Hidar 10 — November 19

Sofia and the Fifty Brave Sisters

Today we remember a kind woman named Sofia and fifty young women who loved God with all their hearts. They came from many different towns, but God's love brought them together like one big family.

These women were nuns, which means they gave their whole lives to praying and serving God. They lived together in a quiet prayer-home called a nunnery, in a city called Edessa. Sofia was their leader. Everyone called her the Abbess, the loving mother who watched over all the sisters.

Sofia was wise and gentle, and she taught the sisters so well that people said they were like angels living on earth. Every day they prayed and read true stories about other people who loved God. Some of the sisters had lived there for seven whole years. Some had only just arrived.

One day a king named Julian, who did not believe in God, sent soldiers to harm the sisters because they followed Jesus. The brave women were not afraid. They held on to God right to the end, and they gave their lives rather than turn away from Him. God welcomed them into heaven, where they live with Him in joy forever and ever.

They became like angels upon earth, and they prayed without ever giving up.

The Wise Council That Found the Day of Easter

On this day many church leaders, called bishops, gathered for a special meeting called a Council, where wise leaders talk and pray together and decide important things. Two good men named Demetrius and Victor helped lead it. Demetrius cared for the churches in a city called Alexandria, and Victor cared for the churches in the city of Rome.

Here is the happy reason they met. Long ago, it was hard for people to know exactly when to celebrate Easter, the most joyful feast of all, when we remember that Jesus rose from the dead. People wanted everyone, everywhere, to celebrate together on the same day.

God helped a humble worker who could not even read or write. With God's gift, the man learned all the rules of the Church by heart and made a clever chart, like a calendar, that showed exactly when Easter and the holy fast would come each year. He sent his chart to Victor in Rome.

Victor was so glad. He gathered fourteen bishops and many wise priests, and they read the chart together. They all agreed it was right. So they copied it many times and sent it out to every land. From that day on, Christians everywhere could celebrate Easter on the same day. Then everyone went home praising God with thankful hearts.

They found it very good, and they rejoiced in it, and sent copies to every land so all could keep Easter together.

Paul and His Three Friends

We also remember a man named Paul and his three good friends. They loved Jesus very much and never stopped following Him, even when it was hard.

They stayed brave and faithful right to the very end, and they gave their lives for God. They were not afraid, because they knew God was holding them close and that they were going home to live with Him in heaven, full of joy.

Gabra Maryam

On this day we also greet a holy friend of God named Gabra Maryam. His name means 'servant of Mary,' and he spent his life serving God with a happy and gentle heart.

We thank God for Gabra Maryam, and we ask him to pray for us, just as we ask all of God's good friends in heaven to pray for us. What a comfort it is to know we have so many loving friends watching over us with God.