If you’re interested in the lives of saints of the Orthodox Church, there are numerous biographies available on the Internet. Here are a few of them. First, you can read about Elder Joseph the Hesychast. His biography contains his own words and reflections on the spiritual experience. In addition, it includes his own thoughts on the importance of peace with God.
St. Basil
The Orthodox saint Basil was known as the unflinching champion of Orthodoxy. He has been likened to a bee feeding his flock with the honey of his teachings. He was known for his perseverance and tenacity, even if the Emperors put pressure on him to remain silent.
His Rulebook, compiled by Simeon Metaphrastes, contains five treatises and twenty-four sermons on morals. Basil’s homilies are highly valuable as moral teachings. In addition, he made important contributions to the liturgical and theological life.
During his lifetime, Basil became the bishop of Caesarea, which was an important diocese, and an ex-officio exarch of Pontus. He preached Christian poverty and was a practical advocate of the Christian way of life. Despite his wealth, he maintained austerity and simplicity in food.
Basil was born into a noble family in Asia Minor. He and his siblings grew up in piety. Four of Basil’s siblings became saints. His father was also named Basil. His brother Peter later became the bishop of Sebaste. As a young man, Basil traveled to Athens and Constantinople and later became a companion of St. Gregory of Nazianzus.
Saint Basil was known for his charity. In his lifetime, he gave away his possessions to the poor, the underprivileged, and children. His generosity earned him the nickname “The Greek Santa Claus.” This was because he took care of those in need. His charitable deeds helped the poor in the Eastern Orthodox Church.
St. Paul
When reading Orthodox saint biographies, you will find numerous references to St. Paul, the Apostle of Christ. He is an exemplary disciple of Jesus, and his story is one of courage and faith. His conversion story is an important one for all Christians, and it is well documented in Christian literature. His story also illustrates the power of the Holy Spirit in the lives of people.
The Holy Spirit makes all believers saints. In the early church, if people were baptized in the name of the Holy Trinity, received the Seal of the Spirit in chrismation, and participated in the Eucharist, they were considered saints. In his writings to the Ephesians and Corinthians, St. Paul calls all Christians saints, as he calls all those who are united to God.
Before he traveled to Antioch, Paul had been studying law in Jerusalem. His teacher Gamaliel taught him about the laws of the Church. He then sailed to Ephesus with Priscilla and Aquila. After arriving in the city, he visited Caesarea to greet the Church, then continued to Antioch.
The Apostle Paul had many followers in the ancient East, including the Church of Antioch. In Antioch, he is considered a patron saint. Paul is responsible for fourteen of the New Testament epistles. This makes him the most prolific of all the New Testament saints. His feast day is celebrated on October 29.
Paul’s missionary journey to the West began in the first century. His first missionary journey to Cyprus resulted in the conversion of proconsul Sergius Paulus. His ministry also took him to Asia Minor cities, including Corinth. Paul then joined the Apostolic Council in Jerusalem in 51 AD, and heatedly opposed gentile Christians who followed Mosaic law.
In his writings, Paul stressed the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. His message was a fulfillment of what the Holy Scriptures taught. Paul saw Jesus as the true messiah and the Son of God. Moreover, he was a biological descendant of David. His resurrection validated his teaching and confirmed the divine nature of Jesus.
