Hidar 8 — November 17

The Feast of the Four Heavenly Creatures

Today we celebrate four creatures who live in heaven, very close to God. They do not have bodies like ours. They are like shining wheels that carry God's throne, the seat where God sits as King of everything.

A long time ago, a friend of Jesus named John saw them in a vision, a holy picture God showed him. He saw a throne brighter than the sun, and around it stood four creatures. One had the face of a lion. One had the face of a strong ox, a big farm animal like a bull. One had the face of a person, and one had the face of an eagle, a great bird. Each one had six wings.

Day and night they never stop singing to God. Isaiah the prophet, the man God chose to tell people His important words, saw them too and heard their song.

These four creatures love us. They pray to God for everyone. The one with the human face prays for all people, the lion prays for the wild animals, the ox prays for the farm animals, and the eagle prays for the birds. Because they pray for us, the teachers of the Church built churches to remember them. Isn't it lovely to know that even in heaven, someone is always praying for you?

Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts. All the heavens and the earth are filled with the holiness of Thy glory.— Isaiah 6:3

Afnin the Archangel

We also remember a great angel named Afnin. He is one of God's archangels, the chief and mightiest of the angels.

Afnin has a special job. Together with two other angels, named Surafel and Kirubel, he watches over God's holy throne. A holy man named Enoch told us about them long ago. He said these angels never sleep. They guard the throne of God's glory all the time, day and night.

We ask these three kind angels to pray for us. How comforting to know that God's angels are always awake and watching, even while we sleep!

John the High Priest and the Cross of Constantine

On this day we also remember John, a high priest. The high priest was the chief leader of God's people, the one who helped them pray and worship.

Today is special for another reason too. Long ago, a king named Constantine saw a shining cross appear in the sky! The cross is the sign of Jesus' great love for us. When Constantine saw it, he learned to trust in God, and it helped him win and do good things. The cross reminds us that Jesus is always with us.

Saint Kefrenya, Who Loved God's Quiet Life

Saint Kefrenya (we say it KEF-ren-ya) grew up in a rich family that did not yet know about Jesus. One day a kind monk named Mercurius came to his city, a man who had given his life to quiet prayer. Mercurius said something surprising: one day Kefrenya would become a Christian and love God.

Soon after, Kefrenya marched with his soldiers toward Egypt, planning to trouble the monasteries, the peaceful homes where the monks prayed together. When he reached the monastery of Abba Pachomius, the leader came out to meet him. Right there, something changed in Kefrenya's heart. Quietly, he asked the leader to dress him as a monk, and the leader gladly did. Kefrenya stayed behind to pray, fast, and live for God.

Kefrenya became a holy man of prayer. One day a fierce wild animal was scaring the monastery and harming their cattle. Kefrenya was not afraid. With God's help, he walked right up to it, took it gently by the ear like a little lamb, and tied it with a rope. The animal calmed down and stayed peacefully for twelve years!

God loved Kefrenya so much that one night an angel carried him all the way to Jerusalem to visit the holy places, and brought him home again. Kefrenya lived a long, happy life of prayer and went to be with God in peace.

Salutation to Kefrenya, who took hold of a wild beast as gently as a sheep.

The Brave Friends of Isidore

We also remember a large group of God's faithful friends who belonged to the company of a man named Isidore. There were hundreds of them.

These brave people loved God so much that they stayed faithful to Him no matter what, even when it was very hard. They gave their lives rather than let go of God, and so we call them martyrs. They were not afraid, because they knew God was waiting to welcome them home to heaven. We thank God for their courage, and we remember them with love today.