon of All Saints usually features a majestic, multi-tiered assembly of heaven. At the center is Christ, surrounded by angels. Below Him are the various orders of saints, categorized as follows: Righteous figures of the Old Testament (e.g., Moses, Elijah, King David).Apostles.

The immediate followers of Christ. Those who gave their lives for the Christian faith. Hierarchs/Bishops Great teachers and church fathers (e.g., St. John Chrysostom, St. Basil the Great). Holy men and women who lived ascetic and monastic lives.

The Holy Orthodox Church
The Religion Of The Apostles Orthodox Christianity

03/06/2026

HOLY MYRRH-BEARERS MARY AND MARTHA, SISTERS OF ST LAZARUS
(1st c.) 4 JUNE

Mary and Martha, with their brother Lazarus, were especially devoted disciples of our Lord; their story up to the time of the Resurrection can be found in Luke 10 and John 11-12. Mary and Martha were among the Myrrh-bearing women. They, with their brother, reposed in Cyprus, where Lazarus became first Bishop of Kition after he was raised from death by Christ.

An ancient tradition holds that Lazarus was thirty years old when he was restored to life by the Lord, and that he lived another thirty years. After he was raised from the dead, he never again laughed; but once, when he saw someone stealing a clay pot, he smiled and said, 'Clay stealing clay.' His name is a Greek version of Eleazar, meaning 'God has helped.'

The Holy Orthodox Church
The Religion Of The Apostles Orthodox Christianity

01/06/2026

ST PHOTINI, THE SAMARITAN WOMAN
FEBRUARY 26

The New Testament describes the familiar account of the "woman at the well" (John 4:5-42), who was a Samaritan. Up to that point she had led a sinful life, one which resulted in a rebuke from Jesus Christ.

However, she responded to Christ's stern admonition with genuine repentance, was forgiven her sinful ways, and became a convert to the Christian Faith - taking the name 'Photini' at Baptism, which literally means "the enlightened one".

A significant figure in the Johannine community, the Samaritan Woman, like many other women, contributed to the spread of Christianity. She therefore occupies a place of honour among the apostles. In Greek sermons from the fourth to the fourteenth centuries she is called "apostle" and "evangelist." In these sermons the Samaritan Woman is often compared to the male disciples and apostles and found to surpass them.

Later, Byzantine hagiographers developed the story of the Samaritan Woman, beginning where Saint John left off.

At Pentecost Saint Photini received baptism, along with her five sisters, Anatole, Photo, Photis, Paraskeve, Kyriake, and her two sons, Photeinos and Joseph. She then began a missionary career, traveling far and wide, preaching the good news of the Messiah's coming, His death and resurrection.

When Nero, the emperor of Rome, began to persecute Christians, Photini and her son Joseph were in Carthage, in Africa, where she was preaching the Christian gospel. After Jesus appeared to Photini in a dream, she sailed to Rome. Her son and many Christians from Africa accompanied her.

Photini's arrival and activity aroused curiosity in the capital city. Everyone talked about her, "Who is this woman?" they asked. "She came here with a crowd of followers and she preaches Christ with great boldness."

Soldiers were ordered to bring her to the emperor, but Photini anticipated them. Before they could arrest her, Photini, with her son Joseph and her Christian friends, went to Nero.

When the emperor saw them, he asked why they had come. Photini answered, "We have come to teach you to believe in Christ." The half-mad ruler of the Roman Empire did not frighten her. She wanted to convert him! Nero asked the saints their names.

Again Photini answered. By name she introduced herself, her five sisters and younger son. The emperor then demanded to know whether they had all agreed to die for the Nazarene. Photini spoke for them. "Yes, for the love of Him we rejoice and in His name we'll gladly die."

Hearing their defiant words, Nero ordered their hands beaten with iron rods for three hours. At the end of each hour another persecutor took up the beating. The saints, however, felt no pain. Nothing happened to their hands. Photini joyfully quoted words of a psalm by David:

"God is my help. No matter what anyone does to me, I shall not be afraid."

Perplexed by the Christian's endurance and confidence, Nero ordered the men thrown into jail. Photini and her five sisters were brought to the golden reception hall in the imperial palace.

There, the six women were seated on golden thrones, In front of them stood a large golden table covered with gold coins, jewels and dresses. Nero hoped to tempt the women by this display of wealth and luxury.

Nero then ordered his daughter Domnina, with her slave girls, to go speak with the Christian women. Women, he thought, would succeed in persuading their Christian sisters to deny their God.

