Saint Jeremiah I, Ecumenical Patriarch and Founder of the Sacred Monastery of Saint Nicholas "Stavronikita" on Mount Athos

By Panagiotis V. Koulpas,
Faculty of Theology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

Saint Jeremiah was born in the year 1485[1] in Zitsa of Ioannina. He was a man of great piety and virtue, though of limited formal education. At a young age he came under the guidance of the then Metropolitan of Ioannina, Theoleptos. The latter, appreciating the gifts of the young man from Ioannina, took him under his protection, tonsured him a monk, and ordained him deacon and presbyter. Later, the young Archimandrite Jeremiah went to Constantinople as a co-worker of his spiritual father, Metropolitan Theoleptos of Ioannina. The latter was elected Ecumenical Patriarch in the year 1518. In 1520 Saint Jeremiah was appointed Metropolitan of Sofia in Bulgaria.

Subsequently, in the year 1522,[2] he was elected for the first time Ecumenical Patriarch, as “Jeremiah I,” succeeding his deceased spiritual father and predecessor, Theoleptos. Nevertheless, he was compelled to be re-enthroned on the throne of the Apostle Andrew the First-Called in 1525, due to the uncanonical actions of Metropolitan Joannikios of Sozopolis. He remained in this position until 1537. As shepherd of Byzantium, Saint Jeremiah distinguished himself for his wisdom and humility, while at the same time showing particular zeal for the orderly functioning of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. He sent patriarchal letters regulating various matters of an administrative nature. He founded new dioceses (Argos and Nafplio, and Rhodes), restored the privileges of the Sacred Monastery of Eikosifoinissa on Mount Pangaion in Drama,[3] settled the issue of the election of the Archbishop of Sinai, and finally saved many churches of Constantinople from demolition by the Turks.

Holy Martyrs Hermylos and Stratonikos in the Hymnography of the Orthodox Church

By Fr. George Dorbarakis

The Holy Martyrs Hermylos and Stratonikos lived in the time of the emperor Licinius. Saint Hermylos held the ecclesiastical rank of Deacon. When he was brought before the emperor and confessed the name of Christ, he was first struck on the jaws with bronze instruments, then torn apart creating many wounds, while he also urged his friend Stratonikos to confess the faith. When Stratonikos turned and saw Saint Hermylos being struck on the jaws and having his belly and heart laid open by rods and swords, he wept. Since it immediately became evident that he shared in Saint Hermylos’ suffering by his own free choice, he confessed that he too was a Christian. Whereupon he was also beaten and cast together with Saint Hermylos into the river Istros, where both received a blessed end.

Saint Joseph the Hymnographer dwells on the manner of the Saints’ martyrdom — their drowning in the river Istros, the Danube. He considers this very drowning to have been their strongest weapon, by which, through the grace of God, they themselves drowned the devil and thus entered triumphantly into the Kingdom of Heaven.

Prologue in Sermons: January 13

On the Words of the Savior: "The Kingdom of God Suffers Violence"

January 13

(A Discourse on Labor and the Kingdom of Heaven)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

The Lord says, "The Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force" (Matthew 11:12). How should these words be understood? Yes, in our opinion, they can be understood very simply. Work, labor for the salvation of your soul, pray, be self-controlled, fulfill the duties of your calling, enrich yourself with Christian virtues, and you will be saved.

In the teaching on labor and the Kingdom of Heaven, we read: "Do not be lazy, brethren, about your salvation, and do not be intemperate like beasts, thinking only of food and drink. For Christ did not choose us for this life alone, but called us to the Kingdom of Heaven and showed us the way by which we can enter it. It is said that we must enter the Kingdom of Heaven through many tribulations, and those who use force take it by force; and this effort of those who take it by force propitiates God, and He grants us eternal life. The Lord knows our hearts and sees when we sincerely labor for Him and for our salvation, when we hasten to church to glorify our Creator with hymns, when we spend time in prayer and vigil. And the Lord elevates such people to angelic dignity. And such people, who use force to attain the Kingdom of Heaven, are known to God as His friends."

The Geopolitical Strategy of Russia and the Accusations Against the Ecumenical Patriarch

SVR: "Patriarch Bartholomew Is Creating a New Schism"

By Romfea.gr

January 12, 2026

Severe accusations against the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and the British intelligence services were launched by the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), according to an official statement broadcast by the TASS news agency.

According to the SVR Press Office, the United Kingdom’s special services are allegedly providing strong support for the actions of the Phanar, with the aim of curbing the international influence of the Russian Orthodox Church.

