January's Recipe:
New Year's Confetti Twist
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Ingredients:
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The Dough
- 1 oz
compressed yeast or
1 tbsp dry yeast
- 1/4
cup lukewarm water 100°
F
- 4 cups
bread flour
- 1/2
cup lukewarm milk 100 °F
- 1/3
cup sugar
- 1 1/2
tsp salt
- 1 tbsp
lemon zest
- 1/4
cup melted butter
- 2
eggs, slightly beaten
The
Filling
- 1/4 cup soft butter
- 1/4 cup
all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup
sugar
- 1 cup
coarsely ground blanched almonds
- 1/2 tsp
almond extract or
1 tsp lemon zest
- 1/2 cup
finely chopped green maraschino cherries
- 1/2 cup
finely chopped green maraschino cherries
The Glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tsp
vanilla extract
- 2-3 tbsp
water or milk
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Preparation:
Dissolve the yeast in the lukewarm water with 2
tablespoons flour. Blend, cover and let rise. Put
the flour in a large mixing bowl and make a well in
the center. Pour in the yeast and the remaining
dough ingredients. Gradually take the flour from the
sides and mix with the liquid. Turn the dough out
onto a well-floured work top and knead 5-10 minutes,
until smooth and elastic. Add flour as needed
until no longer sticky. Place the dough in a
buttered bowl, brush the top with butter, cover and
let rise for about 2 hours, until doubled in bulk.
Prepare the filling: Cream the butter with the flour
and sugar. Add the almond extract, or the lemon zest
and the almonds. Combine with your fingers into a
loose crumbly mixture, and refrigerate. Punch down
the dough and place on a well-floured worktop. Roll
out into a rectangle 10x24 inches (25x60cm). Crumble
the filling and sprinkle over the top. Then roll
dough up jelly-roll fashion, starting with a long
edge. Wet the outer edge to seal. With a sharp
floured knife, cut roll in half lengthwise and
carefully turn halves so that the cut sides face up.
Loosely twist both ropes of dough around each other,
keeping cut sides up so filling is visible.
Generously butter a round 16 inch (40cm) baking pan
and carefully transfer roll, shaping it into a
circle. Wet the ends and pinch together firmly to
seal. If you wish wrap a single coin in foil and
insert it into the dough so it is concealed.
According to a tradition in many countries, the one
who finds the coin when the bread is cut will have
good fortune in the New Year. Cover the wreath with
a cloth and let rise in a warm humid place until
doubled in bulk. Bake in a 400°
F oven for about
20min, until lightly brown. Remove from oven and
cool on a rack. In a small bowl, blend the glaze
ingredients, gradually adding the water until the
desired consistency is reached. Dribble the glaze
with a spoon, following the cut edges of the wreath.
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Excerpts and
Photography from:
Festive Cuisine
by Vefa Alexiadou |
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January's Article: |
Cretan Nutrition and the Mediterranean Diet |
CRETAN NUTRITION
AND THE MEDITERRANEAN DIET
Cretan (Mediterranean) Diet - Research - Recommendations
Research interest in any gastronomic heritage is rather limited. Nevertheless, the few papers published are interesting in terms of their folkloric content. What is missing is field research in specific nutritional customs and habits that are worth preserving or imitating. A case in point is the gastronomic heritage of Crete whose effects on human health and happiness render it a paragon of a diet.
The traditional diet of Cretans, which is a way of life, meets the scientific criteria for an optimal/ideal diet, a nutritional standard that promotes health and prevents the onset of diseases. This was the conclusion of the Seven Countries Study conducted by Dr Ancel Keys and collaborators in 1960. They studied a number of population groups (cohorts) in Europe, USA, Japan and Greece. The cohorts from Greece were pooled from the islands of Crete and Corfu. Crete was chosen as it met the study's requirement for a location where people remained
faithful to a traditional way of life and nutrition, Corfu was selected on account of the fact that it was the first region in Greece to adopt western dietary habits. Data were collected on the causes of death for each group during 15 years of follow-up, and the relationship between antioxidant nutrient intake and mortality rates from heart diseases and cancer growths were assessed. The study showed that Cretans had the lowest mortality rates from heart diseases and cancer. During the period of 15-year follow-up the deaths from cardiovascular (CVD) diseases were 38 for Crete, 132 for Japan, 202 for Corfu, 462 for Italy . 773 for the USA, and 972 for Finland.
