The daily search for what holiday is today or orthodox church calendar guides millions of believers in aligning their daily lives with sacred tradition, biblical readings, and spiritual sobriety. Today, August 18, the Christian Church commemorates the Holy Martyrs Florus and Laurus of Illyria (Eastern tradition) and Saint Helen, Empress (Western tradition). This day is spiritually rich with history, names days, weather signs, and powerful daily prayers of protection for our families, children, and domestic animals.
Understanding the liturgical cycle allows us to realize that every single day is sanctified by the memory of a specific saint or biblical milestone. For generations, Christian families have started their mornings with prayer, as it serves as the ultimate source of spiritual stability and peace of mind. By reciting the Lord’s Prayer (Our Father) and the Angelic Salutation (Hail Mary) at the start of our day, we entrust our intellect and our daily labor into God’s caring hands, protecting our souls from anger and despair. This synergy between quiet contemplation and active labor is the heart of Orthodox and Catholic spirituality, as beautifully documented by the holy fathers of the desert in the Philokalia.
Reciting these daily devotions is a powerful habit that brings stability to our children and strengthens our daily efforts, reminding us of our eternal calling to follow Christ in love and humility.
In this complete canonical guide, you will discover the theological history of today’s saints, learn about name days celebrated on August 18, folk customs, and recite the traditional prayers — including Our Father, Hail Mary, and the special prayer to Saints Florus and Laurus. You can also download high-contrast formatted prayer booklets free of charge for printing or offline reading.
To delve deeper into the patristic wisdom of daily spiritual watchfulness (nepsis) and the guard of the mind, we warmly encourage you to read the monument of Eastern Christian ascetical literature: the Philokalia (Dobrotolyubiye) in Ukrainian translation by S. Matiyash, where the desert fathers expound on the purification of the soul.
Who Are Saints Florus & Laurus and Saint Helen?
The Holy Martyrs Florus and Laurus were biological brothers who lived in the 2nd century in Illyria (modern Balkans). By profession, they were skilled stonemasons. The governor of Illyria sent them to a neighboring region to construct a magnificent pagan temple. The brothers worked diligently but distributed all their wages to the poor, preaching Christ to them. Through their holy life and prayers, the son of the pagan priest Mamertinus was miraculously healed of blindness, leading the priest and his entire household to accept baptism. Upon completing the building, Florus and Laurus gathered local Christians, cast down the pagan idols, and erected a Holy Cross in the center, dedicating the temple to the One True God. For this act of faith, they were cruelly tortured and thrown into a deep well.
The Western Christian tradition on this day honors Saint Helen, Empress (c. 248–330 AD), the mother of Emperor Constantine the Great. She made a historic pilgrimage to Jerusalem, where she excavated Golgotha and miraculously discovered the True Life-Giving Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Saint Helen constructed numerous majestic churches in the Holy Land, including the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, becoming a universal symbol of devotion.
Saint Empress Helen played an epochal role in Christian history. In addition to finding the Holy Cross, she established over thirty churches in Palestine, including the Basilica of the Nativity in Bethlehem and the Church of the Ascension on the Mount of Olives. She released prisoners, distributed alms to thousands of poor people, and took care of the needs of early Christian communities. Her life teaches us that worldly power and wealth must serve solely to spread the gospel of truth, love, and mercy to our neighbors, reflecting the patristic teachings found in the Philokalia.
The historical significance of Empress Helen cannot be overstated. When she arrived in Jerusalem in 326 AD, she was already in her late seventies. Despite her advanced age, she personally supervised the demolition of the pagan temple of Venus that Emperor Hadrian had constructed over the site of Golgotha. Beneath the foundations, her workers discovered three wooden crosses, along with the inscription plate (titulus) and the nails. To identify which cross belonged to Christ, Macarius, the Bishop of Jerusalem, suggested touching a terminally ill woman with each cross; when she was touched by the third cross, she was miraculously healed, proving it to be the True Cross. This event shaped Christian art and liturgy for centuries, establishing Saint Helen as a patron saint of archaeologists and seekers of truth.
Furthermore, on this day, the Western Church commemorates Saint Agapitus of Palestrina, a 15-year-old youth who courageously suffered martyrdom for Christ under Emperor Aurelian. His steadfastness in the face of torture and threats of tormentors demonstrates that divine grace strengthens even the youngest hearts, granting them the wisdom and power to withstand any evil and remain faithful to the Savior.
It is important to emphasize that the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) and the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) officially transitioned to the Revised Julian Calendar on September 1, 2023. This historic reform aligned the liturgical celebrations of Ukrainian Christians with the majority of the Christian world, bridging the centuries-old gap. Under the old Julian calendar, the feast of Saints Florus and Laurus was celebrated on August 31, but now we commemorate them on August 18, demonstrating our spiritual unity and liturgical harmony with both Eastern and Western global Christianity.
