St. Anthony, commemorated January
17, is considered to be the Father of monasticism, and The Life of St. Anthony,
by St. Athanasius, presents him as a truly inspiring example of monastic
ascetical perfection. During the Arian controversies, he risked his life defending
the Orthodox teachings of St. Athanasius in Alexandria.
St. Athanasius, commemorated January
18 and May 2, was a great defender of the Orthodox faith during the Arian
controversies and was exiled five times for his labors. Among his major
writings are The Incarnation of Christ and The Life of St. Anthony, which serve
as major inspirations for Orthodox theology and monastic spirituality.
St. Basil, commemorated January 1
and January 30, was a notable theologian and spiritual writer of the 4th
Century and is noted for his many writings on numerous theological and
spiritual subjects, as well as commentaries on Holy Scripture. During the
Sundays of Great Lent, as well as on his Feast Day (Jan. 1), the Liturgy of St.
Basil the Great is served, although probably only the prayers are actually of
this Saint.
St. Cyril, commemorated on January
18 and June 9, was the leader in the defense of Orthodoxy against the
Nestorians, and was a firm defender of the veneration of the Virgin Mary as
Theotokos. He was especially prominent in the deliberations of the Third
Ecumenical Council.
St. Ephraim, commemorated January
28, was a major spiritual writer and hymnographer of the 4th Century, and is
especially noted in Orthodox liturgical life for, among other things, his inspiring
work, The Lenten Prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian, which is said at all of the
weekday services of Great Lent.
St. Gregory, commemorated January 25
and 30, was a fellow student and friend of St. Basil the Great and was a
leading opponent of the Arians. He has been honored by the Church with the
title “Theologian,” being one of only three, so honored (the others being St.
John the Evangelist, and St. Simeon the New Theologian), primarily because of
his Five Theological Orations.
St. Gregory was the younger brother
of St. Basil the Great and is commemorated on January 10. He is especially
known for his spiritual writings, as well as various dogmatic works, including
his Great Catechism.
St. John Chrysostom (the
Golden-mouth), commemorated January 27 and 30 and November 13, was one of the
greatest preachers of his time (late 4th Century) and was known for his zeal
for Orthodoxy and his passionate defense of the poor, boldly exposing the vices
of his age, for which reason he was eventually deposed and exiled. The bulk of
his works are sermons on Holy Scripture, especially the Epistles of St. Paul,
as well as other ascetical and pastoral works, including his On the Priesthood.
To St.
John is attributed the usual Divine Liturgy, although, as in the case of that
of St. Basil the Great, probably only certain prayers are properly his.