On the basis of these results the English epidemiologist Blackburn spoke of the Cretan miracle. The lowest mortality rates for the Cretan group were attributed to their way of life and nutrition. Thirty one years following the onset of this study the University of Crete
(department of Social Medicine) established that in 1991 half (50%) of the Cretan participants in the study
were still alive, while all participants from Finland had passed away.
One might ask what was the particular way of life
of Cretans in the late '50s and early '60s, when the study was in full swing? Well, Most of Cretans were involved with manual work, mainly in the fields - They also walked approximately 13 km on average daily. This increased physical activity was combined with a diet high in calorific value. Olive oil provided 1/3 of daily energy requirements per person. The typical Cretan diet consisted mainly of cereals
)bread), legumes, vegetables, fruits and olive oil. Little cheese and very little meat or fish, plus one or two glasses of wine in each meal were also on the daily agenda of Cretans. Now another question might be: were the Cretans much wiser than other Europeans or Americans to have adopted this kind of healthy diet? Certainly not. The physical activities - farming, fishing, walking long distances, etc - were the standard way of living on the island. What about their diet? The answer is that
Cretans had no alternative diets. They had to consume what they themselves produced - and they did an excellent
job with their home-grown and field products. In
fact, the palatable Cretan dishes were the result of
female imagination, The physical activities
involving the growing and collection of foodstuff
was mainly the task of males, while cooking was the
task of females. This division of tasks and roles
was part of the Cretan family organization - a
tradition. The nature of the local cuisine provided
nourishment and strength to Cretan families, the
majority of which were poor people, devastated by
velars and conflict. As the industrial wave nudged
in their way of life, family bonds were loosened
(increased mobility of women and children, etc),
which brought significant changes in the Cretans'
dietary habits.
Continued next month
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Special Feature: Parish Names |
Part 3 of 3 |
Every parish constitutes both an entity of
communicants from that particular locale as
well as the fullness of the universal
(catholic) Church. One does not exist
outside the other. With this understanding,
every Orthodox parish receives the name of a
Saint or event in the life of Christ or the
Theotokos. While the procedures vary as to
how the naming occurs, the name ties the
local community to the Church throughout the
ages. The name often gives the local
community inspiration and something to
emulate as members progress on their
Christian walk. Below are the names of the
parishes in the Metropolis of Chicago with a
brief explanation about the Saint(s) or
events and the date of the feast day on
which they are commemorated.
Continued from last month...
St. Luke the Evangelist
Author of the gospel that bears his name and
the Acts of the Apostles, he was a disciple
and companion of St. Paul. He was born in
Antioch, Syria, where he practiced medicine and died in the
Achaia region of Greece. His feast is
celebrated October 18.
St. Nectarios
One of the most recent Greek Orthodox
Saints, this Metropolitan of Pentapolis (in
Libya) died in 1920 AD as a humble
priest-monk in an Athens hospital after
unjustified slanders in Africa. His holiness
was
manifest at his death when the garment that
he was wearing touched and healed a sick
person in the hospital ward next to the
unknown hierarch. Buried on the island of
Aegina, Greece, his memory is
celebrated on November 9.
St. Nicholas
Born in Asia Minor this Archbishop of Myra
and wonderworker was known
for his abundant mercy in helping the poor
and needy. Eventually his
works of charity in the person of "Santa
Claus" whose name is a
distortion of St. Nicholas. He is also the
patron of travelers,
especially sailors, and his feast is
celebrated on December 6.
St. Sophia
During the reign of Emperor Hadrian (c. 120
AD) this faithful woman's
three children, Faith, Hope, and Love (ages
12, 10, and 9), were
beheaded. After mourning at their grave for
three days, St. Sophia
died and was proclaimed a martyr because of
the pain she had endured
in watching her three young daughters
tortured and beheaded. They are
celebrated on September 17.
St. Spyridon
Originally from Cyprus this humble shepherd
became a Bishop after his
wife passed away. He attended the First
Ecumenical Council in 325 AD,
and died in about 350 AD. His remains still
exist in an uncorrupt
state on the island of Corfu, Greece, and
many miracles are attributed
to his intercessions. His memory is
celebrated on December 12.
