Saint Sebastian lived a very long time ago in the third century. He was born in a place called Gaul (which is now part of France) and grew up to be a strong and smart soldier in the Roman Empire. He became the captain of the Praetorian Guards of the emperor’s guards, which was a very important job.
Sebastian was kind, fair, and brave, and everyone respected him. He was characterized by discipline and consistency in his duties. He protected the poor and supported the suffering.Even though he worked for emperor Diocletian, he was also a Christian. At that time, being a Christian was dangerous, so Sebastian kept his faith a secret—not because he was afraid, but because he wanted to help other Christians who were being treated badly.
Two Christian brothers named Marcellinus and Mark were put in prison because they believed in Jesus. Their families begged them to give up their faith so they could go free, and the brothers became very sad and unsure. Sebastian went to them and spoke with courage.He reminded them that God’s love lasts forever, and that following Jesus was worth more than anything else. His words gave them strength, and the brothers chose to stay faithful.
God showed how pleased He was with Sebastian. People saw his face shine with joy, and angels comforted him. Many hearts were changed that day.
A woman named Zoe, who had not been able to speak for many years, asked Sebastian for help. He prayed for her and made the sign of the cross—and she was able to speak again! She praised God, and many people believed in Jesus because of this miracle. Zoe's healing by Sebastian led to the baptism of her husband, Nicostratus, their family, and many prisoners.
Soon, many families, soldiers, prisoners, and leaders chose to become Christians. A holy priest baptized them, and the Church grew quickly, even though it was dangerous.
Some of these new Christians were later arrested because they would not worship idols. They stayed brave and trusted God, even when it was very hard.
Saint Sebastian himself was eventually found out. The emperor questioned him and ordered him punished. Sebastian was badly hurt, but kind Christians cared for him and helped him heal.
When he was strong again, Sebastian did not run away. Instead, he stood up bravely and told the emperor that hurting Christians was wrong. This made the emperor very angry, and Sebastian was killed because he would not stop believing in Jesus.
Saint Sebastian is the patron saint of athletes, soldiers, and archers, invoked for protection against plagues and epidemics due to his story as a Roman soldier martyred by arrows, and for his endurance, making him a symbol of strength, courage, and physical fitness. He is also the patron of the city of Rome, Italy and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Afterward, a Christian woman named Lucina buried his body with love and respect. Later, a great church, Basilica of Saint Sebastian Outside the Walls in Rome, was built where he was buried, and people still honor him today.
Sebastian's cranium was brought to the town of Ebersberg (Germany) in 934. A Benedictine abbey was founded there and became one of the most important pilgrimage sites in southern Germany.[15] It is said the silver-encased cranium was used as a cup in which to present the consecrated wine of the Blessed Sacrament to the faithful during the feast of Saint Sebastian.
Read more about the life of St. Sebastian
Coloring page for children
Make healthy fruit skewer arrows to honor St. Sebastian
Sunday, October 19, 2025
St. John the Wonderworker of Rila
Saint John of Rila was a very kind and holy man who lived a long time ago in Bulgaria. He was born around the year 876, in the village of Skrino (near the town of Doupnitsa) near what is now the capital city of Sofia. When he was still a boy, his parents died, so he had to take care of himself. He worked as a cowherd and spent a lot of time praying and trusting God. We honor his feast day on October 19.
One day, when a cow and her calf were lost, the boy prayed for help. God listened, and something amazing happened: Saint John crossed a fast-moving river safely while carrying the calf, even though he had nothing but faith. The people who saw this knew God was with him.
Saint John didn’t want praise or riches. He gave away what he had and chose a quiet life close to God. St. John accepted the monastic tonsure at age 25. He lived alone in the mountains, first in a small shelter, then in a cave, and later even in the hollow of a tree. He ate simple food like wild plants and beans, prayed every day, and trusted God to take care of him.
After 11 years, he moved to the Rila wilderness and lived in the hollow of a tree where he fasted and prayed constantly. A flock of sheep once ran astray in the wilderness near where St John lived. The shepherds followed their sheep to find them being fed by the hermit who invited the shepherds to feed on some beans. After the shepherds ate, one of them hid away beans to eat later. On the way home, he went to eat them, but there was not a single bean in the stolen pods. The repentant shepherds returned to the Elder who forgave them and said with a smile, “You see, children, God provided those beans only for sustenance in the wilderness.”
Later, people discovered him and saw how loving and peaceful he was. Shepherds and villagers came to him for help and prayers, and many felt better and comforted after meeting him. Saint John never wanted attention—when too many people came, he would move deeper into the mountains to stay humble and close to God.
Even the Tsar wanted to meet Saint John, but he politely said no. He believed that being humble was more important than being famous.
Eventually, other monks came to learn from him. With Saint John’s guidance, they built a monastery in the mountains, which is now called the Rila Monastery. Saint John taught the monks to live with kindness, prayer, and care for others.
Saint John of Rila died peacefully at age 70. After his death, people continued to feel helped by his prayers, and he became known as the protector saint of Bulgaria. His remains were carefully moved and honored over the years and are now kept at the Rila Monastery, where people still go to pray today.
Saint John’s life teaches us that we don’t need riches or fame to be good. We just need faith, kindness, and love for God and others.
