Hidar 24 — December 03

The Twenty-Four Priests of Heaven

Today is the feast of the Twenty-Four Priests of Heaven. They are special angels who stand very close to God's throne. They do not have bodies the way we do. They are made of spirit, like light and love.

These holy ones love to help us. When we pray, they carry our prayers up to God like sweet-smelling smoke called incense. They hold gold bowls called censers, and inside the censers are all the kind prayers of God's people on earth.

Saint John once saw them in a beautiful dream from God. He saw them sitting on twenty-four thrones, wearing twenty-four crowns. They were so full of love for God that they bowed down low, took off their crowns, and gave them all back to Him, singing thank-you songs forever.

The teachers of the Church tell us to honor this happy feast. Whoever celebrates it will be remembered, they say, and the priests of heaven will ask God to forgive that person's mistakes. Isn't it lovely to know there are friends in heaven praying for us?

Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts; the heavens and the earth are filled full of the holiness of Thy glory.— Revelation 4

Saint Azkir, the Brave Priest

Azkir (say it AZ-keer) was a priest who loved Jesus very much. A king who did not believe in God put Azkir in prison and locked the door tight. But God is bigger than any locked door! When Azkir prayed, the prison door swung open, and fifty people came in to learn about Jesus. Azkir made a little pool of water and baptized them, which means he washed them as a sign that they now belonged to God.

Later, the king sent soldiers to take Azkir far away. On the road, more people asked Azkir to baptize them too. He prayed, and fresh water bubbled up right out of the dry desert sand so he could baptize them. What a surprise!

Then the soldiers and their animals had no water to drink and were very thirsty. They asked Azkir for help. He prayed again, and a rain cloud came and filled the waterholes. Seven hundred people and all their animals drank and were happy!

Azkir always told everyone the truth: God is real, and he loved Jesus with his whole heart. Some unkind people hurt him because he would not stop teaching, and at the end he gave his life rather than give up his faith. That is what it means to be a martyr. He was not afraid, because he knew he was going home to God forever.

Azkir prayed to God, and water sprang up in the desert.

Claudius, Gayyos, Artyo, and Dioscurus

We also remember four faithful friends of God: Claudius, Gayyos, Artyo, and Dioscurus. They loved Jesus so much that they stayed true to Him to the very end, and they gave their lives for Him together.

We do not know many stories about them, but we know the most important thing: they were brave, they were faithful, and they are now happy with God in heaven. We thank God for them and ask them to pray for us.

Abba Yosef of the City of Sana

Abba Yosef (this is the name Joseph) had a mother and father who loved God very much. He was their only son, and they raised him kindly and taught him the holy books of the Church. People said he was as handsome as Joseph in the Bible, the son of Jacob.

When Yosef grew up, he decided to give his whole life to God. He joined a monastery, a quiet home where people pray together, and became a monk. He loved to pray and to fast. He stayed in his little room praying, coming out mostly on Sundays for church.

His mother and father missed him and could not find him anywhere. They asked God to help them, and at last they heard about a holy monk and came to ask him to pray for their lost son. When they arrived, Yosef knew them right away — but they did not know it was him, all grown up! After everyone else left, he gently told them, "It is me, your son." They were so happy. He comforted them and sent them home in peace.

Through prayer, God answered Yosef in surprising ways. Once, an evil spirit tried to make trouble by telling a ruler that Yosef was hiding lots of money. The ruler sent soldiers who locked Yosef up. But the next morning the chains were lying empty on the floor. God had set him free! The ruler bowed to Yosef and sent him home with honor. After a long life of loving God, Abba Yosef died in peace, and God kept blessing people who prayed at his grave.

When they came to him he knew them, but they did not know him.