The Saintly Sister Showdown was not for the faint of heart! When the votes were counted, Clare of Assisi proved too strong for Benedict’s sister. Clare marches on with a commanding 68.77% to 31.23% victory over Scholastica, and the pride of Assisi claims her spot in the Saintly Sixteen! 🌹✨
But that was yesterday…
Today the Apostles & Allies region brings us a matchup of holy duos! 👥🔥
On one side, the miracle working healer brothers Cosmas and Damian, famous for treating the sick and asking for nothing in return. On the other, the New Testament power couple Priscilla and Aquila, the original ministry team who taught, traveled with Paul, and helped build the early Church. ⛪
Two pairs. Four saints. One spot in the Saintly Sixteen.
Which duo will dance their way forward?
You decide! Read the blog, watch the video, and cast your vote! 🗳️
The war for Westminster’s door is officially closed! 🚪 Archbishop Janani Luwum marches on after defeating Wang Zhiming 58.1% to 41.9%, punching his ticket to the Saintly Sixteen! 🙌
But enough about the guys… today belongs to the sisters! 👑
It’s a holy sibling showdown as Clare of Assisi takes on Scholastica. Will Scholastica follow in the saintly footsteps of her brother Benedict and advance? Or will Clare keep the Franciscan magic alive and chase a Golden Halo like her pal Francis? ✨
Two holy women. One heavenly slot in the Saintly Sixteen.
Watch the video, read the blog, and cast your vote! 🗳️🔥
The Battle of Nations founders DELIVERED 🇬🇪🔥 St. Nino has officially put Georgia on the map (and in our brackets) with a strong win over Gregory the Illuminator 63.91% to 36.09% 💪
But don’t get comfortable… we’re heading into the Modern Mercifuls and things are getting REAL. Welcome to the war for Westminster Abbey’s door 🏰 where both these saints are immortalized as two giants of 20th-century faith, courage, and witness.
Janani Luwum vs Wang Zhiming! Martyr vs martyr. Courage vs courage. No easy picks here. Only one moves on. Only one gets closer to the Golden Halo ✨ Watch the video, read the blogs, and VOTE!
Join Fr Michael and Fr Christian as we look back at last week’s biggest surprises, shout out our favorite commenters, and preview all the matchups coming your way this week 🙌
After you watch the video, don’t forget to cast your vote in today’s showdown 👀
It’s a clash of fan favorites from across the nations
Nino of Georgia 🇬🇪 vs Gregory the Illuminator 🇦🇲
Only one advances ⚔️
It’s going to be a HUGE week of Lent Madness… LET’S GO 🙏🔥 #LentMadness
Gregory the Illuminator
Look up the word illuminate in the dictionary, and you will find a variety of definitions, including “to make clear”, “to bring to the fore”, and "to enlighten spiritually or intellectually.” All of these definitions can be easily applied to the life of St. Gregory, who was given the additional title “the Illuminator” likely to differentiate him from the other St. Gregorys in the world. The person now known as Gregory the Illuminator (or in some cases Gregory the Enlightener) was born with the first name Suren in about 257 CE in Armenia to a Parthian nobleman. He was raised in Caesarea of Cappadocia as a Christian and did not return to Armenia until adulthood.
Once returned, he entered the service of King Tiridates III, who was intolerant of Christianity. King Tiridates asked Gregory to perform a pagan sacrifice, which he refused because of his Christian faith. This made the king angry, so the king ordered Gregory to be tortured and thrown into a pit filled with venomous snakes. The king’s sister was instrumental in Gregory's release from the pit 14 years later. Upon surviving his experience in the pit, Gregory converted King Tiridates to Christianity, and then Christianity was adopted as the state religion of Armenia in 301 CE. Gregory preached the Christian faith across Armenia and even healed (and later baptized!) King Tiridates, who, sources say, “had been driven into animal madness for his sinful behavior.” Quite a turn of events in the relationship between those two!