Rila Monastery
St. John the Wonderworks of Rila holy relics
Soon after his death the Tsar was visiting Sofia again and by his order the saint's relics were transferred
to that town. During a war in 1183, the Hungarian King Bela II conquered Sofia and sent the saint's relics to his capital of Estergom. Several years later, in 1194, the Bulgarian Tsar Assen ordered that the relics be moved to the capital city of Veliko Tarnovo. They miraculously survived the devastation of the city after its seizure by the Turks in 1393. By Sultan Murad II's permission, the relics were sent back to the Rila Monastery in 1469.
Tsar Ivan Asen II, Emperor of Bulgaria
St. John of Rila is the patron saint of the Bulgarian people, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, and is especially revered as the heavenly protector of Bulgaria, its nation, and its diaspora, known as the first Bulgarian hermit and founder of the famous Rila Monastery. He's also a patron of those seeking spiritual guidance, the poor, and, through a unique legend, sometimes associated with pies and pie makers (banitsa) in Bulgaria.
Sofia, Bulgaria
Banitsa
The sick and suffering in Bulgaria
To commemorate the feast of St. John of Rila, we can honor his simple life with a modest meal of
bread, soup, beans, fruit, or vegetables. You can also help a neighbor in need, donate food or clothes, and be extra patient or forgiving that day. Don't forget to make a traditional Bulgarian meal with Banitsa!
Traditional Banitsa
Bob Chorba
Tarator
Bob Yahniya
Shopska salad
Sirene po Shopsky
Lyutetnisa
Guvech
Read about St. John using these books.
You can read an electronic account of the lift of Wonderworker St. John Here.
Your life was a foundation of repentance / and a model of compunction, / an image of consolation and spiritual perfection, / equal to the angels, O venerable one. / You persevered in prayer, fasting and tears, O Father John; / intercede with Christ God for our souls.
Imitating the life of the angels and forsaking all earthly things, / you fled to Christ, O venerable one. / Protecting yourself with His commandments, / you were shown to be an unshakable pillar against the attacks of the enemy. / Therefore, we cry to you: “Rejoice, O Father John, most brilliant light!
Translation of the relics of Venerable John of Rila from Trnovo to Rila - Troparion & Kontakion
Commemorated on July 1
Troparion — Tone 8
By a flood of tears you made the desert fertile, / and your longing for God brought forth fruits in abundance. / By the radiance of miracles you illumined the whole universe! / O our holy father John, pray to Christ our God to save our souls!
The Hieromartyr St. Blaise (Blasius), the Bishop of Sebaste, was known for his righteous and devout life. Unanimously chosen by the people. This occurred during
the reign of the Roman emperors Diocletian (284-305) and Licinius (307-324), fierce persecutors of Christians. St Blaise encouraged his flock, visited the imprisoned, and gave support to the martyrs.
From being a healer of bodily ailments, St. Blaise became a physician of souls, then retired for a time, by divine inspiration, to a cavern where he remained in prayer. As bishop of Sebaste, St. Blaise instructed his people as much by his example as by his words, and the great virtues and sanctity of the servant of God were attested by many miracles. From all parts, the people came flocking to him for the cure of bodily and spiritual ills.
In 316, the governor of Cappadocia and Lesser Armenia Agricolaus began a persecution by order of the Emperor Licinius and St. Blaise was seized. After his interrogation and a severe scourging, he was hurried off to prison and subsequently beheaded.
St. Stephen's Cathedral
In Croatia, St. Blaise (Croatian: Sveti Vlaho or Sveti Blaž) is the patron saint of the city of Dubrovnik and formerly the protector of the independent Republic of Ragusa. At Dubrovnik his feast is celebrated yearly on 3 February, when relics of the saint, his head, a bit of bone from his throat, his right hand and his left, are paraded in reliquaries. The festivities begin the previous day, Candlemas, when white doves are released. Chroniclers of Dubrovnik such as Rastic and Ranjina attribute his veneration there to a vision in 971 to warn the inhabitants of an impending attack by the Venetians, whose galleys had dropped anchor in Gruž and near Lokrum, ostensibly to resupply their water but furtively to spy out the city's defenses. St. Blaise (Blasius) revealed their pernicious plan to Stojko, a canon of St. Stephen's Cathedral. The Senate summoned Stojko, who told them in detail how St. Blaise had appeared before him as an old man with a long beard and a bishop's mitre and staff. In this form the effigy of Blaise remained on Dubrovnik's state seal and coinage until the Napoleonic era.
According to the Acts, while St. Blaise was being taken into custody, a distraught mother, whose only child was choking on a fishbone, threw herself at his feet and implored his intercession. Touched at her grief, he offered up his prayers, and the child was cured. Consequently, St. Blaise is invoked for protection against injuries and illnesses of the throat.
In many places on the day of his feast the blessing of St. Blaise is given: two candles are consecrated, generally by a prayer, these are then held in a crossed position by a priest over the heads of the faithful or the people are touched on the throat with them. At the same time the following blessing is given: "May Almighty God at the intercession of St. Blaise, Bishop and Martyr, preserve you from infections of the throat and from all other afflictions". Then the priest makes the sign of the cross over the faithful.
We pray to St Blaise for the health of domestic animals, and for protection from wild beasts. He is also invoked for protection against injuries, especially illnesses of the throat.
A short video on the life of St. Blaise
Holy Relics of St. Blaise are located in numerous places:
Church of St. Blaise (Crkva sv. Vlaha) in Dubrovnik.
The relics including the holy saint's head, throat, and various body parts, displayed in ornate reliquaries.
Relics of St Blaise shown in main altar of the basilica of Sss Peter and Paul in Agliate, a small town a bit more than
