ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY Orthodox Calendar
Orthodox Calendar 2026
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Георгий, чудо о змие Преполовение Пятидесятницы Иверская икона Божией Матери
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Old Style
April 23 		Wednesday
New Style
May 6
4th Week after Pascha. Tone 3.
Fast Day.
Fish, wine and oil allowed.

Mid-Pentecost. Совершается всенощное бдениеHoly Glorious Great-martyr, Victory-bearer, and Wonderworker George (303).

Martyr Alexandra the Empress, wife of Diocletian (314). Martyrs Anatolius and Protoleon, soldiers converted by witnessing the martyrdom of St. George; and Martyrs Glycerius and Athanasius the Magician, at Nicomedia (303) Blessed George of Shenkursk, fool-for-Christ (1462).

Martyr Therinus of Bothrotus in Epirus (ca. 250). St. Adalbert (Voitech), bishop of Prague (997). New Martyr George of Cyprus, at Ptolomais (1752). New Martyr Lazarus of Bulgaria, at Pergamus (1802). King Solomon I of Imeretia (Georgia) (1784). New Hieromartyr Sergius Zacharczuk, priest, of Nabroz (Chelm and Podlasie, Poland) (1943). St. Sophia of the Panagia Kleisoura Monastery (1974).

Repose of Bishop Barnabas (Belyaev) of Nizhni-Novgorod (1963).

Thoughts for Each Day of the Year
According to the Daily Church Readings from the Word of God
By St. Theophan the Recluse

St. Theophan the Recluse

Wednesday. [Acts 14:6–18; John 7:14–30]

   On Mid-Pentacost a cry is heard from the Lord: If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink (John 7:37). If so, then let us all go to Him. Whoever thirsts for anything, as long as it is not contrary to the spirit of the Lord, will find satisfaction without fail. Whoever thirsts for knowledge, go to the Lord, for He is the only light truly enlightening every man. Whoever thirsts for cleansing from sins and to soothe the burning of his conscience, go to the Lord, for He lifted up the sins of the whole world onto the tree (cf. I Pet. 2:24) and tore up their handwriting (cf. Col. 2:14). Whoever thirsts for peace of heart, go to the Lord, for He is the treasure, the possession of which will force you to forget all deprivations and despise all goods in order to possess Him alone. Whoever needs strength—He has every strength. Glory—He has glory on high. Freedom—He is the giver of true freedom. He will resolve all of our uncertainties, will break the bonds of the passions, will disperse all sorrows and grieving, will enable us to overcome all impediments, all temptations and snares of the enemy, and will smooth out the path of our spiritual life. Let us all go to the Lord!

Articles

The Holy and Great Martyr George

Once, when he heard in a court the inhuman sentence concerning the annihilation of Christians, St. George became inflamed with compassion for them. Foreseeing that sufferings were also awaiting him, George distributed his property to the poor, freed his slaves, appeared before Diocletian and, having revealed himself as a Christian, denounced him for cruelty and injustice. George's speech was full of powerful and convincing objections against the imperial order to persecute Christians.

The Real St. George

Archpriest Andrew Phillips

Regularly, the secular media report stories about England's current patron-saint. There are those who complain that St George is 'a Turkish saint'; others project the image of a knight in medieval armour; yet others claim him as 'the patron of the English football team'. Where does such nonsense come from and who is the real St George?

Great Martyr George

Greatmartyr, Victory-bearer and Wonderworker George

The Holy Great Martyr George the Victory-Bearer, was a native of Cappadocia (a district in Asia Minor), and he grew up in a deeply believing Christian family.

Martyr Alexandra the Empress, wife of Diocletian

The Holy Empress Alexandra was the wife of Diocletian (284-305). Her supposed death was described in the Martyrdom of Saint George, which was written immediately after his death. The empress, however, received the crown of martyrdom several years later, in 314.

Martyrs Anatolius and Protoleon, soldiers converted by witnessing the martyrdom of St. George

Two illustrious officials, Saints Anatolius and Protoleon, who were secretly Christians, openly confessed Christ after seeing Saint George tortured.
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