Meskerem 9 — September 19

Abba Bishora, the Brave Bishop

Today we remember a holy man named Abba Bishora. (You can say his name BISH-oo-rah.) He was a bishop, a leader who watched over many churches, in an Egyptian town called Masil that God loved very much.

Long ago a king named Diocletian did not want people to follow Jesus, and he was unkind to Christians. But Bishora loved God so much that he was ready to stay faithful no matter what. First he gathered all his people together. He gave them the Holy Offering, and he taught them good and right ways to live.

Then Bishora told them he had to go and be brave for Jesus. Everyone, big and small, cried. They said, "Why would you leave us? We are your pupils. We do not want you to go!" They loved their kind teacher very much. But Bishora hugged them all, gave them to Jesus' care, and gently went on his way.

Three other bishops, named Baskos, Fenabikos, and Theodore, went with him. They were good friends who also loved God. Together they stood up bravely and told the ruler that they belonged to Jesus. Jesus made their hearts strong, and they stayed faithful to the very end, even when it cost them their lives. We call people like that martyrs. They were not scared, because they knew they were going home to live with God forever.

Why would you leave us? We are your pupils. We do not want you to go!— Bishora's people

Fasiledes and His Faithful Friends

On this day we also remember a man named Fasiledes (say it fah-sih-LEH-dehs) and a very large crowd of people who loved God together with him.

There were so many of them, thousands of men and women, and they all stayed faithful to Jesus right to the end. They became martyrs, just like Abba Bishora. They kept loving God no matter what, and trusted that He would hold them safe in His arms.

The best part is that they were never alone. They had each other, and most of all they had God with them. When we love God together with our family and friends, we can be brave too. So today we thank Him for Fasiledes and all his faithful friends, who are happy forever in heaven now.

The Miracle of Saint Michael and the River

Listen to this one. In a city called Frumya, in the land of Rome, there was a beautiful church built for the great angel Michael, who leads all the angels in heaven. God did many signs and wonders in that church, and people came from far away to pray there.

Some people did not like this, and they made a wicked plan. They wanted to turn a river so the water would flood the church and wash it away. They also wanted to harm the kind man named Nartinos, the sacristan who looked after the church and kept it ready for prayer.

But God was watching, and God is always stronger! Right away, the angel Michael came to Nartinos and said gently, "Be strong, and do not be afraid." Then Michael took the staff in his hand and tapped a big rock. The rock opened up like a little window, and all the river water flowed safely through the rock instead of into the church!

The people who saw it could hardly believe their eyes. They praised God and honored the angel Michael. And do you know what? People say that to this very day, you can still see that water flowing right through the rock, never touching Michael's church at all. God kept it safe.

Be strong, and do not be afraid.— the angel Michael

King Yasay, Who Loved God

Last of all today, we remember a king named Yasay. He lived a long time ago. Even though he was a king with a crown, what mattered most was that he loved God and tried to please Him.

Yasay finished his life faithful to God, and the Synaxarium says he pleased Him very much. That is the best thing anyone can ever do, even a king. So today we thank God for King Yasay, and we ask Him to help us please Him too, in everything we do.