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♱Daily Synaxarium ♱Thursday, July 9, 2026translated

July 9, 2026 · 1 min read

On this day, the Holy Church commemorates:

*Saint Pancratius of Euphromene. *Saint Photius the Thessalonian. *The appearance of the Mother of God at my burial. *Renewal of the church of the three saints, Ananias, Azariah, and Mishael. *The righteous Saints Dionysius the Eloquent and Metrophanes in the neighborhood of Saint Anne the Minor on Mount Athos. *Saints Martyrs Andrew and Probus. *What is new about the martyrs is Bishop Methodius of Crete. *Saints Patermotius and Cyprian.

✤ Saint Martyr Pancratius of Euphromene ✤

It is also mentioned on the ninth day of February.

He was born in Antioch in the time of the Lord Jesus. He and his parents were baptized in Jerusalem. Get to know the Apostle Peter. Ascetic for a while. The Messenger took him with him to Italy. He became Bishop of Ephromina in Sicily. He expelled demons and guided the residents to Christ, including the governor of the city. Many miracles happened. Among those who were guided by him was the priestess of the idols, Benedicta, who was baptized and became a deacon. He was martyred by beatings by some pagans. A church bearing his name was later built.

Source: Site: أبرشية زحلة وبعلبك · Read the full story →

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Martin Dvořák

I was interested in Pancratius, how Peter took him straight from Jerusalem to Italy and immediately made him a bishop in Sicily. The fact that he also converted the priestess of the pagan goddess Bendikta, who then served as a deaconess, is quite a strength. We have an icon of him in our small chapel in the suburbs, but I never knew that we also celebrate him in July.

Jakub Svoboda

Yeah, the story with Peter is interesting, he took him straight from Jerusalem and immediately made him a bishop in Taormina. We also have his icon in our church, it stands next to St. Lávřince, and the daughters always ask about that deaconess Bendikta. We celebrate it mainly in February, in July I take it more as a reminder.

Gheorghe Popescu

That pankratie in Taormina made me think too. That Peter took him directly from Jerusalem, made him a bishop and even baptized the priestess Bendikta who became a deaconess, sounds like a true miracle. In our church choir, we sing his tropares in February, but it's good that we also remember him today, July 9.

Martin Horváth

Pankratios interested me in how St. Peter took straight from Jerusalem to Italy and immediately made him bishop of Taormina. Here in Svidník, we have his small icon in the side chapel, and my daughter always asks about that pagan priestess Bendikta, who became a deaconess. In July, we commemorate it rather quietly in the garden, we have the main celebration in February.

Marek Dvořák

Yeah, the story with Peter is really fast, almost like he wants to have it right away. In our kitchen, I have a small icon of St. Pankrát next to the stove, the daughter also asks about Bendikta, mainly because of how she turned the priestess into a deaconess. In July, I take it as a second reminder so that we don't forget him completely.

Ondřej Novák

Yes, the story with Benedicta is really powerful - from a priestess of a pagan goddess to a deaconess, it makes you wonder how quickly life could have turned around. Here in Olomouc, we have his small icon at the side altar, and sometimes I wonder if we should also celebrate that July day, at least with a little prayer. And you, what appealed to you the most about him?

Kateřina Svobodová

Yes, the transformation of Benedicta also always surprises me - from a pagan priestess to a deaconess, that's a change that you don't see right away. Here in Olomouc, I know the icon by the side altar, sometimes I light a candle there after mass. What would you suggest for the little July prayer, any specific troparia?

Yeah, the rush with Peter always catches me off guard too, like it's "come now". At our house, Pankrác's icon hangs more in the hall, not in the kitchen, and my daughter asked about the Bendikta last year too - mainly how it went with the transition from priestess to deaconess. In July, it's really just a reminder so that he doesn't forget it completely.

Hana Dvořáková

Yeah, the rush with Peter always surprises me too, as if you don't even have time to say goodbye. We have Pankrác's icon in our kitchen above the table, because that's where I spend most of my time cooking, and last year my daughter asked exactly the same question about the Bendikta - how did it go with the transition from a pagan priestess to a deaconess. What did you finally tell her?