For its part, the Russian side claims that the British services are “fueling Russophobic sentiments” in various European countries, using the ecclesiastical issue as a tool of pressure.

The statement places particular emphasis on developments in Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia.

The Beginning of the Preaching of Jesus in Galilee (Archimandrite Joel Yiannakopoulos)

By Archimandrite Joel Yiannakopoulos

February of the year 28 A.D. until the Passover of 28 A.D.

Matthew 4:12–25; 8:1–4, 14–17; 9:1–17; 13:54–58
Mark 1:14–2:22; 6:1–6
Luke 4:14–5:39
John 4:43–54

The Lord’s public activity in Judea, given that the Forerunner was still present, was semi-official. The Lord departed from the Jordan, where His disciples were baptizing, because His success aroused the envy of the Pharisees, according to the explicit testimony of the Evangelist John, as we have seen. Having departed from there, either then or shortly before His departure, He learned of the imprisonment of the Forerunner. At that point He decided to enter upon His public life in a fully official manner. As a suitable center He chose Galilee, and especially the western shore of the Lake of Gennesaret —Capernaum — far from the center of the Pharisees in Jerusalem, so that He might move more freely among the dense and mixed population there.

Saint Tatiana of Rome Resource Page

St. Tatiana of Rome (Feast Day - January 12)

Verses

 

The always bright skull of Tatiana,

Brought on a bright crown by the sword.

On the twelfth Tatiana was beheaded. 

 

Holy Martyr Tatiana of Rome 

 

January: Day 12: Holy Martyr Tatiana

 

Holy Martyr Tatiana in the Hymnography of the Orthodox Church 

 

Homily for the Commemoration of the Holy Martyr Tatiana (Fr. Daniel Sysoev) 

 

The Skull of Saint Tatiana the Martyr of Rome

 

A Journalists Harrowing Escape from Bombardment With the Help of Saint Tatiana

 

 

Holy Martyr Tatiana in the Hymnography of the Orthodox Church

 

By Fr. George Dorbarakis

Saint Tatiana was from Old Rome during the reign of Alexander (3rd century AD). Her father had served three times as consul of Rome, and according to the order of the Church she held the rank of Deaconess. Because she confessed her faith in Christ, she was brought before the emperor, and when she entered with him into the temple of the idols, by her prayer she shook the idols that were there and cast them to the ground. For this reason she was struck in the face and her head was shaved. Afterwards she was thrown into the fire and to the beasts, from which she emerged unharmed; finally the command was given and her head was cut off.

The hymns of our Church, in order to emphasize the holiness and the glorious end of Saint Tatiana in martyrdom, present to us in a vivid manner what took place at the moment of the beheading of her honorable head: it was the hour of her triumph. As happens in similar cases, angels welcomed her ascent into heaven with applause, while Christ the Almighty, with His all-powerful right hand, crowned the martyr who had struggled lawfully.

Homily for the Commemoration of the Holy Martyr Tatiana (Fr. Daniel Sysoev)

 

Homily for the Commemoration of the Holy Martyr Tatiana 

By Fr. Daniel Sysoev

In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit!

I congratulate you all on the feast day of the Holy Martyr Tatiana!

The martyr Tatiana lived in the 3rd century and was a deaconess, that is, she was responsible for the administrative and economic affairs of the Church. She suffered at the hands of the ideology of her own time. In those days Rome was ruled by Emperor Alexander Severus, who supported the unification of all religions. In his private chapel he kept statues of Hercules, Zeus, Jesus Christ, Abraham, and Orpheus. He believed that one should bow to all gods and that people ought to venerate all deities, so that universal reconciliation might be achieved. Saint Tatiana was seized precisely because she refused to venerate all gods; for this “intolerance” she was executed. She is a herald of that intolerance which conquered the world. She refused to worship Apollo, who is mentioned in Holy Scripture as an evil spirit who at the end of times will destroy humanity. She came to the temple of Apollo and by prayer destroyed all the idols, thereby showing that a Christian fears nothing and is not afraid of pagan idols. It is the pagans who fear the divine power that dwells within Christians. If God has revealed Himself in Christ, then there can be no reconciliation of Truth with falsehood.

Prologue in Sermons: January 12

Against Pride

January 12

(A Discourse of Saint Evagrius on the Humble and the Exalted)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

Since the sin of pride has harmful consequences for everyone in general — raising people high and casting them low, and even drawing some into the very abyss of perdition — we therefore, for the sake of removing the proud from this sin and teaching them humility, offer for edification one of the discourses of Saint Evagrius, which we ask you to hear with attention.