Saints

Cyril and Methodius were Byzantine Greek brothers born in the 9th century who became missionaries among the Slavic people.

They are credited with greatly influencing the cultural development of the Slavic people, particularly through devising the Cyrillic alphabet, the first alphabet used to transcribe the Old Church Slavonic language.

Their pupils continued their missionary work after their deaths, and SS. Cyril and Methodius are now known in the Byzantine Church as "Equals to the Apostles." 

Additionally St. John Paul II declared them, along with St. Benedict, the co-patrons of Europe. Their feast day is May 11.

Born in 1911, and ordained in 1936 after studying in Rome, Blessed Theodore Romzha was consecrated bishop of the Mukachevo Eparchy on September 24, 1944. A month later, the Soviet Army occupied the Mukachevo Eparchy, and within a year incorporated it into Soviet Ukraine.

The Soviets ordered the young Bishop Romzha to renounce his allegiance to the Holy See, to submit to the Patriarch of Moscow, and to encourage his flock to do the same. He replied "I would rather die than betray my Church!"

On October 31, 1947, at the young age of 36, Bishop Romzha was poisoned by a mysterious nurse in the Mukachevo hospital while recovering from a Soviet-staged highway accident. He was beautified by Pope St. John Paul II on June 27, 2001.

Son of a married priest, Paul Peter Gojdich was born in 1888; ordained as a celibate priest in 1911; and entered St. Nicholas Monastery as a Basilian monk in 1922. Despite his initial reluctance, Fr. Peter accepted an appointment as Apostolic Administrator for the Presov Eparchy in 1926 and was ordained bishop in 1927. 

In 1950, Bishop Gojdich was imprisoned by the Soviet Army for his loyalty to the Catholic Church, although they claimed he was being tried for "treason and espionage." He was condemned to life imprisonment. He was often tortured, while his communist captors tried unsuccessfully to persuade him to renounce his allegiance to Rome and submit to the Patriarch of Moscow. He died in prison in 1960, and was beatified by Pope St. John Paul II in 2001.

Born in 1904 in Eastern Slovaki and ordained in 1929, after World War II Fr. Hopko was entrusted with the eparchial religious press for the Mukachevo Eparchy. He published an annual religious almanac and numerous spiritual booklets, four of which he himself authored.

Fr. Hopko was consecrated auxilary bishop in 1947, imprisoned by the Communist authorities in 1950, and pressured to renounce Rome and submit to the Patriarch of Moscow. When he refused, he was sentenced to 15 years in prison.

He was released from prison for health reasons in 1966, but kept under strict house arrest at a home for the aged in Osijek, Czech Republic. He died in 1976 and was beatified by Pope St. John Paul II in 2003.

These saints helped express the understanding of the mystery of the Holy Trinity that we hold even to this day.

Basil the Great

Gregory the Theologian

St. Gregory the Theologian, also called Gregory of Nazianzus or Doctor of the Church, was born at Arianzus, in Asia Minor, c. 325; died at the same place, 389. He was son of  Bishop of Nazianzus and of Nonna, a daughter of Christian parents. He followed in the footsteps of his father and became a priest and later bishop. He preached his first sermon on Easter Sunday, and afterward wrote the remarkable apologetic oration, which is really a treatise on the priestly office, the foundation of Chrysostom's "De Sacerdotio", of Gregory the Great's "Cura Pastoris", and of countless subsequent writings on the same subject. He is most known for shaping Trinitarian thought in both the East and the West. His study and writings on the Trinity still hold a valuable place on those who write about the nature of the Trinity today.  His feast day is January 25.

Gregory of Nyssa

St. George, a native of Cappadocia, was raised in a devout Christian family. He became known for his miracles, including defeating a serpent that had been terrorizing a nearby city. St. George went on to become a talented officer and the pagan emperor Diocletian took notice of his impressive military exploits. However, he is not known as Victory Bearer, for his military achievements alone, but rather for successfully enduring martyrdom.

When Emperor Diocletian intensified his persecution of Christians, St. George bravely confessed his faith and endured torture. Despite numerous attempts to break him, St. George remained unharmed and steadfast in his faith and even converted the emperor's wife, St. Alexandra, and many of his tormentors. He was eventually executed, but his legacy lived on and just a decade later, Saint Constantine  issued the Edict of Milan, granting religious freedom to Christians. St. George's feast day is April 23.

Saint Theodosius of the Caves was a Russian monk who is considered the Father of monasticism in Russia. He was born near Kiev and felt a strong attraction to the ascetic life from a young age. At 24, he left his parents' home to become a monk and was later ordained as a hieromonk and chosen as igumen. He worked tirelessly at the monastery, often taking on the work of others, and lived a life of extreme asceticism. He was known for his spiritual discourses and concern for the destitute. Saint Theodosius peacefully passed away in 1074 and was later glorified as a saint. His Life was written by Saint Nestor the Chronicler and he is commemorated May 3 and August 14.


 

St. John the Baptist is highly venerated in the Byzantine Rite, second only to the Theotokos. He is revered for his role as God's messenger and for his austere asceticism. His relics were recovered multiple times and were the subject of many miracles. The Byzantine Rite has several commemorative days dedicated to St. John, including his nativity, beheading, and conception. The liturgical veneration of St. John was established by famous Byzantine hymnographers, including St. Sophronius of Jerusalem. All the Fathers believed that to praise St. John was to praise Jesus, as he bore witness to Our Savior. Click here to learn more!