Orthodox Calendar Company

St. Zlata (Chryse) the New Martyr of Meglena

Even when her own family begged her to abandon her Christian faith, St. Zlata refused.

Born into a poor Christian family in the village of Slatina in the region of Meglena, Zlata was known for her beauty and devotion to Christ.

One day, a Turkish man abducted her and demanded that she renounce Christianity and marry him.

When Zlata refused, he enlisted others to pressure her. Her parents and sisters were threatened and told that they would suffer unless she agreed.

Her frightened family begged her to comply, but Zlata remained firm in her decision.

For months, she endured imprisonment and terrible torture. According to the account of her martyrdom, her persecutors eventually hanged her from a tree and cut her body into pieces.

St. Zlata was martyred in 1795 and is especially venerated among Orthodox Christians in Bulgaria and Greece.

Commemorated October 13

St. John Maximovitch, Archbishop of Shanghai and San Francisco

Twenty-seven years after his death, his tomb was opened—and those present discovered that his body had remained incorrupt.

St. John Maximovitch was born in Russia in 1896. After fleeing the Russian Revolution, he became a monk and eventually served as Archbishop of Shanghai, where he cared for orphans, the sick, and refugees.

When the Communists took control of China, St. John helped thousands of Russian refugees escape, accompanying many of them to the Philippines.

He later served in Western Europe and finally in San Francisco, where he became known for his extraordinary life of prayer, compassion for the suffering, and miracles.

St. John reposed in Seattle on July 2, 1966, and was buried beneath the Holy Virgin Cathedral in San Francisco.

In October 1993, his tomb was opened in preparation for his glorification. Although twenty-seven years had passed, his body was found incorrupt.

He was officially glorified as a saint in 1994, and his relics remain in San Francisco, where pilgrims continue to venerate them.

Commemorated October 12 — Uncovering of His Holy Relics

Today's saint of the day that is featured in the 2026 Daily Lives, Miracles, and Wisdom of the Saints & Fasting Calendar is titled incorrectly; it is Saint Pelagia the Courtesan of Antioch.

We apologize for this confusion.

Holy and Glorious Apostle Thomas

The Apostle remembered for doubting the Resurrection eventually carried the Gospel all the way to India—and died there as a martyr.

St. Thomas was a fisherman who left everything to become one of Christ's Twelve Apostles.

After the Resurrection, Thomas was absent when Christ first appeared to the disciples. When they told him what they had seen, he said he would not believe until he saw the wounds of Christ himself.

Eight days later, Christ appeared again. Thomas saw His wounds and confessed, “My Lord and my God!”

According to Church tradition, Thomas later traveled great distances preaching the Gospel, establishing Christian communities in Palestine, Mesopotamia, Parthia, Ethiopia, and India.

His preaching in India eventually led to his arrest and imprisonment. After enduring torture, St. Thomas was pierced with five spears and died as a martyr.

Ancient Christian communities in India continue to trace their origins to the Apostle Thomas.

Commemorated October 6

St. Charitina the Martyr of Amisos

They tied a stone around her neck and threw her into the sea—but St. Charitina returned to shore alive.

Orphaned as a child, Charitina was raised by a Christian named Claudius, who loved her as his own daughter. She lived in Amisos in Pontus during the reign of Emperor Diocletian.

Although she had not yet been baptized, Charitina openly professed Christianity and brought others to the faith.

When she was arrested, she refused to deny Christ and endured a series of brutal tortures.

Her persecutors eventually tied a stone around her neck and cast her into the sea. According to her life, the stone came loose and sank, while Charitina emerged from the water unharmed.

She was then bound to a wheel over burning coals, but an angel stopped the wheel.

Finally, when her persecutors threatened another assault upon her, Charitina prayed and surrendered her soul to God before they could carry it out.

Her body was thrown into the sea but washed ashore three days later. Claudius found her and gave her an honorable burial.

She was martyred around the year 304.

