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THE GOSPEL IN ACTION: LIVES OF THE SAINTS

Writer: Ольга
Ольга
Oct 10
2 min read

Morning readings from the Synaxarion · October 10, 2026


This morning, with my coffee, I opened The Synaxarion: The Lives of the Saints of the Orthodox Church. My priest and spiritual father, Father Seraphim, recommended these books during one of our catechesis classes. They have since become a companion to my prayer rule, which includes reading the lives of the saints each day.

The Synaxarion opened to October 10, showing the lives of the holy martyrs Eulampius and Eulampia with an illustration of their martyrdom.

THE DAILY READING

The Synaxarion is arranged by month and day, gathering the lives of the saints under their appointed dates of commemoration. The six main volumes cover two months each, beginning with September and October; a supplementary seventh volume contains additional saints and an index. Individual volumes are also listed separately by booksellers. This arrangement gives my daily reading a clear place to begin.


Today, I turned to the entry headed October 10, beginning with the holy martyrs Eulampius and Eulampia. Although my Russian Orthodox parish follows the Old Calendar, this morning I read the entry corresponding to the civil date. Their October 10 commemoration falls on October 23 on the civil calendar for churches observing the Old Calendar.


THE HOLY MARTYRS : LIVES OF THE SAINTS

Eulampius and Eulampia were brother and sister who lived in Nicomedia during the persecution of Christians at the beginning of the fourth century. When Eulampius refused to renounce Christ, he was subjected to torture. His sister then openly confessed her own Christian faith and joined him in his suffering.


Their account tells of their miraculous preservation in a boiling cauldron. They emerged unharmed, and this witness led two hundred pagan onlookers to believe in Christ. These new believers also suffered martyrdom.


Eulampius was ultimately beheaded. Eulampia died from her suffering before she could be beheaded. Together with the two hundred converts, they are remembered for remaining faithful to Christ even unto death.


THE GOSPEL IN ACTION

Father Seraphim tells us during catechesis that reading the lives of the saints is reading the Gospel in action.


Those words stayed with me this morning. In the saints’ lives, we see people putting their faith into practice under circumstances far beyond what most of us will ever face. Their courage gives me something to consider as I begin my own day, and a reason to return to this reading tomorrow.


This is only the beginning of the October 10 entry. There are more saints to read about beneath this date, and more of their witness to encounter.


To be continued.

DOM VECHERA · THE JOURNAL


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