Domnina greeted Photini graciously, mentioning the name of Christ. On hearing the princess' greeting, the saint thanked God. She then embraced and kissed Domnina. The women talked. But the outcome of the women's talk was not what Nero wished.

Photini catechized Domnina and her hundred slave girls and baptized them all. She gave the name Anthousa to Nero's daughter. After her baptism, Anthousa immediately ordered all the gold and jewels on the golden table distributed to the poor of Rome.

When the emperor heard that his own daughter had been converted to Christianity, he condemned Photini and all her companions to death by fire. For seven days the furnace burned, But when the door of the furnace was opened, it was seen that the fire had not harmed the saints.

Next the emperor tried to destroy the saints with poison, Photini offered to be the first to drink it. "O King," she said, "I will drink the poison first so that you might see the power of my Christ and God."

All the saints then drank the poison after her. None suffered any ill effects from it. In vain Nero subjected Photini, her sisters, sons and friends to every known torture. The saints survived unscathed to taunt and ridicule their persecutor.
For three years they were held in a Roman prison. Saint Photini transformed it into a "house of God."

Many Romans came to the prison, were converted and baptized. Finally, the enraged tyrant had all the saints, except for Photini, beheaded. She was thrown first into a deep, dry well and then into prison again. Photini now grieved that she was alone, that she had not received the crown of martyrdom together with her five sisters, Anatole, Photo, Photis, Paraskeve and Kyriake and her two sons, Photeinos and Joseph.

Night and day she prayed for release from this life. One night, God appeared to her, made the sign of the cross over her three times. The vision filled her with joy. Many days later, while she hymned and blessed God, Saint Photini gave her soul into God's hands.

The Samaritan Woman conversed with Christ by the well of Jacob, near the city of Sychar. She drank of the "living water" and gained everlasting life and glory. For generation after generation, Orthodox Christians have addressed this prayer to the woman exalted by the Messiah when He sat by the well in Samaria and talked with her:

Illuminated by the Holy Spirit, All-Glorious One, from Christ the Saviour you drank the water of salvation. With open hand you give it to those who thirst.

Great-Martyr Photini, Equal-to-the-Apostles, pray to Christ for the salvation of our souls.

The Holy Orthodox Church
The Religion Of The Apostles Orthodox Christianity

31/05/2026

SUNDAY OF THE HOLY PENTECOST

The Orthodox icon of Holy Pentecost, also known as the Descent of the Holy Spirit, depicts the birth of the Church. It is a theological representation of the Apostles receiving the Holy Spirit, rather than a literal historical snapshot.

In the Upper Room, The Apostles sit together in a semicircle, symbolizing the unity and harmony of the Church.The Apostles Saint Paul and the four Evangelists (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) are often included, even though they were not historically present at the event. This shows that the icon represents the entire Church across all time.

The Tongues of Fire at the top, rays of light come from a heavenly semicircle. Tiny tongues of fire descend over the head of each Apostle, representing the Holy Spirit.

The Figure at the Bottom.
The crowned figure in the dark alcove at the bottom is "Cosmos". He symbolizes the secular world living in the darkness of sin and paganism, which the Apostles are called to enlighten. He holds a cloth containing twelve scrolls, representing the evangelical teachings of the Apostles.

Common Variations In some traditional icons, the Virgin Mary (Theotokos) is depicted seated centrally among the Apostles. In other versions, the central seat is left empty, symbolically representing the invisible presence of Christ

The Holy Orthodox Church
The Religion Of The Apostles Orthodox Christianity

24/05/2026

THIRD FINDING OF THE PRECIOUS HEAD OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST 25 MAY

John, the holy and glorious prophet, precursor, and Baptist, is celebrated today with reference to his honorable head that was cut off by means of a girl’s voluptuous dance and a sword.

There were other revelations of this precious relic, for which its first and second finding is commemorated by the holy Church on the 24th of February. The third discovery was made at Comana of Cappadocia.

The relic was entrusted to the bosom of the earth until there passed the destructive days of the iconoclasts in the eighth century. During that terrible time, some Orthodox Christians took away the sacred head of Saint John the Forerunner from Constantinople.

They escaped, with the precious relic, to Comana of Cappadocia, where the exiled Saint John Chrysostom had earlier reposed in 407.