Sts. Anargyroi Cosmas & Damianos
These two brothers from Asia Minor were
skilled in many sciences
including medicine. They used their skills
to heal people and not
accept any payment as indicated by the Greek
word anargyros, which
means "no silver." Although there are other
similar unmercenary
saints, these are celebrated on November 1.
Sts. Constantine & Helen
The Roman Emperor Constantine was the child
of a Christian mother (St.
Helen) and a pagan father who was Caesar of
the Western part of the
Roman Empire. Constantine unified the
Empire, legalized Christianity,
transferred the capital from Rome to
Byzantium (renaming it
Constantinople) and called the First
Ecumenical Council in 325 AD.
Helen found the true cross and built
churches in the Holy Land. For
their efforts they received the title "equal
to the Apostles" and are
celebrated on May 21.
Sts. Peter & Paul
Peter and Paul were martyred in Rome under
Emperor Nero in 67 AD.
Paul, as a Roman citizen, was beheaded while
Peter, leader of the
Apostles and the Apostle Andrew's brother,
asked to be crucified
upside down. Peter founded the church of
Antioch and later came to
Rome while Paul, a Pharisee, repented from
persecuting Christians
after his conversion on the road to Damascus
and became the Apostle to
all nations. They are celebrated on June 29.
Three Hierarchs
This feast was established in the year 1100
AD to honor the three
greatest theologians of the Church and
thwart attempts by some to
elevate one above the other. Basil the
Great, Gregory the Theologian,
and John Chrysostom (Golden mouth) were
known as the great "Teachers
of the Church" and "Satellites of the Holy
Trinity." They are
remembered on January 30.
Twelve Holy Apostles
Holding special place among all those whom
Christ has sent forth as His apostles are:
the original eleven, Simon Peter, Andrew,
James and John sons of Zebedee, Philip,
Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James the son
of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot;
and Matthias who was chosen to replace Judas
(who betrayed Christ.) Their feast is
celebrated on June 30.
Excerpts and Photography from
Ecclesia: Greek Orthodox Churches
of the Chicago Metropolis
by Panos Fiorentinos
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Mia stigmi, Despina Olimpiou |
Matomeno Dakri, Notis Sfakianakis |
Pio Koda, Kostas Martakis
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I Parastasi Arhizi, Nino |
I epohi tis agapis, Mario Frangoulis |
Kolaz, Mihalis Hatziyiannis |
Apo Tin Elefsina Sto Irodio, Manolis Mitsias (2 CD)
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Yi' avto iparhoune i fili, Giorgos Dalaras |
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Pio mazi apo pote, Stamatis Gonidis
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Universal Master Collection, Dimitris Mitropanos |
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Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom, Anna Gallos (In English) |
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Featured Destination: Ionian Isles - Lefkada (part 4 of 7) |
GEOGRAPHY
Lying just off the coast of Central Greece, Lefkada is
more like a peninsula than an island. It is 303 sq. km.
in area, has 117 km. of coastline and a population of
19,947. Lefkada, along with its neighboring islets,
inhabited and uninhabited (Kastos, Skorpios, Madouri,
Meganisi, Sparti) comprises a separate Prefecture. The
island can be reached by air, via Preveza, or car and
bus. There is a local connection with Fiskardo in
Cephallonia and Frikes in Ithaka. A caique sails between
Nidri, Ithaka, Sami, Cephallonia, Meganisi and in the
summer there are tourist excursion craft to the nearby
islets of Sparti and Madouri. Buses also link it to
Aktion in Preveza and Agrinion. The island has a
mountainous interior (highest peak Elati, 1158 m. a.s.l.)
and several fertile valleys and plains. It has a rich
vegetation cover, gentle coastline and lovely beaches.
The high standard of tourist facilities and good road
network make it an attractive place for holidaymakers
who revel in its lovely landscape, numerous monuments
and quaint villages.
