All Saints

Saint BasilHonoring the friends of God with much reverence, the Prophet-King David says, "But to me, exceedingly honourable are Thy friends, O Lord" (Ps. 138:16). And the divine Apostle, recounting the achievements of the Saints, and setting forth their memorial as an example that we might turn away from earthly things and from sin, and emulate their patience and courage in the struggles for virtue, says, "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every burden, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us" (Heb. 12:1).

This commemoration began as the Sunday (Synaxis) of All Martyrs; to them were added all the ranks of Saints who bore witness (the meaning of "Martyr" in Greek) to Christ in manifold ways, even if occasion did not require the shedding of their blood.

The Orthodox Church celebrates the Feast of All Saints on the Sunday after Holy Pentecost.

Learn more by visiting: https://www.goarch.org/chapel/saints?contentid=1040

Apolytikion

Your Church, O Christ our God, having robed Herself in the blood of Your Martyrs throughout the world, as though with purple and finest linen, lifts Her voice and cries out through them unto You. On Your people may Your compassion be showered down, bestow the gift of peace to Your commonwealth, and grant Your great mercy to our souls.

Kontakion

For the Church art thou in truth a firm foundation, granting an inviolate lordship unto all mortal men and sealing it with what thou hast taught, O righteous Basil, revealer of The world offers You, the author of all creation, as the first-fruits of nature, the God-bearing martyrs. O most merciful, by their intercessions, through the Theotokos, maintain Your Church in perfect peace.

Source

All Saints taken from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America website: https://www.goarch.org/chapel/saints?contentid=1040

 


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