The precious head of the Forerunner John, after it was reverently housed in a silver vessel, was committed to the ground for safekeeping. It was uncovered by a certain Orthodox priest. It was not found until the reign of Emperor Michael (842-867), son of Theophilos (829-842) and the pious Augusta Theodora (842-856).

This was a time when veneration of the icons had been restored by the empress. The relics were miraculously revealed to Patriarch Ignatios (847-858 and 867-877), while he was at his evening prayers. He informed the imperium, which resulted in a delegation dispatched to Comana. Thus were the relics uncovered and returned to the imperial city (ca. 850)
by the patriarch.

The hymnographer for today’s feast, Tarasios, gives us more details of the discovery and triumphal return. He tells us that we draw grace and sanctification from the Forerunner’s head, which is brighter than the sun.

The head was made known to a priest of the Lord, named Basil, who till then knew nothing of its whereabouts in Comana. Filled with faith and led by grace, he made a diligent search for the head. When it arose from the bowels of the earth, he made its finding known.

The gleaming relic poured forth gifts of healing. Its discovery was like gold extracted from a mine, since it flashed forth rays from the earth. The fragrant relic, a wellspring of cures, was met by Basil the priest and the faithful who had gathered to the site.

Thus, from Comana to the queen of cities did the Forerunner travel. The emperor delighted more in the Forerunner’s coming than in his porphyry robe; and so he eagerly welcomed him.

The divine priest and foremost of shepherds, the namesake of the God-bearer, Patriarch Ignatios, stretched forth his hands and embraced the head to his breast. He, most solemnly, blessed himself and the faithful.

There were reports of ever-flowing gifts that were bestowed by Saint John: bodily pangs and diseases were taken away. Both the Priest Basil and the chief shepherd Ignatios were divinely informed beforehand of the head’s discovery. While the head flashed brighter than gold, it was treasured in a silver vessel upon discovery.

The hymnographer says that the emperor, the angel’s namesake (Michael), rejoiced and received the Forerunner in his palace. The chief shepherd, bearing the name of the sacred God-bearer (Ignatios), piously and excellently ministered in his service toward the precious head.

We, too, revere that hallowed head that not only proclaimed the Lamb of God but also washed in the waters of Jordan the head of Jesus.

Apolytikion

Christ God hath revealed to us thy truly ven’rable head as a divine treasure that had been concealed in the earth, O Prophet and Forerunner. Wherefore, as we gather on the feast of its finding, with our hymns inspired of God, we praise Christ the Saviour, Who by thy mighty prayers saveth us from every kind of harm.

The Holy Orthodox Church
The Religion Of The Apostles Orthodox Christianity

21/05/2026

ASCENSION OF OUR LORD

The Feast of the Ascension of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ is celebrated each year on the fortieth day after the Great and Holy Feast of Pascha (Easter). Since the date of Pascha changes each year, the date of the Feast of the Ascension changes. The Feast is always celebrated on a Thursday.

The Feast itself commemorates when, on the fortieth day after His Resurrection, Jesus led His disciples to the Mount of Olives, and after blessing them and asking them to wait for the fulfillment of the promise of the Holy Spirit, He ascended into heaven.

The story of the Ascension of our Lord, celebrated as one of the Twelve Great Feasts of the Church, is found in the book of the Acts of the Apostles 1:3-11. It is also mentioned in the Gospels of Mark (16:19) and Luke (24:50-53). The moment of the Ascension is told in one sentence: "He was lifted up before their eyes in a cloud which took Him from their sight" (Acts 1:9).

Christ made His last appearance on earth, forty days after His Resurrection from the dead. The Acts of the Apostles states that the disciples were in Jerusalem. Jesus appeared before them and commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the "Promise of the Father". He stated, "You shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now" (Acts 1:5).

After Jesus gave these instructions, He led the disciples to the Mount of Olives. Here, He commissioned them to be His witnesses "in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth" (Acts 1:8).

It is also at this time that the disciples were directed by Christ to "go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:19).
Jesus also told them that He would be with them always, "even to the end of the world" (Matthew 28:20).

As the disciples watched, Jesus lifted up His hands, blessed them, and then was taken up out of their sight
(Luke 24:51; Acts 1:9).

Two angels appeared to them and asked them why they were gazing into heaven. Then one of the angels said, "This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as you have seen Him going into heaven" (Acts 1:11).

The icon of The Ascension of Our Lord is a joyous icon. It is painted with bright colors. Christ is shown ascending in His glory in a mandorla A mandorla is a design which is almond-shaped or round. Inside the mandorla is the figure of a holy person.

