Hamle 25 — August 01

The Church of Saint Mercurius

Today we remember a happy day in the big city of Cairo, in the land of Egypt. On this day a beautiful church was opened for Saint Mercurius. Opening a church means blessing it and using it for the first time, like a special birthday for the building.

Saint Mercurius was a martyr, faithful to God even when it was very hard. People who came to pray in his new church saw God's love and care, and they went home full of joy.

We greet the church of Saint Mercurius with gladness, and we thank God for it.

Enoch, Who Walked With God

Long, long ago there lived a good man named Enoch. He was a scribe, someone who wrote things down carefully, and he tried hard every day to do what is right.

Enoch loved God so much that he walked close to Him each day. The Bible tells us this: God took Enoch up to heaven without him ever dying. What a gift for God's faithful friend!

Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.— Genesis 5:24

Abba Ze-Iyesus of Debre Libanos

We also remember Abba Ze-Iyesus, a holy man from a famous place of prayer called Debre Libanos. The word Abba means "father," and we use it for monks and holy men.

Abba Ze-Iyesus loved Jesus with his whole heart and would not stop following Him, no matter what. He stayed faithful right to the end and became a martyr. He was not afraid, because he knew he was going home to God. We greet Ze-Iyesus with love.

Saint Thecla, the Brave Listener

Thecla was a young woman who lived in the days of Saint Paul, a great teacher who traveled far and wide telling people about Jesus. When Paul came to her city and began to teach, Thecla sat by her window and listened for three whole days and nights. She loved his words so much that she forgot to eat or drink. The teaching about Jesus filled up her heart.

Her family did not understand, and they tried to stop her. Some unkind leaders even put Paul in prison, and they were going to hurt Thecla too. But Thecla was brave, because she trusted God.

Then God stepped in. He sent a big rain, and the danger turned soft and cool like the morning dew, and Thecla was kept safe. After that she became a helper like Paul. Once she was put among lions, but the lions only licked her feet, gentle as kittens. God protected her again and again.

Thecla traveled and taught people about Jesus. She even helped her own mother and father come to love Him. When she was old, she went home to God in peace. We thank God for the brave woman Thecla.

The hot fire became cool and gentle, like the morning dew.

Saint Adonin

Adonin (say it: ah-DOH-nin) was a young man from the city of Bana. His parents were kind and gentle people who loved God and helped others.

When Adonin grew up, he stood up bravely and said out loud that he believed in Jesus. Unkind leaders tried to hurt him, but God watched over him and kept lifting him back up, strong and whole.

In prison Adonin met another faithful friend named Saint Minas, and the two of them cheered each other up and prayed together. Even when things were hard, Adonin never stopped loving God, and at last he went home to heaven to be with Him. After he died, God healed many sick people who came to remember him. We greet Adonin the martyr with love.

Saint Isaac the Gardener

Isaac was a gardener from the city of Samama. He was a gentle man who loved God very much. He ate simple food, mostly herbs and plants from the garden, and he did not waste anything.

Best of all, Isaac shared. Whatever money was left from his work, he gave to people who were poor and needy. He visited those who had no one to help them.

One day God appeared to Isaac and asked him to be brave and tell everyone that he believed in God. God showed Isaac the lovely crowns waiting for him in heaven, and Isaac was filled with joy. He gave away everything he had left, prayed, and then stood up bravely for God. He stayed faithful to the very end and went home to heaven.

People later built a beautiful church for Isaac, and there God made many sick people well again. We thank God for Isaac the gardener.

Saint Hilaria and the Fish That Gave the Child Back

Hilaria (say it: hil-AR-ee-ah) was a girl who loved God so much that she prayed all the time, and often went without food so she could spend more time with Him. When she was just eleven years old, a bright light shone, and the Archangel Fanuel came to her. Fanuel is one of God's greatest angels. He told her how brave friends of God receive shining crowns in heaven.

So Hilaria gave all she had to people who were poor and set off to follow God with all her heart. A holy man named Abba Sinoda met her, and he cheered her up and made her heart strong.

