St. Laura of Cordova
Saint Laura of Cordova (Spanish: Santa Laura de Córdoba) (died 864) was a Spanish Christian who lived in Muslim Spain during the 9th century. She was born in Córdoba, and became a nun at Cuteclara after her husband died, eventually rising to become an abbess. She was martyred by Muslims who took her captive and scalded her to death by placing her in a vat of boiling lead. Her feast day is on October 19; she is one of the Martyrs of Córdoba.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Laura
St. Thekla
Troparion (Tone 4)
You were enlightened by the words of Paul, O Bride of God, Thekla,
And your faith was confirmed by Peter, O Chosen One of God.
You became the first sufferer and martyr among women,
By entering into the flames as into a place of gladness.
For when you accepted the Cross of Christ,
The demonic powers were frightened away.
O all-praised One, intercede before Christ God that our souls may be saved.
The Holy Martyr Melitina lived in the city of Marcianopolis in Thrace during the rule of the emperor Antoninus Pius ((138-161). She was a fervent Christian, and the Lord blessed her with the gift of wonderworking. By the power of her prayers she shattered the idols of Apollo and Herakles.
Her fiery preaching converted many pagans to Christ. Antiochus, the governor of the city of Marcianopolis, ordered that she be tortured, since this holy woman could not be persuaded to deny Christ. She was handed over to the governor’s women who tried to convert her by flattery and kindness. Not only was St Melitina not deceived or softened by their efforts, but she made Christians of the governor’s women. When the governor learned of this, he had St Melitina brought to trial, and sentenced her to be beheaded.
A Christian named Acacius reverently took the martyr’s body with the intention of burying her in his homeland of Macedonia. During the voyage, however, Acacius fell sick and died. The ship stopped at the island of Limnos, where the body of St Melitina was buried. The martyr-loving Acacius was laid to rest beside her grave.
http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=102629
St. Gregory the Great
Pope St. Gregory I (Latin: Gregorius I (Magnus) (Italian: Gregorio I); c. 540 – 12 March 604), better known in English as Gregory the Great, was pope from 3 September 590 until his death. Gregory is well-known for his writings, which were more prolific than those of any of his predecessors as pope.
He is also known as Gregory the Dialogist in Eastern Orthodoxy because of his Dialogues. For this reason, English translations of Orthodox texts will sometimes list him as “Gregory Dialogus”. He was the first of the popes to come from a monastic background. Gregory is a Doctor of the Church and one of the six Latin Fathers. He is considered a saint in the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church. Immediately after his death, Gregory was canonized by popular acclaim.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Gregory
St. John, the Baptist and Forerunner of Christ, is considered the last in the line of Old Testament Prophets, and the forerunner of a new Christian era. He is depicted with unkempt hair, wearing a robe with a camel hair lining. Many times he is shown holding a scroll with the words he spoke, “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is close at hand.” (Matt. 3:2)
This icon was donated to Holy Transfiguration Antiochian Orthodox Church in Boise, ID for their iconostasis.
The Orthodox Church remembers Saint John the Forerunner on six separate feast days, listed here in order of the church year which begins on September 1:
- September 23 – Conception of St. John the Forerunner
- October 12 – The Russian Orthodox Church observes the Transfer of the Right Hand of the Forerunner from Malta to Gatchina (1799).
- January 7 – The Commemoration of St. John the Forerunner (main feast day, immediately after Epiphany on January 6)
- February 24 – First and Second Finding of the Head of St. John the Forerunner
- May 25 – Third Finding of the Head of St. John the Forerunner
- June 24 – Birth of St. John the Forerunner
- August 29 – The Beheading of St. John the Forerunner
Also, St. John’s parents Zechariah and Elisabeth, are commemorated on September 5.
http://orthodoxwiki.org/John_the_Forerunner
St. Stephen (whose name in Greek means “Crown,” was the first Christian martyr. His death is recorded in Acts 6-7. He is first mentioned as one of the seven men who were chosen to become the deacons of the early church. They concerned themselves mostly with works of charity within the community. St. Stephen spoke with fervor about the new law given to Christians by the Lord, and because of this, he came into conflict with the Jews. He was stoned to death, receiving the crown of martyrdom. One of the Jews who took part in the stoning was a man by the name of Saul, who later became St. Paul.
St. John the Evangelist, the son of Zebedee and brother of James the Greater, is perhaps best known for his writings, the highest Christology in the New Testament. He was entrusted by Christ with the care of the Theotokos. He cared for her until her falling -asleep. He then moved to Patmos where he wrote and formed a Christian community. He was an ardent defender of the Divinity of Christ, and a powerful evangelist for the early church.
Troparion (Tone 2)
- Beloved apostle of Christ our God,
- hasten to deliver a defenseless people.
- He who allowed you to recline on His breast,
- receives you as you bow before Him.
- Implore Him, John the Theologian,
- to disperse the persistent threat from the heathens,
- entreating for us peace and great mercy.
Kontakion (Tone 2)
- Who shall declare declare your greatness,
- O virgin disciple,
- for you pour forth wonders and are a source of healings,
- and pray for our souls as Theologian and friend of Christ.
http://orthodoxwiki.org/Apostle_John
Born in 1829, St. John of Kronstadt was an archpriest in the Russian Orthodox Church. He was a fervent advocate of the return to frequent communion. St. John fell asleep in the Lord in 1908.
St. Laura of Cordova
