Faithful Friday: Princess Anna Vsevolodna
In the early 9th century, Princess Anna Vsevolodna was born into prominent status as the daughter of Kievan Great Prince Vsevolod Yaroslavich and granddaughter of the Byzantine Emperor.
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Faithful Friday: St Narcissus
St. Narcissus’ origins are lost to history, but he was born at the end of the first century and was appointed as the thirtieth bishop of Jerusalem around 180AD. He was known for his many virtues and his dedication to his office. During his episcopacy, there was a year that the church ran out of lamp oil.
Read MoreFaithful Friday: John Ball
An obscure man from an obscure parish who was content to be forgotten, John Ball was born in Cassington, Oxfordshire, in October 1585.
Read MoreFaithful Friday: Theodore Beza
Theodore de Beze was born on June 24, 1519, in Vezelay, France. He studied to be a lawyer then set up practice in Paris, where he also wrote poetry. At one point he became very ill and, once he recovered, he sought out the famous reformation leader John Calvin, who was living in Geneva, Switzerland. There, Beza became a professor of Greek, then he travelled Europe preaching the Protestant cause.
Read MoreFaithful Friday: Battle of Lepanto
The Battle of Lepanto was, in many ways, the pivotal moment of this ongoing strife. There was much at stake, particularly as the number of Christian hostages had accumulated astronomically over the years.
Read MoreFaithful Friday: St. Wenceslaus
“Good King Wenceslaus” is largely remembered today in the old Christmas carol that actually takes place on the second day of Christmas – December 26th, St. Stephen’s Day. In the song, Wenceslaus is revered as kind, gracious, courageous, and persevering. The real Wenceslaus, a prince of Bohemia, was born around the year 903AD to Duke Wratislaw (son of the devout Princess Ludmilla) and his wife Dragomir.
Read MoreFaithful Friday: John Henry Newman
One of the most influential figures in both high-church Anglicanism and Catholicism, John Henry Newman was born in the city of London in the year 1801. His father, John, was a banker. The eldest of six, Newman was brought up a Calvinist and eventually went to Trinity College to complete his education as an Anglican priest.
Read MoreFaithful Friday: Nicetas the Goth
Nicetas (also spelled Niketas) was a member of the Gothic people and lived near the Danube River in what is now Romania. We do not know under what circumstances Nicetas was brought to the Christian faith, but we do know he was baptized by Bishop Theophilis of the Goths.
Read MoreFaithful Friday: Frédéric Ozanam
This realization spurred these students towards serving the impoverished around them, namely in the establishment of the Conference of Charity, later called the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, after Ozanam’s role model.
Read MoreFaithful Friday: St. Simeon Stylites
Also known as St. Simeon the Elder, Simeon was born circa 390 in Sisan, Cilicia (modern Syria) to Sisotian and Martha. Simeon became a monk at the age of eighteen…
Read MoreFaithful Friday: St. Simeon Stylites
Also known as St. Simeon the Elder, Simeon was born circa 390 in Sisan, Cilicia (modern Syria) to Sisotian and Martha. Simeon became a monk at the age of eighteen…
Read MoreFaithful Friday: Genesius of Rome
While performing a play that satirized the Christian rite of Baptism, Genesius felt the weight of his sins. Claiming to have seen an angel, Genesius demanded to be baptized. The actor playing the priest dumped a basin of water on him, believing this to be part of the show. Genesius, however, was quite serious. He began to preach Christ to the Emperor and all others in attendance, urging them to convert and be baptized.
Read MoreFaithful Friday: St. Daig of Iniskeen
Daig of Iniskeen was born to a noble family sometime in the middle of the Fifth Century, in County Meath, Ireland, possibly near the suburbs of Dublin. His father was named Cayrell, and was a descendant of legendary Irish king Naill of the Nine Hostages.
Read MoreFaithful Friday: St. Syncletica of Alexandria
St. Syncletica was born in Alexandria, Egypt, to wealthy parents around the year 270AD. From an early age she dedicated herself to God, devoting herself to fasting and praying, to the disappointment of her suitors. Upon the death of her parents, who were predeceased by her brothers, she inherited the family wealth. This she distributed to the poor.
Read MoreFaithful Friday: Aristarchus of Thessalonica
The subtle presence of Aristarchus of Thessalonica can be traced in New Testament scripture. Although he is not mentioned to great extent, it is known that he was considered an apostle – one of the Seventy – and a companion of Paul.
Read MoreFaithful Friday: Johann Sebastian Bach
At a young age, Johann Sebastian was tragically orphaned, and was thereafter cared for by his older brother, Johann Christoph. The elder Bach was an accomplished keyboard player, and taught his little brother to play the organ; an instrument the younger Bach would play throughout his life.
Read MoreFaithful Friday: Lawrence of Brindisi
As a young boy, his piety and great oratorical skills were already evident. There is an Italian Christmas custom that young boys can get up and preach a sermon in a church in memory of Jesus in the Temple, and at the age of six, the future Brother Lawrence delivered a sermon so great that even adults were moved to do better in their Christian walk.
Read MoreFaithful Friday: Samson Occom
Samson Occom, born in the early 18th century to the Mohegan tribe of Connecticut, is known for his influence on Native American populations during the period of the Great Awakening. As a Native American himself, Occom was introduced to the gospel by Eleazer Wheelock’s ministry centralized around a reach towards Native Americans.
Read MoreFaithful Friday: James Montgomery Boice
In 1668, Boice became the minister of Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, PA, where he would stay for the rest of his 61 years. During that time, he tripled his congregation, wrote a multitude of books and commentaries, started multiple schools and charitable organizations, taught and evangelized through the radio program The Bible Study Hour…
Read MoreFaithful Friday: Irenaeus of Lyons
By Ian Wilson (Rated G) Little is known of the life of Irenaeus, one of the great theologians of the Early Church. It is believed that he was born in Smyrna in Asia Minor (modern Turkey) around the early part the second century, AD. There, he heard Polycarp, another early church father, preach. Irenaeus served […]
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