Commemorated October 5

St. Hierotheos, Bishop of Athens

He was an Athenian associated with the Areopagus when the Apostle Paul brought the Gospel to Athens.

St. Hierotheos embraced Christianity through the preaching of St. Paul. The Apostle later consecrated him a bishop, and Hierotheos became the first Bishop of Athens.

His life was closely connected with St. Dionysius the Areopagite, whom the Church commemorates one day earlier on October 3.

According to Church tradition, Hierotheos and Dionysius were both present in Jerusalem at the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos.

St. Hierotheos continued his ministry as Bishop of Athens and ultimately suffered a martyr's death during the first century.

Commemorated October 4

St. Dionysius the Areopagite, Bishop of Athens

He was one of the few Athenians named in Scripture who believed after hearing St. Paul preach.

St. Dionysius was a highly educated Athenian and a member of the Areopagus, the famous council and court of Athens.

When the Apostle Paul came to Athens and preached about Christ on the Areopagus, Dionysius listened—and became a Christian.

According to Church tradition, Dionysius later accompanied St. Paul in his missionary work and became Bishop of Athens. He also traveled to Jerusalem, where he met the Theotokos, and tradition places him among those present at her Dormition.

After the death of St. Paul, Dionysius continued preaching the Gospel.

Ancient tradition records that he eventually suffered martyrdom around the year 96.

Commemorated October 3

Before he became a Christian bishop, Cyprian was a pagan sorcerer.

Born in Antioch, Cyprian spent years studying pagan religion and magic and eventually became known for his ability to cast spells.

His life changed when a young man asked him to use his powers against a Christian woman named Justina, hoping to make her fall in love with him.

Cyprian repeatedly attempted to influence her through sorcery, but Justina resisted through prayer and the Sign of the Cross.

Eventually, Cyprian realized that the powers he had served could not overcome the name of Christ. He renounced his former life, burned his books of magic, and went to the bishop in repentance.

Cyprian was baptized and later ordained a priest and eventually a bishop. Justina entered a monastery and became its superior.

During the persecution of Emperor Diocletian, Cyprian and Justina were arrested, tortured, and finally beheaded at Nicomedia around the year 304.

Commemorated October 2

St. Romanos the Melodist, the Sweet-Singer

He was such a poor reader and singer that another reader had to take his place—and the other clergy ridiculed him.

St. Romanos was born in the fifth century in Emesa, Syria. He later moved to Constantinople and served in the great Church of Hagia Sophia.

On the eve of the Nativity of Christ, Romanos attempted to read during the service but performed so poorly that he was replaced. Humiliated, he prayed before an icon of the Theotokos.

According to Church tradition, the Mother of God appeared to him in a vision. She gave him a scroll and instructed him to eat it.

Romanos awoke with an extraordinary gift for composing and singing hymns.

At the vigil he sang his first kontakion for the Nativity. Romanos eventually became a deacon and one of the Church's greatest hymnographers, composing nearly a thousand hymns during his lifetime.

He reposed around the year 556.

Commemorated October 1

St. Gregory the Illuminator, Bishop and Enlightener of Armenia

For fourteen years, St. Gregory lived at the bottom of a pit where he had been left to die.

Born into a noble Parthian family, Gregory was raised as a Christian in Caesarea of Cappadocia. He later entered the service of King Tiridates of Armenia.

When the king discovered that Gregory was a Christian and would not sacrifice to the pagan gods, he subjected him to terrible tortures. Gregory survived them, so the king ordered him thrown into a deep pit filled with poisonous creatures.

There Gregory remained for fourteen years. A woman secretly kept him alive by lowering food into the pit.

Eventually Gregory was brought out and returned to the king. Tiridates himself embraced Christianity, and Gregory began preaching throughout Armenia.

He was later consecrated a bishop and became known as the Illuminator of Armenia.

After years of missionary and episcopal work, St. Gregory withdrew into solitude and reposed in peace.

Commemorated September 30