Hidar 21 — November 30

Our Lady Mary, Mount Zion (Debre Tsion)

Today is a very special day in Ethiopia! It is a big feast of Our Lady Mary, the mother of Jesus. We call this feast Debre Tsion, which means "Mount Zion."

Long ago there was a holy place on a mountain called Zion, where God's people prayed and kept the things they loved most. People named this feast after that mountain because Mary is so dear and holy to God. Just as Mount Zion was a special home for God's people, Mary became the special home for God's Son. She carried baby Jesus and loved Him with all her heart.

On this happy day, families go to church, sing together, and thank God for choosing Mary to be the mother of Jesus. Children love this feast because it is full of music, candles, and joy. We ask Mary, who is so kind and gentle, to pray for us the way a loving mother prays for her children.

Mary teaches us to say "yes" to God with a glad heart, just as she did when the angel Gabriel came to tell her she would be the mother of Jesus.

All generations shall call me blessed.— Luke 1:48

Saint Gregory, the Wonder-Worker

Saint Gregory came from the land of Rome. From the time he was a little boy, he loved God and learned all about the true faith. He grew up to be wise and kind.

Gregory did not want people to praise him, so he went away to live quietly in the desert, that wide, empty land of sand where few people go, and there he prayed to God. When the people of his city needed a new bishop to care for their churches, they wanted Gregory. But he was hiding far away, and they could not find him.

God Himself wanted Gregory to be their bishop. An angel came to Gregory and said, "Get up and go, for God has chosen you to lead these people." So Gregory came down from the mountain, and the people met him with great joy.

God did so many marvelous things through Gregory that everyone called him "the Wonder-Worker." Here is one story they loved to tell. Two brothers shared a little lake where they caught fish. But they began to argue, each one saying, "The lake is mine alone!" Gregory kindly told them to split the lake in two and share it. When they still would not stop quarreling, Gregory prayed, and the lake quietly dried up into bare ground. It taught everyone that sharing is better than fighting. After a long life of helping people, Gregory died in peace and went home to God.

Rise up and go, for God has chosen you; do not refuse, for this is from God.— the angel to Gregory

Abba Cosmas, the Loving Archbishop

Abba Cosmas was a holy father and the archbishop of the great city of Alexandria, the leader who watched over all its churches. In his days, life was hard for the Christians, and Cosmas worked to keep them strong and full of hope.

Something wondrous happened in his time. In a church far out in the quiet desert of Scete, there was a picture of Our Lady Mary, and it seemed to grow sad alongside God's people who were suffering. People felt that Mary was close to them, sharing their tears and caring for them like a gentle mother.

Abba Cosmas kept teaching the people to trust God and never give up. And after the hard days, God sent good and happy days again, just as He had promised. Abba Cosmas led the church for seven years, and then he rested in peace with God.

The Bright Stars of Eshmunen

Today we also remember a group of brave friends who loved God: Alphaeus, Zacchaeus, Romanus, John, Thomas, Victor, and Isaac. They came from a city called Eshmunen.

These good people stayed faithful to God no matter what, even when it cost them their lives. That is why we call them martyrs: they kept loving God all the way to the end, and then went home to be with Him forever.

The Synaxarium calls them "bright stars," because their love for God shines like little stars in the sky, helping us find our way to Him. We thank God for their courage, and we ask them to pray for us.

Hail to you, O bright stars of Eshmunen.

Abba John of Asyut, the Friend of God

Abba John was born to parents who made things out of glass. They raised him kindly and taught him to love God. When John grew up, he gave his life to quiet prayer as a monk, and he prayed so faithfully that people heard about him in faraway places.

God gave John a special gift: he could know things before they happened. Once, two old holy men came to visit, and John joyfully called out their names from far off, even though he had never met them. They were astonished.

Abba John helped many people. When soldiers worried about a coming battle, John told their leader, "Do not be afraid. You will be safe." And it happened just as he said. Once a governor's son was very sick, troubled by an evil spirit. John prayed over some oil and water, and the boy got well at once, because God is always stronger than anything evil.

The most amazing story is this. A whole city was in danger, and the people ran up the mountain to Abba John, weeping. He told them gently, "Do not be sad, for God will save you." Then God sent a bright, shining cloud that lifted Abba John up and carried him all the way to the emperor. John brought a letter begging the emperor to spare the city. The emperor saw the shining cloud, read the letter, and agreed. The whole city was saved, and everyone praised God. Abba John lived to be very old, and then he gently gave his soul to God.

Do not be sad, for God will save you.— Abba John to his people

Saint Deborah of Dalbat

Today we also remember Saint Deborah, who was also called Tchebare, from the city of Dalbat. On this day her holy body was carried to a special resting place, with great honor and love.

Saint Deborah loved God deeply, and the story of her brave life is kept in a book of her own. We thank God for her, and we ask her to pray for us.