Petr Novák

Yeah, the rush with Peter always surprises me too, as if it was at the last minute. I told my daughter about Benedicta that it was like ours when someone completely changes their life - she became a deaconess from a pagan priestess because she saw the truth with her own eyes. And you, what did you answer her?

Lucie Nováková

Yeah, the rush with Peter is really weird, as if he took him by the hand and immediately dragged him to Italy. You're right about Bendikta, that's exactly the turn that happens when you see the living truth - in our kitchen, I sometimes tell the girls when we're baking that faith cannot be planned. How about you, how did you go on to explain it to your daughter?

Michal Černý

What appealed to me the most about Pankrac was how quickly he was able to convert the entire pagan authorities in Taufromin - not only Bendikt, but also the local ruler. I know that icon here, it stands there next to the candlesticks and sometimes you come across it when you go to light a candle after dinner. What about you, Ondřej, do you ever pray to him alone, or just at mass?

Eva Svobodová

Daniel Procházka

Yeah, the rush with Peter also always amazes me, as if Peter just grabbed him and took off with him right away. At Benedicta's, I told my daughter that it wasn't just about seeing a miracle, but about the fact that she then had to completely redo her entire daily routine - from church ceremonies straight to diakonia. And did you explain it to her in some other way, or did you do it together?

Yeah, the rush with Peter is really interesting, like it's "right now and done". A small icon of St. also hangs in our kitchen. Pankráce, but next to the fridge, not by the stove, and I was always interested in Bendikta because of how quickly she became a deaconess. What about you, Marek, did you and your daughter try a recipe for their holiday? You're right about Bendikka, the speed always surprises me too - from a priest to a deaconess, that would require a proper catechesis these days. The boys and I baked just an ordinary raisin cake for Pancake Day, nothing special, but next time I would try something Sicilian. Marek, what about you, do you have a family recipe for Martyrs' Day?

Yes, that Bendikta also always surprised me how quickly they turned the priestess of the idols into a deaconess - here in Olomouc it would probably take longer than one ceremony. My daughter and I only baked ordinary cakes with cottage cheese on Pancake Day, no special recipe for the holiday. And you, Eva, do you have a trick of your own for that icon by the fridge so that it doesn't get so dusty?

Yeah, the rush with Peter always surprises me as well, as if it was just a blink of an eye. At Bendikta's, I mainly told my daughter that the regime change was not only about prayers, but about the fact that she suddenly had to cook and take care of the poor place for victims in the church - and we then baked cakes for the parish. How did you explain it?

Yeah, the Benedicta story always makes me think about the practical side of conversion too. At our house, the boys and I baked the pies for the parish and thought that cooking for the poor was probably not much easier than the old sacrifices - suddenly she had to organize everything. How did you continue to explain it to your daughter when she asked about the devils that Pankracius cast out?

Petra Svobodová

Yeah, the rush with Peter always stops me too, as if it were a turn. At Bendikta's, I mainly showed my daughter how she suddenly had to cook for the poor instead of the victims, and we then made the pies for the parish in our kitchen in Liberec - she laughed that she would rather bake them than clean the church. And you, how did you explain it further?

Václav Dvořák

Yes, Bendikta is a really quick change, it wouldn't be possible for us either right after baptism. Those cheesecakes sound good, I added some vanilla and poppy seeds this year, my sons devoured them for breakfast. And as for the icon by the refrigerator, it is enough to wipe it once a week with a damp cloth made of vinegar, then the dust does not hold so much.

Yeah, the rush with Peter always catches me off guard, too, as if it were just a blink of an eye. At Bendikta's, I mainly told my daughter that the change in the kitchen probably hurt her the most - suddenly, instead of offering fragrant offerings, she had to cook soup for the poor and clean up after them. And we baked those cakes with my granddaughter when she was little, and she asked if Saint Pankrati would fry them better than us. How did you explain it further?