Here is the best part. One day Hilaria was traveling on a ship. A big fish jumped up and carried away a little child, and the child's mother had no other children. She cried and cried. Hilaria felt so sorry for her that she knelt down and prayed to God. Then God told the fish to bring the child back, and the fish gave the boy back to his mother, alive and safe, not hurt at all. Everyone was amazed and thanked God.

Hilaria stayed brave and faithful all the way to the end, and she went home to heaven. Many other faithful friends of God are remembered with her today. We greet Hilaria, and all those remembered with her, with love.

Hilaria prayed, and God told the fish to bring the child back — and the boy came home to his mother, safe and well.

Saint Thecla and Saint Mugi

We also remember two friends, Thecla and Mugi, from a town near the great city of Alexandria. They were raised by a kind, God-fearing teacher who taught them to love the Lord.

One day, while they were sailing on the river, an angel of God appeared to them. The angel showed them how beautiful heaven is and made their hearts strong and brave. The angel even sailed along with them on the ship!

Our holy Lady Mary, the mother of Jesus, also came to comfort them, together with Saint Elisabeth. With such loving friends from heaven beside them, Thecla and Mugi were never alone. They stayed faithful to Jesus all the way to the end and went home to be with God. We greet Thecla and Mugi with love.

Abba Karazun, the Robber Who Became a Holy Man

Abba Karazun has one of the most surprising stories of all. He started out as a robber! One night he and two friends crept into the desert home of a quiet monk to take his things. But the monk was awake, standing and praying. They waited and waited, and the monk just kept praying all night long.

When morning came, the monk came out to them. But instead of taking his things, the three robbers fell at his feet, put down their swords, and asked to become monks too! From that day on, Karazun gave his whole life to God and prayed with all his heart.

God filled Karazun with His love. Once, when people were sad and sick, Karazun prayed over some oil, anointed them, and God made them well. Another time he prayed for a young girl who had died, and God brought her back to life. So many people came to love Jesus because of him.

Karazun was very brave for God, even when it was hard, and at last he went home to heaven. People built a beautiful church for him, and there God comforted and healed many who came to pray. We thank God for Abba Karazun and for all the many faithful friends remembered with him.

The robbers put down their swords at the monk's feet and asked to follow God instead.

Many Faithful Friends

We also remember a great, great many faithful friends of God who all loved Jesus and stayed true to Him. There were so many of them that we cannot count them all. They are now safe and happy with God in heaven. We thank God for every one of them.

Saint Ladimadyos and the River

Ladimadyos (say it: lah-dee-MAH-dyos) grew up far away and learned all about the stars. But more than anything, he wanted to know the true God. A kind teacher told him about Jesus, and Ladimadyos was so happy that he was baptized and became a monk.

Ladimadyos loved to pray quietly, all alone with God. God gave him a special gift: when a holy man stood at the altar, Ladimadyos could see a beautiful white dove come down, and the dove was the Holy Spirit of God.

God healed many people through Ladimadyos. He helped a man who could not see with one eye, and the eye was opened. He prayed for a man who could not walk, and the man got better. He prayed for a family who wanted children, and God gave them children to love.

One day some people laughed at Ladimadyos by the river. He felt sad and asked God to dry up the water, and God did. But when the people came and asked him kindly, Ladimadyos forgave them and prayed, and God gave the river back, fresh and flowing again. Ladimadyos stayed humble and close to God his whole life, and then he went home to heaven. We greet Ladimadyos with love.

Atrabius

We send a short, happy greeting to a holy man named Atrabius. He took over the work of a famous saint named Pachomius, who started big homes of prayer where many monks lived together. Atrabius cared for the monks and helped them keep loving and serving God.

The Faithful Friends of Athribis, and Amon and Mary

Last of all today, we remember a very large group of faithful friends from a place called Athribis, along with two friends named Amon and Mary. They all loved Jesus with all their hearts and stayed true to Him.

Now they live forever in heaven with God, full of joy. We thank God for all the faithful friends of Athribis, and for Amon and Mary.