Meskerem 14 — September 24

Meskel — The Finding of the True Cross

Today is a very happy feast called Meskel! The word Meskel means "the Cross." On this day we celebrate the Finding of the True Cross, the very cross on which our Lord Jesus showed how much He loves us.

Long, long after Jesus rose from the dead, the holy cross had been lost. It was buried deep under a hill of dirt, and nobody knew exactly where it lay. A kind and faithful queen named Helena, the emperor's mother, set her heart on finding it. She prayed and prayed and asked God to help her.

Wise people told the queen to light a big fire and add sweet-smelling incense, the special powder that gives off a lovely smoke when it burns. They watched which way the smoke would lean. It bent down and pointed to one spot on the ground, like a finger showing the way! The people dug there, and deep down they found the holy Cross. Everyone was filled with joy and thanked God.

That is why, on Meskel, people gather around a tall bonfire called a Demera, decorated with bright yellow Meskel daisies. They sing and pray and remember how God helped Queen Helena find the Cross. It is a feast of light and gladness for the whole family.

The smoke of the fire bent down and pointed to the spot, and there they found the holy Cross.

Abba Agathon, Who Lived on a Pillar

Today we also remember a holy father named Abba Agathon (say it: AH-gah-thon). He grew up in Egypt with parents who loved God and loved to share food and gifts with people who were poor.

When Agathon was a grown man, he became a priest and loved to be in church. More than anything, he wanted to spend his whole life praying. So he went out to the quiet desert to live simply and pray, the way monks do. A kind angel, who looked just like a friendly monk, walked beside him and showed him the way to a monastery where holy old men taught him.

Abba Agathon read about another holy man, Saint Simon, who prayed standing on top of a tall pillar, like a narrow stone tower reaching up to the sky. Agathon wanted to do the same. So good people built him a pillar, and he stood up on it and prayed there for fifty years, day and night, eating very little.

God gave Agathon a special gift: when he prayed, sick people got well, and people troubled by evil spirits were set free and made happy again. Sometimes tricky spirits even tried to fool him by singing sweet songs. But Agathon made the sign of the holy Cross, and they ran away at once, because God is stronger than anything evil.

Many people loved Abba Agathon and came to learn about God from him. When he was very old, God gently called him home to heaven.

When the tricky spirits sang to fool him, Agathon made the sign of the Cross, and they fled away at once.

Macarius, Bartholomew, Awedra, and Naso

Today we also remember four faithful friends of God: Macarius (say it: muh-CARE-ee-us), Bartholomew, Awedra, and Naso.

These were brave people who stayed faithful to God even when it was very hard, giving their lives rather than turning away from Him. That is why we call them martyrs. They were not afraid, because they knew God was holding them close and that they were going home to live with Him forever.

We thank God for their courage, and we ask them to pray for us, so that we can be brave and faithful too.

Abba Degana the Priest

Last of all, we remember a good priest named Abba Degana (say it: deh-GAH-nah). A priest is a special helper in God's church who prays with people and teaches them about God.

Abba Degana served God faithfully all through his life. When his work on earth was finished, God called him home to rest in peace. We thank God for kind priests who help us learn to pray and to love Jesus.