The Revised Julian Calendar was designed in 1923 by the brilliant Serbian astronomer and geophysicist Milutin Milanković during a pan-Orthodox synod in Constantinople. This calendar is scientifically recognized as the most accurate calendar in human history: it accumulates an error of one day only once every 43,500 years, whereas the Gregorian calendar (used by the Roman Catholic Church) errs by one day every 3,280 years. The OCU and UGCC transition to this new style corrected the astronomical discrepancy of the old Julian calendar, which currently stands at 13 days and continues to widen over time, restoring celebrations to their true astronomical and historical periods.
Whose Name Day Is Today, August 18?
Today, name days (patron saint days) are celebrated by: Florus, Laurus, Gregory, Dennis, Eugene, Michael, John, Helen. Congratulate your friends and loved ones, wishing them the protection of their guardian angels and peace of mind.
Latin Originals of Daily Prayers (Pater Noster and Ave Maria)
To experience a deeper spiritual connection with the centuries-old liturgical heritage of the universal Church, it is highly beneficial to recite the daily prayers in their original sacred Latin tongue:
The Lord’s Prayer in Latin (Pater Noster):
“Pater noster, qui es in caelis, sanctificetur nomen tuum. Adveniat regnum tuum. Fiat voluntas tua, sicut in caelo et in terra. Panem nostrum quotidianum da nobis hodie. Et dimitte nobis debita nostra, sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris. Et ne nos inducas in tentationem, sed libera nos a malo. Amen.”
Angelic Salutation in Latin (Ave Maria):
“Ave, Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum. Benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Iesus. Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen.”
Folk Traditions and the ‘Day of the Horse’ on August 18
In the traditional life of European and Ukrainian agricultural communities, the feast of Saints Florus and Laurus held immense practical value. Farmers believed that without divine blessing through these martyrs, it was impossible to preserve the health of their livestock. On this day, horses were completely freed from any labor, bathed in rivers, decorated with colorful ribbons, and sprinkled with holy water at parish churches. Special ritual cookies shaped like horseshoes were baked and shared with shepherds and children, invoking prosperity and safety for the entire farm.
Powerful Daily Prayers for August 18
Recite these canonical prayers in the morning and evening to invoke God’s protection and guard your household from evil, sickness, and spiritual distress.
1. The Lord’s Prayer (Our Father)
“Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.”
2. Angelic Salutation (Hail Mary)
“Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.”
3. Prayer to Saints Florus and Laurus for Blessing of Animals
“O Holy Martyrs Florus and Laurus, hear our humble prayers and ask our Merciful Lord to pour down His blessings and health upon our domestic animals and horses. Protect them from diseases, injuries, and all harm, that they may serve for the sustenance of our households to the glory of God. Amen.”
Communal Prayer in the Comments: Unified in Faith
The combined prayer of believers has extraordinary power by Christ’s promise: “For where two or three are gathered in My name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20). We invite you to join our communal prayer circle:
- Leave the names of your loved ones in the comments section below, asking for God’s blessing and protection through the prayers of Saint Helen and Martyrs Florus and Laurus. For example: “Lord Jesus, heal my sister Helen and guard our family from all evil.”
- Other Christians visiting pray.ee will see your request and reply with a sincere ‘Amen’, multiplying the prayer before the Throne of Grace.
Free Downloads of Prayer Booklets for August 18
For your convenience, we have prepared high-quality prayer booklets containing these prayers in large, readable fonts. You can download them free of charge for printing or offline reading on your mobile device:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why are Saints Florus and Laurus considered patrons of horses?
According to ancient tradition, immediately following the discovery of their holy relics, a devastating livestock plague in the region ceased. Since then, they have been venerated as guardians of domestic animals.
Who was Saint Helen and what did she discover?
Saint Helen was the mother of Emperor Constantine. She led archaeological excavations in Jerusalem and successfully discovered the True, Life-Giving Cross of Jesus Christ on Golgotha.
Whose name days are celebrated today, August 18?
Today, name days are celebrated by Florus, Laurus, Gregory, Dennis, Eugene, Michael, John, and Helen, making it an excellent opportunity to congratulate them.
Sources and Canonical References
1. Orthodox Church of Ukraine Portal — Life and martyrdom of Saints Florus and Laurus. Available at: pomisna.info.
2. Saint Archangel Michael Parish Portal — Liturgical commemorations and histories of relics. Available at: parafia.org.ua.
3. The Discovery of the True Cross by Saint Helen — Theological and historical analyses in CREDO Journal. Available at: credo.pro.