Christ blesses the assembly with His right hand. In His left is a scroll. The scroll is a symbol of teaching. This icon shows that the Lord in heaven is the source of blessing.

In addition, Jesus is the source of knowledge. The icon reminds us that Christ continues to be the source of the teaching and message of the Church, blessing and guiding those to whom He has entrusted his work.

The Theotokos occupies a very special place in this icon. She is in the center of the icon, immediately below the ascending Christ. The gesture of her hands is gesture of prayer. She is clearly outlined by the whiteness of the garments of the angels.

The Theotokos is depicted in a very calm pose. This is quite different from the appearance of the Disciples. They are moving about, talking to one another and looking and pointing towards heaven. The entire group, the Theotokos and the disciples represent the Church.

The icon of the Ascension includes some who did not witness the Ascension. St. Paul is shown to the left of the Theotokos, but we know that he was not present at the Ascension. At that time, St. Paul did not yet believe in Jesus. But he became a Christian and one of the greatest Apostles and missionaries of Church.

The icon expresses the sovereignty of Christ over His Church; He is its Head, its guide, its source of inspiration and teaching; it receives its commission and ministry from Him, and fulfils it in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Hymns of the Feast
Apolytikion (Fourth Tone)

O Christ our God, You ascended in Glory and gladdened Your disciples by the promise of the Holy Spirit. Your blessing assured them that You are the Son of God, the Redeemer of the world.

Kontakion (Plagal of the Second Tone)

O Christ our God, upon fulfilling Your dispensation for our sake, You ascended in Glory, uniting the earthly with the heavenly. You were never separate but remained inseparable, and cried out to those who love You, "I am with you and no one is against you."

The Holy Orthodox Church
The Religion Of The Apostles Orthodox Christianity

19/05/2026

MORNING PRAYERS
TO THE HOLY TRINITY:

Having arisen from sleep, we fall down before Thee, O Blessed One, and sing to Thee, O Mighty One, the angelic hymn: Holy! Holy! Holy! art Thou, O God; through the Theotokos, have mercy on us.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Do Thou, O Lord, Who hast raised me from my bed and from sleep, enlighten my mind and heart, and open my lips that I may praise Thee, O Holy Trinity: Holy! Holy! Holy! art Thou, O God; through the Theotokos, have mercy on us.

Now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

The Judge will come suddenly and the acts of every man will be revealed; but with fear we cry in the middle of the night: Holy! Holy! Holy! art Thou, O God; through the Theotokos, have mercy on us.

TO THE FATHER:

O Lord Almighty, God of hosts and of all flesh, dwelling in the highest, caring for the humble, searching the reins and the heart, and clearly discerning the hidden things of men.

O unoriginate and ever-existing Light, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change, do Thou, O immortal King, accept our prayers which we offer to Thee at this present time from our soiled lips, trusting in the multitude of Thy bounties - forgive us our transgressions which we have committed knowingly or unknowingly, whether in word or deed or thought; cleanse us from all stain of body and soul.

Grant us to pass through all the night of this present life with vigilant heart and sober thought, awaiting the coming of the radiant and manifest Day of Thy only-begotten Son, our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ, on which the judgment of all men shall come with glory, when to each man shall be given the reward of his deeds.

May we not fall and become lazy, but instead have courage that, being roused to action, we may be found ready to enter into the joy and the divine bride-chamber of His glory, where the voice of those who feast is unceasing, and the gladness of those who behold the goodness of Thy countenance is unending. For Thou art the True light Who enlightenest and sanctifiest all things, and all creation sings Thy praise forever. Amen.

TO THE THEOTOKOS:

I sing the praises of your grace, O Lady, entreating you to enrich my mind with grace! Teach me to walk uprightly, in the way of Christ’s commandments. Strengthen my vigilance in song and prayer, which drive away the despair of sleep. Free me by your entreaties, O Bride of God, who am bound by sinful garments.

Protect me in the night and in the day, delivering me from the enemies who contend against me. Give life to me who have been deadened by passion, you that gave birth to the life-giving God. Enlighten my blinded soul, you that gave birth to the never-ending light. O wonderful Palace of the Master, make me a house of the Divine Spirit.

You that gave birth to the Physician, make well the passions of my soul. Lead me who am bestormed by life to the ways of repentance. Deliver me from the eternal flames. Do not show me to be the joy of demons because of my many sins.

