THE ORTHODOX CHURCH CALENDAR
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2026
Today’s Orthodox Saints
Holy Apostle James, the Brother of the Lord
PRIMARY COMMEMORATION
Holy Apostle James, the Brother of the Lord
Holy Apostle James, the Brother of the Lord
☦ Red squigg (doxology typikon symbol)FastTone 3
SOURCE FOR TODAY’S COMMEMORATIONSOrthodox Church in America — Lives of the Saints
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FEATURED LIVES
Stories of Faith and Courage
October 25
Martyrs Marcian and Martyrius the Notaries
MartyrsSaints Marcian and Martyrius served as notaries and secretaries to Saint Paul the Confessor, Patriarch of Constantinople. Educated men, they used their learning in the service of the Church and defended the Orthodox confession during the fourth-century Arian controversy.
October 26
Great Martyr Demetrius the Myrrh-streamer
Great MartyrSaint Demetrius came from a distinguished family in Thessalonica. Orthodox tradition remembers him as a young military officer who confessed Christ during the persecutions of the early fourth century. He taught the faith and gathered young people to study the Scriptures, despite the danger this brought.
October 27
Martyr Nestor of Thessalonica
MartyrSaint Nestor was a young Christian associated with Saint Demetrius of Thessalonica. His life is closely joined to the witness of the Great Martyr, whose feast the Church celebrates one day earlier.
October 28
Holy Protection of the Theotokos
Feast of the Mother of GodThe feast honors the protection and intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos. It is associated with the church of Blachernae in Constantinople and expresses the faithful’s trust in the prayers of the Mother of God.
October 29
Venerable Martyr Anastasia the Roman
Venerable MartyrSaint Anastasia the Roman lived during the persecutions of the third century. The Greek Synaxarion recounts that, after the death of her wealthy parents, she distributed her inheritance to the poor and withdrew to a monastery.
October 30
Hieromartyr Zenobius and his Sister Zenobia
Hieromartyr & MartyrSaints Zenobius and Zenobia came from a devout family in Aegae of Cilicia. Their life is placed in the time of Emperor Diocletian. Zenobius practiced medicine without payment, and the siblings shared their resources through works of charity.“Through the prayers of Your saints, O Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us.”
AMEN