Hamle 8 — July 15

Abba Besoy, the Star of the Desert

Long ago in Egypt there was a mother with seven sons. One night an angel came to her and said that God wanted one of her boys to serve Him. The angel touched the head of her thin, gentle little boy named Besoy and said, "This is the one God has chosen."

When Besoy grew up, he went to live in the quiet desert and became a monk, giving his days to a simple life of prayer. He prayed day and night, and he loved the words of the Bible more than honey or sugar.

Besoy loved Jesus so much that our Lord came to visit him, just like a dear friend. One day Jesus let Besoy wash His feet, and the water became holy.

Besoy also had a kind, listening heart. Once some people had become confused and forgotten the truth about the Holy Spirit. Besoy traveled a long way to gently teach them again from the Bible, and they happily came back to believing the truth.

Another time, one of Besoy's helpers had said something wrong and felt very sad. Besoy did not scold him. Instead he prayed for him for seven whole days, and God's grace came down like a gentle dove and made everything right again. Besoy lived a long, holy life of fifty-seven years, and people still remember him with great joy.

He loved the word of God very much more than honey and sugar.

Two Brave Brothers, Aberokh and Atom

Aberokh and Atom were brothers who loved each other and loved God. Their mother and father, Mary and John, had taught them to pray and to share with people who were poor.

The brothers stayed true to Jesus even when it was very hard, and they gave their lives for Him as martyrs. But God watched over them. More than once, He sent His angel to rescue them and keep them safe.

God showed His power through their faith. One woman who could not hear or speak was made well, and right away she could hear and talk again! Everyone was so surprised and thanked God.

When it was time to carry the brothers home, the animals pulling the wagon suddenly stopped and would not move. Then everyone heard a gentle voice say that this was the special place God had chosen. So the people built a beautiful church there, and many good and joyful things happened in that holy place.

Abba Belane the Priest

Abba Belane was a kind priest who heard that God's people were having a hard time. He wanted to help, so first he gave away everything he owned to people who were poor and hungry.

Then he bravely told everyone that he loved the Lord Jesus, and he stayed faithful to God all the way to the very end of his life. He is remembered as a brave and gentle saint who trusted God completely.

Abba Misael and the Kind Visitor

There was an old monk named Misael who had lived alone in a faraway place for many, many years. He had once been a prince, dressed in gold and fine clothes, but he left it all behind to live quietly with God.

A holy man named Abba Kiros came to visit him, and he saw something beautiful. Four of God's great angels, Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, and Sadakyal, were standing all around Misael, gently covering him with their wings to keep him safe.

Abba Kiros prayed for his tired friend, and Jesus came with so many shining angels singing songs of praise. When it was time, Misael went peacefully home to God, with no pain at all, and Jesus Himself carried his soul up to heaven.

After that, a spring of clean, fresh water bubbled up from the ground in that place. People who were sick came to drink it, and God made them well. What a happy gift!

He whom He loveth, He chasteneth.— Hebrews 12:6

Saint Esdros and His Friends

Today we also remember a whole group of faithful friends. There was a man named Esdros (we also call him Isidore), and with him were Peter, Peter's wife and son, and many of their helpers.

All of them loved God together and stayed faithful to Him. We thank God for friends and families who help each other believe and stay close to Him.

Abba Bima, Who God Always Rescued

Abba Bima was a rich man who was very, very good and loved to help people who were poor. One night he saw the Lord Jesus shining brighter than the sun, and Jesus gently told him to go and be brave for His name.

So Bima gave away all that he had to people in need, and then he bravely told everyone that he loved Jesus, the Son of the Living God who made heaven and earth.

Bima stayed faithful even when it was hard, and again and again God rescued him and made him whole and well. While he waited in prison, he prayed for a woman who was troubled by an evil spirit, and God made her completely better, because God is always stronger than anything evil.

Many people saw God's power in Bima and came to love Jesus too. After his holy life, Bima went home to God. People built a fine church for him, and to this day those who come to that place and pray with faith are made well.

Abba Kiros, the Hermit of the Western Desert

Abba Kiros lived all alone in the far Western Desert for fifty-six years. For all that time he saw no other people, only the wild animals, but he was never lonely, because Jesus came to visit him every single day to comfort him.

A priest named Abba Bawma heard God's voice telling him to travel and visit Kiros. After many days of walking, he found the old saint, whose beard was white as snow and whose face shone with the grace of God.

When it was time for Kiros to go home to heaven, the Lord Jesus came and sat beside him. King David the prophet came too, with his harp, and played beautiful music. Jesus made a wonderful promise: anyone who shares Kiros's story with love, or who is kind to people who are poor on his day, would be blessed and welcomed into God's joy.

Then Jesus gently took Kiros's soul up to heaven, while the whole mountain filled with shining angels rejoicing. Abba Bawma went home and told everyone the happy story, and people have shared it with comfort ever since.

This is the day which the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad therein.— Psalm 118:24

The Fifteen Faithful Friends of Abba Nob

Today we also remember fifteen brave friends who stayed faithful to God together, alongside a saint named Abba Nob. They held on to their love for God side by side, and God remembered every one of them.

A Greeting for Pawli of Tamwa

Last of all, we send a loving greeting to Saint Pawli, who came from the city of Tamwa. We thank God for all His saints, near and far, who showed us how to love Him with all our hearts.