Establish me anew who have been made senseless by transgressions, O Blameless One. Show me a stranger to every torment, and entreat the Master of All. Enable me to attain to the gladness of Heaven together with all the saints.

O most Holy Virgin, hear the voice of your unprofitable servant. Grant me a stream of tears, O Most Pure One, to wash away the defilement of my soul. I bring to you the groaning of my heart unceasingly; beseech the Master to listen. Accept my prayerful service and bear it to the compassionate God! You that are higher than the angels, make me to be above the gloominess of the world.

O light-bearing Cloud of Heaven, establish spiritual grace in me. Although stained by sin, I raise my hands and open my lips in praise of you! Deliver me from soul-corrupting wounds, entreating Christ fervently. To Him honor and worship are due, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

TO THE GUARDIAN ANGEL:

O Holy Angel, keeping guard over my wretched soul and my passionate life, do not forsake me, a sinner, nor depart from me because of my incontinence. Do not give the evil enemy room to overcome me by force of this mortal body. Strengthen my weak and feeble hand, and set me on the way of salvation.

Yea, O Holy Angel of God, guardian and protector of my wretched soul and body, forgive me everything by which I have offended you all the days of my life, and even what I have done this past night; protect me during this day, and guard me from every temptation of the enemy, that I may not anger God by any sin. Pray to the Lord for me, that He may confirm me in His fear and prove me a worthy servant of His goodness. Amen.

TO ONE’S PATRON SAINT:

Pray to God for me, O Saint James the Apostles, (your patron saint) my patron saint is (James the Apostles) well-pleasing to God. I fervently entreat you who are the sure help and intercessor for my soul.

The Holy Orthodox Church
The Religion Of The Apostles Orthodox Christianity

10/05/2026

SUNDAY OF THE SAMARITAN WOMAN (PHOTINI)

Feast Day Commemorated the 5th Sunday after Pascha

The fifth Sunday after Holy Pascha, the Orthodox Church designates as the Sunday of the Samaritan Woman.

This day commemorates the encounter of Christ with the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well which is the biblical story of the dialog between Christ and the woman is found in the Gospel of St John 4:5-42.

I will share a little more about the significance of this Sunday, who is the woman at the well (spoiler alert: her name is Photini), and some activities, reading suggestions, and other ways to engage with your children to help them learn more about this day!

“Jesus said to her, ‘Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst; the water that I shall give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.’ The woman said to him, ‘Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw.’” John 4:5-42

From the Synaxarion : Since on this Sunday Christ openly confesses Himself to be the Messiah, which means “Christ” or “the anointed one” (for messa is the Hebrew word for oil), for this reason, the present feast is placed in the week of Mid-Pentecost; and also because, on the previous Sunday, Christ wrought a miracle at the Sheep’s Pool. On this Sunday, He works a miracle at Jacob’s well, which Jacob himself dug and bestowed upon his son Joseph.

Jesus came to Sichar and sat down at about the sixth hour of the day. A certain woman came from the city to draw water, the Disciples having gone to purchase food.

Jesus asked her for water, but she excused herself by saying that the Jews had no dealings with the Samaritans
(St. John 4:9); for she knew who He was, both by His accent and by His apparel.

Jesus raised their conversation to a higher level by introducing the idea of spiritual water, which connotes abundance and cleansing power, since the Spirit is always likened to water and fire. The woman was sure, from the fact that He had not brought a bucket, that He did not have such water, and added that the well was deep.

She then went on to talk about their forefather Jacob, saying that he had dug the well and that he and his children had drunk from it, commending the rich resources of the well, and also its usefulness and the coolness of its water.

Christ, however, did not say that He was greater than Jacob, so as not to frighten the woman, but again He spoke about the water, thus proving His superiority; for one who drank from that water, He said, would in no wise be thirsty.

The woman asked for this water, but He told her to call her husband, since His words needed to be more firmly understood.

She denied that she had a husband. Jesus, knowing all things, replied: “Thou hast well said, I have no husband: For thou hast had five husbands,” which the Law forbiddeth, and the sixth whom thou now hast, since thou livest with him unlawfully, “is not thy husband”
(St. John 4:17-18).

The woman replied to Him, calling Him a Prophet. The woman then said: “We have heard from the Scriptures that the Messiah cometh Who is the Christ”
(St. John 4:25).

Jesus, foreknowing the woman’s gratitude, said: “I am He.”The Samaritans, too, knew about the Messiah from the books of Moses, especially from the verse, “The Lord God shall raise up a Prophet for you” (Deuteronomy 18:15), and many others.

