Hamle 30 — August 06

Mercurius and Ephraim, the Two Faithful Brothers

Mercurius (say it: Mer-CURE-ee-us) and Ephraim (say it: EF-ra-im) were brothers who loved each other very much. They came from a city called Akmim. They were brothers in their family, and they were also best friends in their hearts.

When they grew up, the two brothers made a happy promise together. They went to live in the same monastery in Upper Egypt, a quiet home where people pray together. There they prayed, and sang, and helped each other for twenty whole years. They were monks side by side, giving their days to prayer.

In those days some people were teaching wrong things about Jesus. They did not believe that Jesus is truly God. But Mercurius and Ephraim loved the truth, and they bravely reminded everyone that we are baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, the Holy Trinity, one God.

Those wrong-teaching people were angry, and they hurt the two brothers. The brothers stayed faithful to God right to the end, and they died as martyrs, never letting go of God even though it cost them their lives. They were not afraid, because they knew they were going home to God together. Kind people lovingly wrapped them and laid them to rest in a beautiful place.

Salutation to Mercurius and Ephraim, the two brothers who loved God together.

The Body of Abba Timothy Comes Home

Today we also remember a happy journey. Abba Timothy was an archbishop of the great city of Alexandria, a leader who takes care of many churches.

On this day, people carried his holy body all the way from Cairo to a special desert place called Scete, to the monastery of Abba Macarius. There the faithful could pray near him and thank God for his good and gentle life.

Paul the Monk, Who Gave Everything to God

Paul was a man who had everything the world says is wonderful. He was very rich, he had an important job, and he had a loving wife and children who were dear to him. But more than anything, Paul wanted to give his whole life to God.

So Paul shared all his money with people who were poor. He helped his wife join a holy home for women, where she could pray and serve God. He helped his children join holy homes too, where they would be cared for and learn to love God. Then Paul went to a monastery to live as a monk himself.

Paul asked to go into the church all alone. He lifted up his hands and prayed with all his heart, telling God how much he loved Him. And a gentle voice answered him, saying that God had heard him and welcomed him.

After that, Paul did the hardest and humblest jobs in the whole monastery. He never wanted to be important. But because he was so humble, God lifted him up high, and many wonderful miracles happened through his prayers. At last Paul died in peace, resting safely with God.

O my Lord, You know that I have come to You with all my heart.— Paul the Monk

The Church of Suriel the Angel

Today is also a birthday party for a very special church! Long ago, in the city of Constantinople, faithful people built a beautiful church to honor Suriel the angel.

Angels are God's helpers who love us and carry our prayers up to Him. On this day we thank God for that church, and we ask the kind angel Suriel to pray for us all.

Andrew the Apostle and the Great Rescue

Andrew was one of Jesus' twelve apostles, the close friends He chose to help Him. One day Jesus told Andrew that his friend Matthew was locked in a faraway city and needed rescuing. Andrew said, "But that city is so far. How can I get there in time?"

So Jesus gave Andrew a wonderful surprise. The next morning Andrew found a beautiful ship waiting by the sea. He climbed aboard and talked with the kind captain the whole way, never guessing that the captain was really Jesus Himself, helping him along! When Andrew fell asleep, gentle angels carried him safely to the faraway city.

Andrew found the prison, and the moment he touched the door, it swung open all by itself. Inside, his friend Matthew was singing! The two friends hugged. Then they prayed, and God opened the eyes of everyone who was trapped there, and they all walked free.

The people of that city had been doing very mean things. But Andrew and Matthew prayed for a flood of water to come, just enough to make everyone stop and listen. When the frightened people cried out that they wanted to know God, Andrew kindly told the water, "Hold, enough!" and the water gently went away.

Then God did something no one expected: everyone who had been lost was brought back safe and well. Andrew and Matthew baptized all the people in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. They built the city a church, taught them to be kind and good, and healed many sick people. The whole city learned to love God, and Andrew and Matthew went on their happy way.

Fear not! There is nothing too hard for Me to do.— the words of Jesus to Andrew