Saint Sophronius was born in Damascus, Syria, around the year 580 A.D. and he was the son of pious and virtuous parents, of Plinth and Myros. Because of his origin, he is also called Damascene. During his young age he visited the Holy Lands and became a monk in the monastery of Abba Theodosios, where he was spiritually connected with John the Calf, who practiced there, from whom he learned a lot. He visited Egypt with him, where he was associated with the circle of Saint John the Merciful and Rome. Read more "

Saint Theodora was born around the year 1210 probably in Thessaloniki and was a scion of the great and aristocratic Byzantine Petraleifa family (of Norman origin), which, initially based in Didymoteicho, offered many important services to the empire and was honored with high offices. Ioannis' father had the title of sebastokrator and was the governor of Thessaly and Macedonia. Read more "