The Lives of the Saints for Every Day of the Year - February: Volume 2 - with Old and New Calendar Dates - Annotated Paperback – January 17, 2026

VOLUME 2 of 12The Lives of the Saints for Every Day of the Year – Februaryby Saint Demetrius of RostovThis volume presents the Lives of the Saints for the month of February, continuing the annual cycle of daily hagiographical readings according to the calendar of the Orthodox Church.The saints commemorated in February reflect endurance, spiritual struggle, and fidelity under trial. This month’s readings bring together martyrs, hierarchs, ascetics, confessors, and holy teachers whose lives were shaped by persecution, pastoral responsibility, and steadfast adherence to the faith. Among them are figures such as Saint Tryphon the Martyr, Saint Polycarp of Smyrna, Saint Blaise of Sebaste, Saint Photini the Samaritan Woman, Saint Leo the Great, and many others whose witness spans the apostolic age, the era of Roman persecutions, and the consolidation of Christian doctrine and Church life.Each entry is arranged by calendar date and written as a full hagiographical account rather than a brief devotional summary. These lives describe the concrete realities of Christian discipleship—martyrdom and exile, ascetic discipline, episcopal leadership, repentance, prayer, and perseverance in truth. The sufferings of early martyrs stand beside the quiet labor of monks and bishops, offering a sober and historically grounded picture of holiness within the life of the Church.This book forms part of Saint Demetrius of Rostov’s monumental Lives of the Saints, traditionally known as the Minei-Chetii. For centuries, this collection has served as one of the principal sources of Orthodox hagiography, read daily in monasteries, parishes, and Christian households. This edition presents the text in a modern English translation that remains faithful to the theology, tone, and seriousness of the original while remaining clear and readable for contemporary readers.February’s readings emphasize themes of spiritual warfare, patience under affliction, and faithfulness to Christ in the face of opposition. The saints of this month bear witness to the cost of discipleship and the endurance required to preserve the faith across generations.Organized for daily reading according to the Church calendar, this volume is well suited for personal devotion, clergy and homiletic reference, monastic use, or sustained study of Orthodox saints and Church history. It may be read straight through or used as intended—one day at a time, in rhythm with the Church’s liturgical life.Volume Two: February continues the twelve-volume Lives of the Saints cycle, building upon the foundation laid in January and carrying the reader further into the Church’s yearly remembrance of holiness, sacrifice, and faithful perseverance. Read more