Ginbot 29 — June 06

A Happy Day for the Birth of Jesus

Today is a very joyful day! Every month, on this day, the whole Church remembers the birth of our Lord and God and Savior, Jesus Christ. It is like having a little birthday party for Jesus once every month, all year long.

On this day, God's children gather to thank Him and to sing to Him. They ask God to be kind to them, to forgive them when they have done wrong, and to help them love Him more. It is a warm and happy day, full of singing and prayer.

We say a sweet greeting to Jesus: "Salutation to Thy Birth, O our Lord." That means, "We say hello and we are so glad You were born to save us!" Jesus came into the world as a tiny baby, just for us, because He loves us very much.

Salutation to Thy Birth, O our Lord.

Abba Simon, the Saint Who Prayed on a Pillar

We also remember a holy father named Abba Simon. His father was named John, and his mother was named Martha. Before Simon was even born, Saint John the Baptist came to his mother in a dream. He told her she would have a baby boy, and that this boy would grow up to love God very much.

When Simon was just six years old, he went to live in a monastery, a place where people live together to pray and serve God. There he learned to love God with his whole heart. While he slept, God's angels would visit him and teach him how to be brave and good, just as they had once taught another holy monk named Abba Pachomius. Sometimes the angels even brought him food from heaven.

Simon loved God so much that he wanted to spend every minute praying. So he climbed onto a tall stone tower, called a pillar, and stood on top of it to pray, high up close to the sky. He prayed there for many, many years. Later he lived in a little house of stones on a mountain, still praying. People came from far away, because God answered Simon's prayers and made sick people well again.

Abba Simon also wrote many books and wise sayings to teach people how to live close to God. He lived a long, full life and then died in peace, and the angels welcomed him home to heaven.

Before he was even born, Saint John the Baptist told his mother that this child would grow up to love God.

More Friends of God We Remember Today

A few more good people who loved God are remembered today. Two of them were named Abba 'Afse and Abba Guba. They belonged to a group of holy helpers, sometimes called the ninety saints of 'Engelga, who worked hard to teach people about God.

We also remember a gentle monk named Isaac, who spent his days quietly praying and serving God. And we remember a famous king from long ago named Alexander, the son of Philip.

All of these people are part of God's big family. When we remember them, we ask them to pray for us, and we thank God for giving us so many good friends to follow. We can be God's friends too, by praying, being kind, and loving Him every day.