Synaxarium – Meskerem 3 / September 13
Reading/Verbal Learners
A long time ago, in the great city of Alexandria, many bishops gathered for an important meeting called the General Council. They came together because some men in Arabia were teaching something very wrong. These men said, “When the body dies, the soul dies too. Only on Resurrection Day will it come back with the body.”
When Abba Dionysius, the wise archbishop, heard this, his heart grew heavy with sadness. He tried to guide them, saying, “This is not true. The soul is a gift from God. It does not die or disappear. It lives on, just like the angels live forever.”
But those men would not listen. So the bishops gathered, prayed, and decided firmly that this teaching was false. They declared that the soul never perishes—it is spiritual, eternal, and unbreakable. When the body dies, the soul goes where God knows is right. Then, on the great Resurrection Day, when the trumpet of heaven sounds, every soul will return to its own body. Some will rise with joy, while others, sadly, will face punishment. The Council ended with strong prayers, asking God’s love to remain with all His children forever.
On that very same day, the ground in Egypt shook with a mighty earthquake. The Church of Saint Michael the Archangel in Dasya fell down at the third hour of the day. People whispered that this happened after a greedy man tried to force Christians to pay him money. When they refused, he came at night with his followers and destroyed the holy church. This was during the time of Archbishop Abba Macarius, many, many years ago. May the prayers of the saints protect us always.
On this day, we also remember:
Dioscoros the Martyr
Archbishop Dionysius
The brave martyrs in Tensel Yakoton
Many holy martyrs in Persia
Abba ‘Anbes (Father Lion) of Ethiopia
Abba Muse (Moses) of the Desert of Scete
Let me tell you the story of Abba Muse, a monk whose life was filled with prayer, fasting, and trust in God.
Abba Muse left the busy world and went deep into the desert. His food was as small as a bird’s meal—just fruit that fell from olive and palm trees once a month. His clothes were made from palm fibers, and though the sun burned in summer and the cold bit in winter, he never stopped praying.
Wild animals came to visit him as if he were their friend. When prayer time came, he would gently wave his hand, and they would quietly walk away. Sometimes, when the land was dry, the animals would stand before him as if asking for help. Through the Holy Spirit, he understood them and prayed for rain—and God answered. Abba Muse lived this way for thirty-five years!
But then, the enemy of good, Satan, grew jealous. One day, Satan disguised himself as an old monk. Limping slowly, he came to Abba Muse’s cave. Believing he was a real pilgrim, Abba Muse welcomed him. For three days they prayed together. But this “old monk” began to trick him with lies.
He told Abba Muse that he had a daughter and no one to care for her except him. He even showed him visions of a palace and a beautiful maiden. At first, Abba Muse’s heart was confused. But suddenly, a strong wind blew, and everything vanished! The palace, the maiden, the gardens—they were gone. It was all a trick from Satan.
Hungry and weak, Abba Muse later met Satan again—this time pretending to be a traveler with food and drink. He led Abba Muse into a city, where a woman (really Satan again) tried to tempt him with wealth and lies. She finally revealed, “I am Satan, who leads many astray. You will die in this desert, and your soul will be lost.” Then she vanished.
Heartbroken and alone, Abba Muse fell to the ground, covering his face with dust, crying for God’s mercy. God heard his prayer. An angel came, saying, “Your sin is forgiven. In three days, you will leave this world, and my servant Abba Samuel will bury you.”
And so it happened. Abba Muse received peace before his death. Abba Samuel took him to a hidden desert church, where many holy monks rested. After receiving the Holy Mysteries, Abba Muse knelt to pray one last time. There, he quietly gave his soul to God.
Glory be to God, Who is always glorified in His saints. Amen.
Auditory/Aural Learners
Visual/Spatial Learners
