Hidar 15 — November 24

Saint Minas, the Boy God Gave

Saint Minas had a kind and important father named Eudoxius, who loved God and was gentle to everyone. His name, Minas, means "believing" and "faithful."

For a long time, Minas' mother had no children, and that made her sad. One day she went to church on the feast of our Lady, the holy Virgin Mary. She saw the other children in their pretty clothes, and she prayed and prayed for a child of her own. As she stood before the holy picture of Mary, a voice answered her, saying, "Amen." She ran home and told her husband, and he said gently, "God's will be done."

Soon God gave them a baby boy, just as the voice had promised, and they named him Minas. As he grew, his father taught him the Bible and how to pray. Minas loved God with his whole heart.

When Minas grew up, the king at that time wanted everyone to bow down to statues instead of God. Many brave people stayed faithful to Jesus no matter what. Minas wanted to be brave too. He went out to the quiet desert to pray. One day the sky opened above him and he saw God's faithful friends wearing beautiful crowns, and he heard a voice say that everyone who works hard for Jesus will receive a crown like that. People tried to make him stop loving Jesus and even hurt him, but he held on right to the end and gave his life rather than turn away. He was not afraid, because he knew he was going home to God.

Whoever works hard for the name of our Lord Jesus shall receive this beautiful crown.

The Wonders at Saint Minas' Shrine

After Saint Minas went home to God, kind believers cared for his body and laid it safely to rest. God showed everyone how special Minas was.

Once, some travelers carried Minas' body on a ship across the sea. Big sea creatures came near, but a warm light shone out from the saint and gently sent them away, and everyone on the ship was safe. Later, when the travelers tried to take the body home, the camel they loaded simply would not stand up. They understood that God wanted Minas to stay in that special place, so they built a little shrine over him there.

Near the shrine was a well of water. A shepherd noticed that a sick sheep got well after stepping into that water! He began to mix a little dust from the holy place with the well water, and sick sheep grew healthy again. Soon sick people came too, and God healed them.

Even the emperor's own daughter, who was very ill, came to the well. That night Saint Minas appeared to her in a dream and told her where to dig. In the morning she was completely better, and she found the saint's body! She was filled with joy. Her father the emperor built a beautiful church there, and a whole city grew up around it. People came from every land, and God healed many of them.

When you wake in the morning, dig, and you will find me.— Saint Minas, in the princess's dream

Abba Minas the Second, the Gentle Archbishop

On this day we also remember a holy father named Abba Minas the Second. He became the sixty-first archbishop of the great city of Alexandria, the loving leader who watched over all its churches.

When Abba Minas was young, his parents asked him to be married. He honored his parents, but in his heart he wished to give his whole life to God. He spoke kindly to his wife and asked, "What good is it to win the whole world but lose our own souls? The world passes away, but whoever does what God wants lives forever." She agreed, and together they chose to live for God with pure and prayerful hearts.

Then Abba Minas went to a quiet place called Scete and became a monk in the monastery of Abba Macarius, giving his days to peaceful prayer. He stayed there many years. Later the people chose him to be their archbishop. He cared for God's people fairly and kindly for eighteen years, and then he died in peace.

The world passes away, but whoever does what God wants lives forever.— Abba Minas the Second

The Start of the Christmas Fast

On this day something joyful begins! It is the start of a special time called Soma Gena, the fasting and getting-ready time before Christmas, the birthday of our Lord Jesus.

During this time, people slow down, pray more, and prepare their hearts to welcome the baby Jesus. It is a little like cleaning and decorating a house before a very happy birthday party. We also remember the House of Pachomus, a holy place of prayer that was blessed by the holy father Timothy.

The Holy Maccabaeus of Kasbar

We also remember a brave friend of God named Maccabaeus of Kasbar. He stayed faithful to Jesus all the way to the end of his life, never giving up his love for God.

Like the other saints of this day, Maccabaeus teaches us to be brave and to keep trusting God, knowing that God always welcomes His faithful friends home to heaven.