At the conclusion of this conversation, the Disciples returned and were amazed at Christ’s extreme condescension in talking with a woman. In the meantime, they besought Him to eat, both because of His weariness and on account of the heat of the day. But He spoke to them about eternal food, namely, the salvation of mankind and how they needed to harvest the labors of the Prophets.

Who is the woman at the well?
Her name is not just “the woman at the well.” She has a name, and because of Holy Tradition, her name as been preserved throughout the centuries.

The woman in question, the Samaritan woman, is named Photini by Christ Himself. But her story does not end there at the well. She went on to be an incredible Saint, and one who endured much suffering for the sake of Christ. She converted her four sisters (Phota, Photis, Parasceva, and Cyriaca), and her sons (Victor and Joses), and all of them became tireless evangelists for Christ.

After the martyrdom of the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, she traveled to Carthage to proclaim the Gospel there. She, with her Christian sisters and sons, all met martyrdom under the persecutions of Nero.

After many hardships and tortures of which her flesh was scraped, her breasts were cut off, her hands were crushed, fine reeds were inserted under her fingernails, she was forced to swallow molten lead; she suffered countless other torments, and received the crown of martyrdom. Holy Saint Photini, pray unto God for us!

Kontakion (Hymn):
“The Samaritan Woman,
having come to the well in faith,
beheld You, the Water of Wisdom
from which she drank plentifully
and inherited the Heavenly Kingdom
as one who is blessed forever.”

Kontakion of the Sunday of the Samaritan Woman (tone 4)

The Holy Orthodox Church
The Religion Of The Apostles Orthodox Christianity

03/05/2026

HOLY MARTYRS TIMOTHY AND MAURA
3 MAY

Timothy and Maura were a young couple who had been married for only twenty days. They suffered during the reign of Diocletian (284-305).

Timothy was captured first and charged with being a Christian, which he confirmed. It was discovered that he was a reader in the church, which means, among other things, he was responsible for the safekeeping of the Christian books and scripture. Possessing such materials was a crime punishable by death.

When he refused to deny his faith and reveal the location of the sacred writings, he was then tortured so severely that even the torturers and the people watching asked the governor to ease up a bit. The governor refused and only sat around devising even more cruel ways to torture brave Timothy.

At some point, they realized he had a wife to whom he had only been married twenty days. They brought her, Maura, before him in hopes that it would diminish his resolve and he would agree to their demands so he could live a quiet, “normal” life with his wife. She was scared at first, but he encouraged her to be brave.

When the torturers realized their plot failed, they began to torture Maura quite cruelly too, including pulling out all of her hair and severing all of her fingers. God, through His miraculous grace, sustained this young couple so that they endured the gruesome tortures with supernatural grace.

In the end, they were hung upon two crosses facing one another. For nine days they spoke to one another, encouraging each other in the face of their torture. On the tenth day their spirits left their bodies and went to be with Christ in Paradise.

A HYMN TO SAINTS TIMOTHY AND MAURA
by St. Nikolai

Timothy and Maura, crucified and pale,
Through the Lord Christ, looked at one another, And by the spirit see each other better than with the eyes, By pain exalted, above all things.

And Timothy speaks: Maura, my sister,
You are of a female nature, and your pain is greater! By prayer be encouraged, do not despair sister, All of your thoughts, affix to Christ.

Maura replied:

Brother Timothy,
The Spirit of God I feel, in my soul it waves He keeps me strong, and helpless, He strengthens me, And the Sweet Jesus, my pains alleviates, But, about you, my glorious pride, I am concerned, What kind of pains, with yours can be similar?

But just a little while, a little while, my sweet brother, From the thorns of sufferings, then the roses will blossom,
To the entire heavenly host, the darling you will be, Only endure, endure without sound and sobbing Let us be alert brother, let us not fall asleep, Perhaps the Lord might come, that we not be ashamed.

Behold, the entire heavens opened, I see
Unseen treasures for us prepared.

Then Timothy to Maura:

O sister, wonderful,
Bride of Christ, glorious martyr, For His glorious mercy, let us glorify God, That such an honorable death, He permitted upon us.

O glory to You O Savior, Who for us suffered; Our spirit, we now commend into Your hands.

Source: Hagiography: Prologue of Ohchrid.

The Holy Orthodox Church
The Religion Of The Apostles Orthodox Christianity

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