Ginbot 12 — May 20

The Archangel Michael, God's Mighty Helper

Every month, on the twelfth day, we have a happy feast for Saint Michael the Archangel, one of the greatest of all the angels who serve God in heaven. Today is that special day, so let us hear one of his stories.

Long ago there was a prophet named Habakkuk, a man God spoke through. One day Habakkuk was carrying a pot of warm lentil stew out to the workers in the fields. At that very same time, far away in another country, a good man named Daniel was shut inside a den of hungry lions. Daniel had done nothing wrong. He was simply hungry and all alone, trusting God to take care of him.

Then Saint Michael did something only an angel could do. He gently took Habakkuk, stew and all, and carried him in a flash all the way to where Daniel was. So Daniel got a good warm meal right when he needed it most. Michael kept him safe, and the lions did not touch him. Then, just as quickly, Michael carried Habakkuk back home to the fields, and the workers got their lunch too. No one even had to wait!

That is why the teachers of the Church told us to keep a joyful feast for Saint Michael on this day. He loves to help God's friends, and he is always close by when we pray.

God sent Michael the archangel to carry food to Daniel, and Michael kept him safe among the lions.

Saint John, the Golden Mouth

We also remember a holy father named John. People called him "the Golden Mouth" because his words about God were so good and so beautiful, like shining gold. His longer name, John Chrysostom, means exactly that.

John was born in a rich family in a city called Antioch, and his mother and father taught him to love God. He studied very hard and learned so much that he was wiser than almost everyone. But when his parents died and left him their money, John gave it all away to people who were poor. Then he went to live as a monk, spending his days in quiet prayer and serving God.

God gave John a special job: to teach huge crowds of people about Jesus. He became the great teacher of a big city, and thousands and thousands of people listened to him and came to love God. John was brave, too. He always told the truth, even to kings and queens, and he was never afraid to do what was right.

Once a queen took a garden away from a poor widow, and that was not fair. John spoke up for the widow and asked the queen to give it back. The queen was angry and sent John far away from home. But John kept loving God and even helped the new people he met to learn about Jesus. After he died, God did many wonders through him, and in the end even the queen was sorry and was healed when she came to him for forgiveness.

You have spoken well, O John, you tongue of gold.

Isakos, the Friend of Jesus

We say a short, loving hello to a saint named Isakos. He was a friend of Jesus and stayed close to Him. We thank God for him and ask him to pray for us.

The Cross of Light in the Sky

On this day, something beautiful happened in the sky over the city of Jerusalem. A shining Cross of Light appeared up high above a hill called Golgotha, the very place where Jesus showed His great love for us on the Cross.

The glowing cross was so bright that it shone even more than the sun! It hung steadily in the sky for hours, from the middle of the day until late afternoon. People came running from every land to look up and see it. It was God's way of reminding everyone how much He loves them.

A kind church father named Abba Cyril was so happy that he made a great feast on that day, and he wrote to everyone so they would remember it. To this day, Christians everywhere thank God for the Cross, because it reminds us that God keeps us safe and loves us very, very much.

A Cross of Light shone above Golgotha, brighter than the sun.

The Martyrs Minas and Stephen

Two faithful friends of God are remembered today: Minas, who served the church as a deacon, one of its helpers, and Stephen. They loved God so much that they stayed true to Him no matter what, even when it was very hard. They are called martyrs, because they kept loving God all the way to the end of their lives. They were not afraid, for they knew they were going home to God in heaven.

Jared, Who Lived a Very Long Life

Long, long ago, near the very beginning of the world, there lived a man named Jared. He was part of the family of the first people God made. Jared lived for a great many years, far longer than people live today. He had a son named Enoch, who was a special friend of God. We remember Jared today and thank God for his long, good life.

Abba Tekle Haimanot the Wonder-Worker

We remember our dear father Abba Tekle Haimanot too, a great Ethiopian saint and a leader of many monks. He spent his whole life praying and helping people to know God.

God had told Tekle Haimanot that, long after he had gone home to heaven, his body would be carried to a new resting place built just for him. And that is exactly what happened on this very day! When they carried him there, people who could not see began to see, and people who could not walk got up and walked. Everyone was filled with joy.

One happy story is about a woman who could not see. She was holding a little bread-cake from the saint's feast day. When she touched it to her eyes, God let her see the light again! We thank God for the kind prayers of Abba Tekle Haimanot.