HISTORY Lefkada has been inhabited since
Neolithic times. Excavations have brought to light
Mycenaean installations and, according to the German
archaeologist Dorpfeld, Homer's Ithaka was here, a
theory with few supporters today. In around the middle
of the 7th century BC colonisers arrived here from
Corinth. Lefkada participated in the Persian Wars and
sided with Sparta during the Peloponnesian War. In the
4th century BC it passed to the Macedonians, was sacked
by Pyrrhus king of Epirus and then conquered by the
Romans. In Byzantine times it was savagely attacked by
pirates many times and from the 13th century onwards
belonged to the-Italian Orsini family. At the beginning
of the 14th century it came into the hands of the
d'Anjou family who held it until 1479 when it
capitulated to the Turks. In 1684 it was captured by the
Venetians, in 1797 by the French, in 1815 by the British
and finally incorporated in the Greek state in 1864. Two
highly important Greek poets are sons of Lefkada,
Aristotelis Valaoritis and Angelos Sikelianos.
SIGHTS-MONUMENTS The island's capital, Lefkada,
is situated at its northeast edge facing the shores of
Akarnania. It is a very attractive town virtually built
in the sea and strong Venetian elements may be observed
in both its architecture and lay-out. Its many churches,
a lot of them privately owned, are well worth visiting.
Their architecture and interior decoration is strongly
influenced by Italian baroque. Some of the most
interesting are those of St. Minas (1707), St. Spyridon
(renovated in the 18th century) and that of the
Pantocrator. In the small cemetery behind this church is
the tomb of the poet Aristotelis Valaoritis. The Museum
of Postbyzantine Art and the Folk Museum, with its large
collection of folk art from Lefkada, as well as the
archaeological collection of finds from excavations
conducted by the German archaeologist Dorpfeld, all
merit a visit. In the Municipal Library there is a
notable collection of books and manuscripts. At the
northern edge of town stands the castle of Aghia Mavra,
built by the Orsini and renovated by the Venetians and
Turks. On the south side of town is the church to St.
John Anjousi, founded by the d'Anjou family. Below this
church there are therapeutic springs. Not far from the
town are two important monasteries, the Phaneromeni
monastery with its superb vista of the open sea and that
of the Virgin Megalovrysiotissa.
On top of the hill at Kalligoni (about 1.5 km. south of
Lefkada) there are ruins of the prehistoric, Classical
and Medieval acropolis of the island for this was the
site of its ancient capital, traces of which can be
discerned amongst the trees. On the acropolis sections
of the Cyclopean fortification wall and cisterns can be
seen and excavations have brought to light a small
theatre of Hellenistic times. Just beyond here are the
villages of Karyotes and Lygia and then the road
continues on to Nydri, the most frequented place on the
island after the capital.
Nydri
is a modern village in the gulf of Vlychos and there are
many lovely beaches in the vicinity. One can take a boat
from here to the islets of Chelonaki, densely wooded,
Madouri, where there is the Valaoritis family mansion,
Skorpios, owned by the shipowner Onasis and Meganisi.
Just opposite Madouri is cape Aghia Kyriaki on which
stands a chapel of St. Kyriaki, on the site of an
ancient temple, and alongside is the grave of Dorpfeld.
Nydri is the port of call for the ferry boats from Sami
in Cephallonia. Southeast of the capital (27 km.) is
Poros with its port Aspros Yalos, which has a
particularly delightful beach. One of the most beautiful
regions is Syvota, at the far end of a narrow inlet
where the sea is enchanting. Of the mountain villages
one should visit Karya (15 km. south of Lefkada) in
which the famous Lefkas embroideries are produced. Not
only is the traditional architecture impressive but
local customs are kept alive and many women still wear
costume. 5 km. south of Karya is the highland village of
Englouvi. One of the loveliest routes on the island is
that along the west coast leading to the village of
Athani and cape Lefkata. Between the monastery of St.
Nicholas and this promontory there are remainsof the
temple of Apollo, one of the most significant in
antiquity to which votives were sent from all over
Greece. It was from this cape that Sappho flung herself
into the sea and many others have followed here since,
seeking consolation for unrequited love. Indeed these
dives were famous in antiquity, being a kind of
judgement imposed on those awaiting trial or those
seeking a cure for their incurable love. To minimise
risk of drowning those who jumped were equipped with
feathers, checking their fall and boats awaited below to
haul them out bf the sea.
Vasiliki is the southernmost village on the island (40
km. south of Lefkada) and in recent years has grown into
a bustling holiday resort. It is also the port for ferry
boats from Fiskardo in Cephallonia.
