Ginbot 6 — May 14

Abba Isaac, Who Healed the Blind

Saint Isaac lived in a town called Defra, in the north of Egypt. One night one of God's helpers from heaven, an angel, woke him up and said it was time to be very brave for Jesus. Isaac hugged his mother and father goodbye, and the angel helped him travel to a faraway city.

When Isaac arrived, he stood up tall and told everyone, "I am a Christian. I believe in our Lord Jesus Christ." A soldier was told to guard him. As they walked along the road, a blind man called out, "O saint of God, please help my eyes!" Isaac prayed, and right away the man could see again. When the soldier saw the blind eyes opened, he decided to love Jesus too.

Later, while Isaac was on a boat, he asked for a cup of water. A sailor who could not see out of one eye brought it to him. Isaac sprinkled a little water on the man, and his eye was healed, just like the other one!

The leaders did not want Isaac to keep teaching about Jesus, and they hurt him. He stayed faithful right to the end, even though it cost him his life, and so Isaac is called a martyr. His friends carried his body home on a wagon. When they reached a river with no boat, the oxen carried him safely across the water. The people built a church for him, and God did many kind miracles there.

I am a Christian. I believe in our Lord Jesus Christ.— Saint Isaac

Abba Macarius of Alexandria, Friend of the Animals

Abba Macarius was a holy father, a monk who lived a quiet life of prayer in the desert. He was so gentle that once, after he swatted a little gnat, he felt sorry for hurting even such a tiny creature.

God took special care of Macarius. One time he grew very thirsty in the desert, so God sent a friendly desert buffalo to give him milk to drink. Another day a mother wolf gently tugged his clothes and led him to her den. Her baby cubs were born blind. Macarius made the sign of the holy Cross over them and prayed, and the cubs could suddenly see! They scampered happily back to their mother. To say thank you, the wolf brought Macarius a soft sheepskin.

Macarius loved God so much that he never stopped trying to do good. Whenever he heard about a kind thing someone did, he would not rest until he had done something just as kind. One year there was no rain near the city of Alexandria, and the people were worried. They asked Macarius to pray, and God sent so much rain that everyone was thankful and safe.

After a long, happy life of one hundred years, Abba Macarius went peacefully home to God.

If you have faith, do not trust in reeds, but believe that God who guided His people will also guide you.— a voice from heaven to Macarius

Bandela'an, the Brave Father

We also remember Bandela'an (you can say it bahn-deh-LAH-an). He was the father of another saint named Isidore. Bandela'an loved Jesus with his whole heart and held on to God even when it was very hard. He is one more brave saint who is now happy with God in heaven.

Amon the Just, the Humble Helper

Amon was called the Just because he was fair and honest in all he did. People wanted to make him a bishop, a very important leader of churches. But Amon was humble, and he gently said no. He wanted a simple, quiet life of prayer instead, close to God. Amon teaches us that loving God in a small, quiet way matters just as much as doing big, important jobs.

Pelagia and Her Four Sons

Pelagia (you can say it peh-LAY-jee-ah) was a brave mother who loved God very much. She had four sons, and she taught them all to love Jesus too. When a leader came who did not believe, Pelagia was not afraid. She said out loud that she believed in Jesus, who made the heavens, the earth, and the sea.

Her four sons were just as brave as their mother. Together they said, "We are Christians, and we follow Jesus!" They stayed faithful to God to the very end, and they died as martyrs. Now this loving family is together forever with God, where there is no more sadness, only joy.

We are Christians, and we follow Jesus!— Pelagia's four sons

Saint Salome, the Gentle Servant of God

Salome (you can say it sah-LOH-meh) came from a town called Warab. Her parents loved God and raised her to love Him too. Salome wanted to give her whole life to praying and serving God. She prayed day and night, asking God to show her the right path.

God heard her prayers and guided her to a holy place called Dabra Libanos. There she became a nun, a woman who gives her days to quiet prayer, and she lived almost like the angels. Salome fasted and prayed and did much good. With God's help she worked many miracles. After a faithful life, she went home to God in peace.

Dionysius and Saint Sinoda

We also remember Saint Dionysius (you can say it dy-oh-NISH-us), who was the teacher of Saint Isaac. He loved God and stayed faithful all the way to the end of his life, and now he rests with God.

And we remember Saint Sinoda, who is called the chief of the anchorites. An anchorite is someone who lives alone in a quiet place to pray to God all the time. Sinoda was a leader and helper for many people who chose this peaceful, prayerful life. We ask all these holy saints to pray for us.