Advent/ Nativity Fast Resources

*Symbols denote what time period cycle they fit into: ¹ ² ³ ⁴ ᴬ (any); though freely use them across all cycles!

Books on Saints commemorated during (or near) the Nativity Fast:

General Orthodox Nativity books:

Collections or Readings that include commemorated Saints:

Other Christmas Books (not specifically Orthodox):

Misc. Advent Resources:

• The Icon Book (John Matusiak) – General information about icons and twenty-five saints; may be used as a coloring book. Icons included that correspond with these readings: Entrance of the Theotokos, The Nativity of Christ, Saint Nicholas, Saint Barbara (published by the Antiochian diocese)

• See Draw Near Designs for Advent board books

Saints Commemorated During (or Near) the Nativity Fast, By Date:

*With available books and readings

Nov. 11/12: St. Martin the Merciful, Bishop of Tours ⁴

• •  Paideía & Praxís readings on St. Martin: St. Martin & the Cloak; St. Martin & the Pine

  • Snow on Martinmas (Heather Sleightholm) – Picture book

  • Stories from the Lives of Saints and Martyrs of the Church (Jetta Wolff) *chapter

  • A History of the Church, from the day of Pentecost to the Council of Chalcedon ( John Mason Neale) *chapter

Nov. 13: St. John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople

• • Paideía & Praxís reading on St. John Chrysostom

  • Saints and Heroes, Vol 1 (George Hodges) *chapter

Nov. 14: Holy, All-Praised Apostle Philip ² ⁴

• Paideía & Praxís reading on Holy Apostle Philip

• The Prologue of Ohrid: July to December (St. Nikolaj Velimirovic)

Nov. 15: Apostle and Evangelist Matthew ² ⁴

• Paideía & Praxís reading on Holy Apostle & Evangelist Matthew

• The Prologue of Ohrid: July to December (St. Nikolaj Velimirovic)

Nov. 17: St. Gregory, Wonderworker of Neocaesarea

• Paideía & Praxís reading on St. Gregory the Wonderworker

• A History of the Church, from the day of Pentecost to the Council of Chalcedon ( John Mason Neale) *chapter

Nov. 21: The Entry of the Most Holy Mother of God into the Temple

• Paideía & Praxís Nativity Fast reading on the  Feast of the Entry of the Theotokos 

Nov. 24: Great Martyr Mercurius of Caesarea, in Cappadocia

• Paideía & Praxís reading on St. Mercurius

Nov. 24/25: Great Martyr Katherine of Alexandria ⁴

• • Paideía & Praxís reading on St. Katherine

  • The Life of the Holy Great-martyr Catherine (Larisa Faberova) – Short Chapter book

  • Stories from the Lives of Saints and Martyrs of the Church (Jetta Wolff) *chapter

Nov. 25: St. Clement, Bishop of Rome 

• Paideía & Praxís reading on St. Clement

[A Reading for Thanksgiving] Glory to God for All Things: “An Akathist of Thanksgiving”

Nov. 30: Apostle Andrew, the Holy and All-Praised First-Called

• The Illustrated Synaxarion of the Orthodox Church (Antonios Markou) – Reading on Holy Apostle Andrew (Nov. 30) ⁴ 

Dec. 2: Porphyrios, Wonderworker of Kavsokaliva ⁴

• A Boy’s Journey to Sainthood: Saint Porphyrios Kafsokalivia (Anna Iakovou)  – Illustrated book

Dec. 4: Greatmartyr Barbara and Martyr Juliana, at Heliopolis in Syria

• Paideía & Praxís reading on St. Barbara

• The Prologue of Ohrid: July to December (St. Nikolaj Velimirovic)

Dec. 6: St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia ⁴ ᴬ

• • Saint Nicholas and the Nine Gold Coins (Jim Forest)  – Picture book

  • Stories from the Lives of Saints and Martyrs of the Church (Jetta Wolff) *chapter

  • The Miracle of Saint Nicholas (Gloria Whelan)  – Picture book

  • The Legend of Saint Nicholas (Demi) – Picture book

Dec. 7: St. Ambrose, Bishop of Milan

• • Paideía & Praxís reading on St. Ambrose

  • Stories from the Lives of Saints and Martyrs of the Church (Jetta Wolff) *chapter

Dec. 12: St. Spyridon the Wonderworker, Bishop of Tremithus  ⁴

• • Paideía & Praxís reading on St. Spyridon

  • Stories of the Saints told through the Ages (Grace Hall) or read "Spyridon's Mules" here ⁴ *chapter 

  • Spyridon’s Shoes (Chrstine Rogers) – Short chapter book

Dec. 13: Virgin Martyr Lucy of Syracuse ⁴

• • Paideía & Praxís reading on St. Lucy here

  • Lucia Saint of Light (Katherine Bolger Hyde) – Picture book

  • The Prologue of Ohrid: July to December (St. Nikolaj Velimirovic)

Dec. 13: Venerable Herman of Alaska, Wonderworker of All America

• • North Star: St. Herman of Alaska (Dorrie Papademetriou) – Picture book 

Dec. 18: St. Sebastian of Rome and his companions  ⁴

Dec. 19: Sts. Boniface and his Holy Mistress Aglaia ⁴

Dec. 20: St. Ignatius the God-bearer, Bishop of Antioch ⁴

Dec. 20: Hieromartyr Ignatius the God-Bearer, Bishop of Antioch  ⁴

• • Stories from the Lives of Saints and Martyrs of the Church (Jetta Wolff) *chapter

Dec. 21: St. Juliana of Nicomedia and those with her ⁴

Dec. 22: St. Anastasia the Widow  ⁴

Dec. 23: St. Paul, Bishop of Neocaesarea ⁴