As a bishop, Gregory raised churches in place of destroyed pagan temples, founded schools, and established the ecclesiastical structure in Armenia, thus cementing Gregory’s status as a seminal figure in Armenian Christianity. Gregory’s two sons eventually succeeded Gregory as bishop. After Gregory’s retirement as bishop, he embraced a hermit lifestyle and lived out the remainder of his years in a cave, where he died around 328 CE. Gregory is such an instrumental figure in Armenian Christianity that he has three feast days dedicated to him: one commemorating the discovery of his relics, one commemorating the date of his descent into the snake pit, and yet another commemorating his release from said snake pit. In addition to the Armenian church, he is recognized with feast days in other Orthodox traditions and in the Anglican Communion. He is the patron saint of Armenia. Not surprisingly, there are many churches throughout the world named for St. Gregory the Illuminator, including a cathedral located less than 5 miles from where this biography is being written. Perhaps a selfie by this Celebrity Blogger in front of said cathedral will appear in future rounds if given the opportunity!
— Kathryn Nishibayashi
Collect for Gregory the Illuminator
Almighty God, who raised up your servant Gregory to be a light in the world, and to preach the Gospel to the people of Armenia: Illuminate our hearts, that we also in our own generation may show forth your praise, who called us out of darkness and into your marvelous light; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Nino of Georgia
Just before the turn of the 4th century, a young girl was born to a Greek-speaking Roman family in Cappadocia. The baby, Nino, would go on to receive the title “Equal to the Apostles” from the Orthodox Church for her role as the “Enlightener of Georgia”—the woman who converted an entire country.
Nino had prominent parents in Roman society and so was raised by a nun in Jerusalem, immersed in the rhythms of early Roman Christianity. Perhaps because she showed promise as a future religious herself, the Patriarch of Jerusalem, who was also her uncle, helped her make her way to Rome. There she met and served the lady Hripsime, who had caught the eye of the Emperor Diocletian, a notoriously anti-Christian figure. To avoid his pursuit, with the help of Nino, Hripsime and her companions fled to Armenia. Along the way, Nino baptized the whole crew of women. These “35 virgins” went on to preach the word of God throughout Armenia.
They did not escape the notice of nobility in their new location, however, and soon King Tiridates III called for their beheading. Hripsime was martyred, but Nino made her way out and over to the Kingdom of Iberia, the modern-day country of Georgia.
There, she had her famous vision: Mary the Godbearer extending a cross of grapevines, with the instruction that Mary would be her shield in the work of converting the people there to the saving faith in Jesus. Nino received the grapevine cross and tied it with her own hair. Today, the “grapevine cross” is distinct for its drooping arms.
Nino traveled all over the Kingdom of Iberia converting people to Christianity. Eventually, she encountered Queen Nana, who had long suffered from debilitating illness. Nino healed her and baptized her. Her husband, King Mirian, initially rejected his wife’s conversion until his own miracle occurred. After being struck blind on an excursion, he prayed to the God of his wife and begged for healing. With his sight restored, he, too, was baptized and became the first Christian King of Iberia, securing the role of Christianity in the kingdom. Nino, seeing that she had fulfilled the instructions from her vision, retreated to the mountains, where she spent her remaining days living a monastic life.
Today, Nino is a Georgian national hero, whose faith laid the groundwork for the Georgian Orthodox Church. The name Nino is still to this day the most popular name for women in the country.