Lefkada has many beaches for swimming: Megali Ammoudia
near the main town, close to the castle, Lygia, Nydri,
Aspros Yalos, Vasiliki, Aghios Nikitas, Syvota. The
south coast is also good for fishing and there is
hunting in the interior. The beaches on the nearby
islets are also fine for both swimming and fishing and
these can be reached by boat from Nydri. Accommodation
is available in several hotels, rooms to let and
furnished apartments. Those with yachts of boats can
sail around the island, as well as explore its many
offshore islets. There are refuelling stations at
Lefkada and Nydri.
Next month:
Ionian Isles, Part 5a -
Cephallonia-Ithaka
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January
2010 Greek Orthodox Calendar |
Sunday |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
Saturday |
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1
Fast Free
Basil the Great, Archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia
Circumcision of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
Gregory, Bishop of Nanzianzos, Father of Gregory the Theologian
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2
Fast Free
Forefeast of the Theophany of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ
Sylvester, Pope of Rome
Cosmas, Archbishop of Constantinople
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3
Fast Free
Sunday before Epiphany
Malachi the Prophet
Gordios the Martyr of Caesarea
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4
Fast Free
Monday of the 16th Week
Synaxis of the 70 Holy Apostles
Theoctistos the Righteous of Sicily
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5
Eve of the Theophany of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ
Martyrs Theopemptos and Theonas
Righteous Syncletiki of Alexandria
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6
Fast Free
The Theophany of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ
Theophan the Recluse
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7
Synaxis of John the Holy Glorious Prophet, Baptist, & Forerunner
Afterfeast of the Theophany of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ
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8
Afterfeast of the Theophany of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ
George the Chozebite
Domnica the Righteous of Constantinople
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9
Saturday after Epiphany
Polyeuctos the Martyr of Meletine in Armenia
Eustratios the Wonderworker
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10
Sunday after Epiphany
Gregory of Nyssa
Dometian, Bishop of Melitene
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11
Righteous Theodosios the Cenobiarch
Vitalis of Gaza
Afterfeast of the Theophany of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ
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12
Afterfeast of the Theophany of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ
Tatiana the Martyr of Rome
Martyr Mertios
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13
Afterfeast of the Theophany of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ
Hermylos & Stratonikos the Martyrs at Belgrade
Maximos the Righteous of Kapsokalyvia, Mount Athos
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14
Leavetaking of the Theophany of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ
The Holy Fathers slain at Sinai and Raitho
Agnes the Virgin-martyr
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15
John the Cave Dweller
Paul of Thebes
Pansophios the Martyr of Alexandria
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16
Veneration of Apostle Peter's Precious Chains
Righteous Hierodeacon Makarios of Kalogeras
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17
15th Sunday of Luke
Anthony the Great
Anthony the New of the Berropas Skete
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18
Athanasios & Cyril, Patriarchs of Alexandria
Zenia the Martyr
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19
Makarios the Great of Egypt
Mark, Bishop of Ephesus
Arsenios, Metropolitan of Kerkyra
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20
Righteous Euthymios the Great
Zacharias the New Martyr of Patra
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21
Maximos the Confessor
Neophytos the Martyr of Nicaea
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22
Timothy the Apostle of the 70
Anastasios, the Persian Righteous Monk-martyr
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23
Clement the Hieromartyr & Bishop of Ancyra
Agathangelos the Martyr
Righteous Father Dionysius of Olympus
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24
Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee: Triodion Begins Today
Xenia, Deaconess of Rome
Vavylas the Holy Martyr
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25
Fast Free
Gregory the Theologian, Archbishop of Constantinople
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26
Fast Free
Tuesday of Prodigal Son
Xenophon & his Companions
Symeon the Elder of Mount Sinai
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27
Fast Free
Removal of the Relics of John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople
Peter the Righteous of Egypt
Demetrios the New Martyr of Constantinople
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28
Fast Free
Ephraim the Syrian
Isaac the Syrian, Bishop of Ninevah
James the Righteous
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29
Fast Free
Removal of the Relics of Ignatios the God-bearer
Laurence the Recluse of the Kiev Caves
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30
Fast Free
Synaxis of The Three Hierarchs: Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, & John Chrysostom
Hippolytos, Pope of Rome
Athanasia the Martyr & her 3 daughters
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31
Sunday of Prodigal Son
Cyrus & John the Unmercenaries
Holy Women Martyrs Theodote, Theoktiste and Eudoxia
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