This document provides descriptions of various saints honored in the Orthodox church, including St. Thomas, St. George, Eldho Mar Baselios, St. Gregorios, St. Dionysius, St. Athanasius and St. Cyril, the Three Hierarchs (St. Basil the Great, St. Gregory the Theologian, St. John Chrysostom), St. Ephrem the Syrian, and St. Behanam. Each entry provides biographical and theological context about the saint's life and their significance and contributions to the Orthodox faith.

1. LCD 2012 National
Fundraiser
Descriptions of the Saints on the ICON
Bracelet

2. St. Thomas
• St. Thomas is one of the
most recognized saints of
the Orthodox church. He
arrived in Kerala in 52
A.D. and revealed Christ
within India. St. Thomas‟s
revelation of the need for
Christ for true purification
inspired many to form the
Malankara Church.

3. St. George
• St. George was an army officer who
served the emperor Diacletes during
the 4th century. When Diacletes
began persecuting Christians, St.
George refused to serve him and left
the army. As a result, he was
dragged through the streets and
beheaded. There is a legend that
states that St. George killed a great
dragon that tormented the people of a
city in the name of Jesus Christ. He is
honored in numerous parishes of our
Church as a symbol of our Lord
winning over evil. His feast is
celebrated on the 23rd of April.

4. Eldho Mar Baselios
• Eldo Mor Baselios was consecrated
Catholicos by the Patriarch of
Antioch, Moran Mar Ignatius Abdul
Masih I. At the age of 92, he traveled
to India at the request of Mar Thoma
II of the Malankara Orthodox Church
to reverse the effects of the
Portuguese elements among
Malankara Orthodox Christians. He
was able to discipline the Syrian
Christians and teach them the proper
way of Christian life. He also provided
them with proper training in the
Orthodox faith. His feast is celebrated
by our church on the 2nd and 3rd of
October.

5. St. Gregorios
• Born on June 15th, 1848 was
one of the most dedicated
figures of the Orthodox faith.
Starting from a young age, St.
Gregorios, who was lovingly
known as Parumala
Thirumeni, committed his life to
Christ becoming a deacon at the
young age of 10. As he moved
on, he was ordained as a priest
at the age of 18. Continuing on
with his dedication, he was
ordained to Remban at the age
of 25 and later on as a bishop at
the age of 29. Thirumeni‟s
fervent dedication to the church
serves as an example for us all.

6. St. Dionysius
• St. Geevarghese mar Dionysius of Vattasseril
was the Metropolitan of the Malankara
Orthodox Syrian Church for twenty five years.
He is known as the architect of the Malankara
Orthodox Church because he established the
Catholicate of Malankara in 1912 at
Kottayam. He was also involved in
establishing the Church Constitution of 1934.
Vattasseril thirumeni was a good orator. He
understood the power of words and used his
speeches to the word of Christ to the faithful.
During his lifetime, Thirumeni was referred to
as a true living saint. Prayer and fasting were
the pillars of his spiritual life. He followed
Christ‟s instruction and prayed in private
behind closed doors. Vattasseril thirumeni
passed away on February 23, 1934 and his
feast is celebrated on this day every year in
churches all over the world. He was a great
leader who helped shape the Malankara
Syrian Orthodox Church.

7. St. Athanasius and St. Cyril
• St. Athanasius was a renowned
theologian, and a fierce defender of
orthodoxy against the Arian heresy. He
emphasized that man was saved through
God‟s incarnation and if Jesus was not
God as the Arians implied, then we are
not saved. As a deacon, he led the
debate against Arianism at the first
ecumenical Council of Nicea.
• St. Cyril is best known for his eloquent
defense of the title "Theotokos" (God-
Bearer) for the Blessed Virgin Mary. At
the Council of Ephesus (431 AD), he
strongly stated Mary as “Mother of
God”, instead of “Mother of Christ”. St.
Cyril was given the title “pillar of faith” for
his undying efforts to preserve his beliefs.

8. Three Hierarchs
St. Basil the Great, St. Gregory the Theologian, St. John
Chrysostom
• St. Basil is best remembered in our church for the liturgy which
bears his name (Liturgy of Saint Basil ). Throughout the eight years
of his episcopacy, St. Basil defended the Church‟s teachings of the
Holy Trinity against the attacks of Arianism. He taught us that the
Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are of the same essence. St.
Basil also had a great effect on the formulation of monasticism.
• St. Gregory of Nazinzus is one of the greatest orators of the
Christian Church. He became the bishop of Constantinople in 379
AD, and worked hard to remove the influence of Arianism among the
people. Along with St. Gregory of Nyssa, he defended the Orthodox
Doctrine of Trinity at the ecumenical Council of Constantinople (381
AD), and opposed the Macedonian heresy. He alone among the
Fathers is given the title „Theologian” meaning defender of God.
• St. John Chrysostom succeeded St. Gregory of Nazinzus as the
patriarch of Constantinople. His oratorical skills earned him the
name „gold mouthed‟ or „Chrysostomos‟. He led a simple life, helped
the poor, and sought social justice. He is well known for his
numerous writings, sermons, letters, treatises, and the Liturgy of St.
John Chrysostom .

9. St. Ephrem the Syrian
St. Ephrem was a major poet and
theologian. The liturgical worship
contains deep reflections, truth, and
beautiful poetic hymns written by St.
Ephrem. Though he was asked to
become a priest, St. Ephrem chose to
remained a life long deacon of the
church. He used song and meter to
instill the doctrines and teachings of
the Church in the minds and hearts of
the faithful. His prolific poetry of
liturgical hymns is incomparable which
is why the church gives him the title
the “harp of the Holy Spirit”

10. St. Behanam
• St. Behanam was the son of
Sennacherib, King of Persia. He and his
sister, Sarah were killed by their own
father for listening to St. Matthew and
converting to Christianity. After killing his
children, the king became possessed
with a demon and began hurting himself.
The queen begged St. Matthew to ask
God to remove the demon from the king.
The holy father prayed and the demon
left him immediately. The whole nation,
along with the king and queen saw the
power of the Lord and converted to
Christianity. The king built a monastery
for St. Matthew in the city and placed the
bodies of Behanam and Sarah within. St.
Matthew lived in the monastery for a long
time and God worked many healings,
wonders, and signs through their bodies.
His feast is celebrated on the 10th of
December.