56 - Paterikon for Kids - The Voyage of Saint Brendan

May 16/29.

The Orthodox Saint Brendan of Ireland is the Patron Saint of shipowners and divers.

The information for this book is from the synaxaria and the famous ancient book The Voyage of Saint Brendan.

In 1976 British historian and explorer Tim Severin, wanting to corroborate The Voyage of Saint Brendan's historical authenticity, built a precise replica of Saint Brendan’s ship. Once completed, he and a crew embarked on the same route the Saint had traveled. They sailed from Ireland to Peckford Island in Newfoundland and Canada, with stops at the Isle of Man and Iceland, just as the Saint had done. After this successful mission, he wrote a book that records the absolute authenticity of everything described in the book of Saint Brendan. Tim Severin’s book became very popular and was translated into 16 languages.

Fourth Edition!

Saints Kalliopi, Paraskevi, Marina, Dorothy, Barbara, Julitta, Thekla, Sophia, and Kyriake are some holy martyrs of the first centuries of the persecutions who wisely chose to give their life rather than bow down to lifeless idols.

Did you know that Greeks traditionally dedicate their children to the patron saints of their parents? Therefore, you often will meet Greek grandchildren sharing their grandparents' name/patron saint. So, next time you meet a yiayia named Paraskevi, it could be that both her grandmother and her granddaughter are named after Holy Martyr Paraskevi.

Now in a fourth edition!