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♱Daily Synaxarium ♱Sunday, July 12, 2026translated

July 12, 2026 · 1 min read

On this day, the Holy Church commemorates:

*The martyrs Proclus and Hilarion. *Martyr Serapion of New Alexandria. *Saint Michael the Cappadocian. *Saint Veronica, who bleeds. *The martyrs Theodoros and John of Kiev. *Our venerable father among the saints, Serapius, Bishop of Vladimir. *The righteous Saint Simon Volomsk of Russia. *The holy saints John, Euphemia, and Gabriel the Georgians. *Martyr among the Virgins, Marciana of Toledo, Spain. *Martyrs Paulinus of Antioch and his company. *The righteous Saint Paisios of Athos.

✤ Saint Martyrs Theodoros of Kiev and his son John (10th century AD) ✤

Since Saint Vladimir was still a pagan, he wanted to offer a human sacrifice to the god Perun, so he chose John. Theodoros, who had previously been baptized as a Christian, did not want to allow him to do so. After receiving a response, Vladimir killed him and his son and destroyed his house. When he was converted and baptized, he built the first church in the place. As for their remains, they were taken to the caves of Saint Anthony of Kiev. Theodoros and John are considered the first martyrs in the Russian Church, and their intercession is asked by barren women or those who suffer from difficulties during pregnancy.

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

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💬 Comments (5) 🌐 Show original

Дмитрий Новиков

An interesting story about Theodore and John. I didn’t know that they were the first Russian martyrs even before Vladimir’s baptism. And does it really help that women who cannot conceive pray to them?

Константин Козлов

Yes, the story of Theodore and John right before the baptism of Rus' is generally the beginning of our church history. And I heard about helping infertile women from one friend from the church; after praying, she gave birth to them a year later. I wonder if their relics still lie in the Antoniev caves?

Marija Savić

Yes, an interesting story about Feodor and Ioanna. She did not know that their home became the site of the first church after the baptism of Vladimir. A moshchi pravda do sih por v Antonievyh pescherah?

Nikola Todorović

Yes, that's right, the relics are still in Anthony's caves, in Bližnji. I heard that women from Kiev still come to pray to them when they cannot conceive. It is interesting that Vladimir built the first church right there after his baptism, as if he wanted to mark that turning point. Have you been there?

Румяна Петрова

Yes, the story of Theodore and John is very touching - the Christian father refused to give his son as a sacrifice to Peruna, and then their house became the first church. I have heard that even now women from Kiev go to the Middle Caves to pray to them for conception. I wonder if their relics are in the exact same place they were originally moved.