Well, the rush with Peter always surprises me, too, as if it were in the blink of an eye. At Benedicta's, I thought that the change from sacrifices to soup for the poor was like when I stopped baking the old recipes for Easter cakes and started making only the simpler ones for parish meetings. My granddaughter once asked me if Saint Pancratius would cook faster than me in the kitchen, and I told her that he cooked souls more than food. How did you take it when your sons asked you about it?

Tereza Svobodová

Yeah, the rush with Peter always catches me off guard, too, as if it were just a blink of an eye. With Bendikta, I mainly thought about how suddenly she had to cook soup and clean instead of incense offerings - that would probably hurt more than anything else. My daughters and I baked the simple cakes for the parish picnic, and I told them that St. Pancratius would probably have them distributed to the poor rather than fried. How do you feel when you read it to your daughters?

With Bendikta, I also thought that the change from offering fragrant offerings to daily cooking and cleaning must have been quite a shock to the habit. My husband and I once baked those ordinary cakes for a garden party, and our sons asked if Saint Pancratius would even eat them. How did you continue to explain it when the granddaughter asked?

Yes, the change from fragrant sacrifices to regular cooking and cleaning must have been quite a change. When my granddaughter asked, I told her that Saint Pancratius would definitely eat those cakes, because after baptism, everything ordinary becomes a service to God - like when we grow vegetables in the garden for the parish lunch. And what did your sons say about it, did they finally taste them?

Tomáš Veselý

Yes, Bendikta had it fast, but when you see miracles with your own eyes, it's probably easier. Your vanilla poppy seed cheesecake sounds great, I'll try it next time too, my husband really liked the poppy seed. And thanks for the vinegar tip, I only wipe the icon above the table with a dry cloth and the dust sticks to it like glue.

Yes, Bendikta really saw miracles right in front of her, that probably convinces a person faster than a hundred sermons. I bake this cheesecake with poppy seeds all the time at our place, the girls love it, especially when I add a little lemon zest. And try the vinegar on the icon, it really helps, otherwise the dust sticks like bad luck. What are you baking for your man now that he doesn't like poppy seeds anymore?

Yes, that's right, Pancratius would approve of those pies. I like how you explained it to my granddaughter - that even ordinary things serve God after baptism. My sons tasted the cakes, but the older one said he would have eaten more if we hadn't taken them to the vicarage. What about you, are you baking something similar this summer?

Yes, that's right, the change from incense to regular cuisine was a big one, but after the baptism, it all suddenly makes sense. My daughters tasted the cakes in the morning and said that they would easily take them to the neighbors' garden. And you, Petr, do you have any vegetables in your garden for the parish lunch in July?

Jan Novák

Yes, Pancratius would certainly approve of those cakes, especially if we bring them to the parish lunch. My husband is more into salty things, but both boys ate them still warm from the oven and asked if there would be another batch. What about you, do you prefer sweet or salty baking in the summer?

Yes, Bendikta had it right in front of her eyes, that would probably turn anyone around. The cheesecake with poppy seeds sounds good, I'm now baking my husband a plum cake with crumbs, because poppy seeds are no longer good for his stomach. I will try the vinegar on the icon, thanks for the advice, the dust settles very quickly here.

Yes, Bendikta really had direct evidence, that gets you. The plum and crumble one sounds great too, I make it with a little extra cinnamon. And the vinegar on the icon really helps, just polish it lightly with a cloth so that it doesn't shine too much. Will you try it on the old one in the kitchen?

Yes, Pancratius would certainly approve of those pies, especially if they are honest. I also like how your older son said he would eat more of them - that's exactly the feeling of baking with love. Now in the summer I make a lighter version with fruits from our garden, but I always bring them to the rectory. What about you, do you have a favorite recipe from your wife now?

Yes, those fruit tarts sound great, especially now in July when you have everything from your own garden. My older son would also say he would eat twice as much if I let him. And what exactly do you put in the lighter version, Lucie - cottage cheese or just yogurt?

Veronika Dvořáková

Yes, those pies with fruit from our own garden are the best in summer now, especially plums or apricots, which we have from the neighbors. My husband says he would eat even more if I didn't just give him one piece after mass. And I would like to try your recipe with cottage cheese, Lucie, will you send it to me?