CONSTANTINOPLE – The Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate officially proclaimed and included in the calendar of the Church the new saints Joseph the Hesychast and elders Ephraim of Katounakia and Daniil of Katounakia.

This decision does not only recognize the holiness of those individuals, it also recognizes the sanctity of a school – which is a school of humility, awakening, and the incorporation of the Jesus’ prayer and obedience.

These three saints fell asleep in the Lord on special days on the Holy Mountain, which follows the Old Calendar: Saint Joseph the Hesychast, on the holy day of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary (and so, will be celebrated a day later on the Holy Mountain);

Saint Ephraim of Katounakia, on the Holy Saturday of the Ascetic Saints (the last Saturday before Great Lent – which is a holiday with a movable date, so it is very likely that he will be celebrated with Saint Ephraim the Syrian; Saint Daniil of Katounakia, on the Nativity of the Virgin Mary. Saint Daniil’s brotherhood asked for him to be celebrated on the Holy Mountain the day before, on September 7 (the 20^th according to the new calendar), when the relics of the saint were exhumed.