Hamle 15 — July 22

Saint Ephraim the Syrian, Who Loved to Write About God

Saint Ephraim grew up in a town called Kawakebet, far away in a land called Syria. When he was little, his family did not yet know about Jesus. But Ephraim went to live with a kind teacher named Abba Jacob, a bishop who watched over many churches. Abba Jacob taught Ephraim about Jesus and baptized him, and Ephraim came to love God with all his heart.

Ephraim prayed every day and loved God more and more. God gave him a special gift: he could explain things about God so clearly and gently that people understood and believed. Once he traveled with his teacher to a big meeting of church leaders in a city called Nicea. There, a man named Arius was teaching things that were not true about Jesus, and Ephraim helped show everyone the truth.

One night Ephraim saw a tall pillar of bright light reaching all the way up to heaven. A voice told him the light meant a holy man named Basil, a bishop in another city. Ephraim wanted to meet him! When he found Basil, the two could not understand each other's languages at first. So they prayed, and right away each one could understand the other perfectly. God helped them become close friends.

Ephraim spent his whole life writing kind and beautiful words about God. People say he wrote more than a thousand poems and lessons to help others love God! When he was very old, he finished his good work and went home to God, whom he loved so much.

O my Lord, take from me the waves of Thy grace.— Saint Ephraim's prayer

The Story of the Sealed Letter

There was a kind lady who had done something wrong and felt very sorry. She was too shy to say it out loud, so she wrote all her mistakes on a piece of paper and brought it to Saint Basil. She asked him to pray that God would forgive her and wipe the paper clean.

Saint Basil prayed, and almost all the writing faded from the paper, as if it had never been there. That is a picture of how God forgives us when we are truly sorry. Basil sent her to Saint Ephraim for help with the last part, and through the prayers of these holy friends, God forgave her completely. The lady was so happy and thankful.

Other Friends of God We Remember Today

Today we honor some other holy people who loved God very much. There was Abba Kharayon, and a faithful man named Fere-Menatos. We remember a group of brave believers, and a good man named Cyriacus, who all stayed close to God no matter what.

One of them, Frumentius, was a monk who spent his life quietly at prayer. He was a pure and gentle man, and God answered his prayers with many healings and wonders. We thank God for all these friends who showed us how to be faithful and kind.

Peter and Paul and the King's Daughter

Peter and Paul were two of Jesus' closest helpers, called apostles. One day God carried them on a cloud all the way into a king's palace! The king was surprised. He said, 'If you can help my daughter, who cannot see out of one eye, then I will believe in your God.'

Peter and Paul lifted up their hands and prayed. Then they gently touched the little girl's eyes, and in the name of Jesus she could see again. Everyone who saw it was filled with joy, and they believed in God. What a happy day that was.

Later, some soldiers were sent to bring Peter and Paul to a king named Pragmos. But when the soldiers came near, God did a marvelous thing: even the horses spoke, telling the soldiers that Peter and Paul were good men who only wanted to help. The soldiers looked up and saw Jesus shining in glory. So instead of taking the apostles, the soldiers chose to follow Jesus too!

Soon the apostles and King Pragmos became friends, and the king believed in God. Peter and Paul baptized many, many people. Then they built a church and taught everyone the true faith, so the people could keep loving God after the apostles went on their way. God turned a scary day into a day full of new friends for heaven.

We are the servants of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, Who is able to deliver those who hear Him.— Peter and Paul to the king