— Julia Offinger
Collect for Nino of Georgia
Almighty God, who called your servant Nino to be your apostle to the people of Georgia, to bring those wandering in darkness to the true light and knowledge of you; Grant us so to walk in that light, that we may come at last to the light of your everlasting day; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Monk Madness did NOT disappoint 😤🐪 The father of all monks showed exactly why he holds that title as Anthony the Great proved too much for Paul of Thebes, taking the win 57.16% to 42.84% 🏜️👑
But now we head over to the Apostles & Allies side and this one is exactly what it sounds like…A group of DOZERS vs a DOUBTER 😅🔥
The Apostle to India, Thomas the Apostle, squares off against Ephesus’ most well-rested crew, the Seven Sleepers of Ephesus 😴⚔️
One brought the Gospel across continents, the others took a miraculous nap that rings out through the Abrahamic Faiths
They say styles make the matchups and this one is WILD 🤯 Can Thomas outlast this Magnificent Seven? Or will the Sleepers dream their way into the Saintly Sixteen? Only one advances… YOU decide 🗳️🔥
49% 😬 50% 😱 talk about a nail biter! Edith Stein just barely takes it over Amy Carmichael and the Carmelites are celebrating 🎉👏 one percent was all it took!!
But if you thought that was stressful… just wait 😅
It’s MONK MADNESS 🏜️🔥
Today we’ve got a showdown for the ages
Paul of Thebes vs Anthony the Great
The proto hermit vs the father of monks 🤯 these two didn’t just inspire the desert tradition, they lived it side by side praying, visiting, and encouraging one another in radical dependence on God 🙏
Generations of monks followed in their footsteps… but today only one moves on. Say a prayer, trust the Spirit… and then make the impossible choice 🗳️😅
The Battle of Canterbury brought the drama as the Malice at Lambeth Palace is still recovering. In the end, Richard Hooker pulled up his three legged stool, and told Thomas Cranmer to grab his prayer book and take a nice little walk down the middle way. Final score Hooker 66.88% to 33.12%. The stool stays undefeated 🪑👑
But we’re just getting started, because today it’s Amy Carmichael vs Edith Stein. The Missionary powerhouse vs Carmelite philosopher 🔥 Both lived fearless faith. Both changed lives. Both make this vote VERY unfair 😅
Only one can advance so it is up to you. Vote now and keep sharing with us how you’re living into Lent Madness!!! 🙌
In yesterday's battle of the apostles, Peter triumphed over Paul 65% to 35%! For our next match we return to the DenomiNATION Domination section of the bracket with two Anglican ancestors. Read on and cast your vote!
Welcome to our first full week of Lent, and we’re kicking things off with a little Monday Madness 😎
But first… WOW. In the closest race we’ve seen yet, Saint Benedict of Nursia edged out Saint Basil the Great by just over 300 votes! 🗳️
A razor-thin 52% of you gave the nod to the West, as Benedict’s call to work and pray marches on into the Saintly Sixteen 🙌
Now… buckle up.
This one has been brewing for nearly 2,000 years.
The Rock vs. The Road, The keeper of the keys 🔑 vs. the one who was blind but now sees 👀
It’s Saint Peter vs. Saint Paul!
Two giants of the faith. Two community makers. Two pillars whose witness helped shape the Church from Rome to the ends of the earth. Peter, whose confession of faith remains the rock the Church was built. Paul, the relentless missionary, bridging cultures and proclaiming the Gospel to the Gentiles.
Forget the seeding… this feels like a championship matchup 💥 BUT…Only one can advance. Who gets your vote?
Head over, read the blogs, watch the videos, and make your voice heard!
Day 2 of Lent Madness delivered a saintly showdown for the ages ⚔️✨
South Africa’s Archbishop takes down America’s first saint! Desmond Tutu defeats Elizabeth Ann Seton. It wasn’t without a fight, but Tutu moves on with joy and momentum 🙌🔥
Now onto a saintly showdown that spans the globe 🌍. It’s a classic East/West rivalry as Benedict of Nursia faces Basil the Great. The Rule of Benedict vs the Rule of Basil. A rivalry as old as the Church itself 📜✝️
In Christ there may be no East or West… but in Lent Madness, there can only be ONE 👑
👉 Check out Instagram & YouTube for the daily videos 🎥 🗳️ Read, watch, and VOTE!!!
