On January 30 in the Holy Orthodox Church, we commemorate our Fathers among the Saints and Ecumenical Teachers Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom.

This common feast of these three teachers was instituted a little before the year 1100, during the reign of the Emperor Alexis I Comnenus. The common feast ended a dispute and strife that arose among the notable and virtuous men of that time. Some of them preferred Basil (calling themselves Basilians), while others preferred Gregory (Gregorians), and yet others preferred John Chrysostom (Johannites), quarreling among themselves over which of the three was the greatest. To end the contention, the three Saints appeared together to the saintly John Mavropous, a monk who had been ordained Bishop of Euchaita in Asia Minor. They revealed to him that the glory they have at the throne of God is equal, and told him to compose a common service for the three of them, which he did with great skill and beauty. Saint John of Euchaita (Oct. 5) is also the composer of the Canon to the Guardian Angel, the Protector of a Man’s Life.

By the intercession of the Three Hierarchs, O Christ God, and of all the Saints, cast down the uprisings of the heresies and preserve us in oneness of mind and a peaceful condition, and deem us worthy of Thy heavenly Kingdom; for blessed art Thou unto the ages of ages. Amen.