A long time ago, there lived two very special siblings—Saint Moyses and his sister Sara. Their parents were kind, faithful people, and they were also very rich. But when their parents passed away, Moyses and Sara had to decide what to do with their lives.

Moyses told his sister:

“Sara, I want to give you all our parents’ things and arrange a good marriage for you. As for me, I want to become a monk so I can pray and ask God to forgive my sins.”

But Sara shook her head and said:

“Brother, how can you think only about saving your soul while leaving me in the troubles of this world? If you want to serve God, then I want to do the same!”

At first, Moyses tried to convince her, but Sara stood strong. She told him,

“What you do for God, I will do too. We are brother and sister, from the same parents, and I won’t be left behind.”

Moyses was amazed by her courage. So together, they gave away all their riches to the poor. Moyses entered a monastery, and Sara joined a convent of holy women near Alexandria. For ten whole years, they prayed, fasted, and lived holy lives—without even seeing each other.

The Time of Persecution

During the rule of a cruel emperor named Severianus, Christians were hunted and killed for their faith. Many priests, monks, and nuns became martyrs.

One day, Moyses felt in his heart that it was time to give his life for Christ. He wrote a letter to Sara, saying:

“Sister, I am going to confess Christ and become a martyr.”

When Sara read the letter, she immediately asked the abbess to let her leave. The abbess prayed over her and blessed her, and Sara hugged all her sisters in the convent before hurrying to join Moyses.

On the road, she found her brother. Together, hand in hand, they walked to the city of Alexandria. Standing before the governor, they boldly said:

“We believe in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior!”

The governor grew furious. He ordered them to be tortured cruelly. But no matter what was done to them, Moyses and Sara would not deny Christ. Finally, the soldiers cut off their heads with swords. That day, they both received crowns of victory in heaven—the crowns of martyrdom.

Salutation to the brave brother and sister, Saint Moyses and Saint Sara.

Other Saints Remembered Today

On this same day, the Church also remembers other holy ones:

• Abba Ammon
• Elias the martyr and his sister Eudoxia
• Abuna Jacob
• Agabus the soldier and Thekla the nun, who were thrown to lions but won crowns of glory in heaven.

Remembering Sarah, Wife of Abraham

The Church also celebrates the memory of another important woman from the Bible—Sarah, the wife of Abraham.

Sarah was a woman of faith, though sometimes she doubted. When she was very old, God promised that she would still have a son. She laughed, saying, “How can this happen? I am too old, and so is my husband!” But God told Abraham, “Is anything too hard for the Lord?”

And indeed, Sarah gave birth to Isaac, the child of promise.

Later, when she saw Isaac playing with Ishmael, the son of Hagar, she asked Abraham to send Hagar and Ishmael away. It was a hard thing for Abraham, but God told him to listen to Sarah, for from Isaac’s family would come the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ.

Saint Paul later called Sarah the “free woman” and compared her to the Church. She lived a long life, and when she died, Abraham buried her in a tomb he bought from the Hittites.

Salutation to the blessed womb of Sarah, who became the mother of nations.

Glory be to God, who is always glorified in His saints. Amen.