When He Who is God and the Only Sinless Son of God, Who came in the likeness of man to save the sinful human race, was leaving Capernaum, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at his custom-booth, and said to him, "Follow Me." Hearing these words not only with his bodily ears but with those of his soul as well, the publican forsook everything and followed after Christ. Christ visited his home, and Matthew set a meal before the Lord; and Matthew's neighbors, friends, and many of his acquaintances, publicans and sinners, came to dine with Jesus and His Disciples. Seeing that the Lord did not shun these people but sat at table with them, the Pharisees and Scribes said to His Disciples, "Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?"

The Nativity Fast is a period of abstinence and penance practiced by the Orthodox Christians, in preparation for the Divine Nativity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (December 25th). The holy fast runs 40 days and focuses on the proclamation and glorification of the Incarnation of God.

Saint Philip was born in Bethsaida near the Sea of Galilee, as were Saints Peter and Andrew. Instructed in the Holy Scripture (Old Testament) from his youth, Philip immediately responded to the call of Christ and followed Him (John 1:43). After the descent of God the Holy Spirit, Philip preached the Gospel with zeal in many regions of Asia Minor and in Greece, where the Jews sought to kill him but the Lord saved him by the might His wonders.

There lived in Constantinople a good, God-fearing nobleman name Theognostos. Theognostos was slandered to Emperor Theophilos by a certain envious official, a heretic, who said that the pious nobleman had cursed and reviled the Emperor, accusing Arcadius of having an insatiable lust for gold. For this reason, the Emperor condemned Theognostos and sent him to be imprisoned in Salonika. All his wealth and property were confiscated, save a single vineyard, which was situated outside the city.

he blessed one was elevated to the Patriarchal throne in the year 398 A.D., on the 26th of February. The Emperor and all his princes and nobles went to receive the blessing of the newly-consecrated Patriarch, who prayed for the ruler and the people, blessing them all. The Saint then gave a most edifying homily, exhorting the Emperor to adhere firmly to the Orthodox Christian faith, to shun heretics, to attend the divine services of the Church frequently, and to govern in a righteous and compassionate manner. "May Your Piety know," he said, "that I shall not fail to reprove and correct you when necessary, even as the Prophet Nathan did not hesitate to upbraid King David for his transgressions."

Saint John Chrysostom, beacon of the whole world, pillar and confirmation of the Church, and preacher of repentance, was born in the city of Antioch in Syria. His parents were unbelievers and held to the impiety of the Greeks. His father, who was an officer, was named Secundus and his mother Anthusa, and they were persons of wealth and repute.