Meskerem 22 — October 02

Kotolos, 'Aksu, and Their Friend Tatos

Long ago in the land of Persia there lived a prince named Kotolos (say it: KO-to-los). His sister was named 'Aksu, and his best friend was named Tatos. Their father was a king who did not yet know about Jesus. He worshipped fire and the sun instead of the one true God.

Tatos loved Jesus with all his heart. One day a wicked helper of the king tried to scare him with a hot fire. But Tatos made the sign of the Cross, and the fire grew calm and went out, like blowing out a candle! Prince Kotolos saw this and was amazed.

"How did you learn this magic, my brother?" Kotolos asked. Tatos smiled and told him the truth: it was Jesus, not magic at all. Then Kotolos believed in Jesus too, and the fire stayed gentle for him as well.

The king was angry that his children loved Jesus. He hurt brave Tatos, who stayed faithful to the very end and went home to be with God forever. Someone who keeps loving God even when it costs their life like that is called a martyr. Kotolos was put in prison, but he was not sad. He spent the time teaching his sister 'Aksu about Jesus, and she believed too! A kind priest baptized her.

'Aksu told her father the king the most important thing of all: there is only one true God. The king would not listen, and soon 'Aksu and Kotolos also went home to heaven as martyrs. But God did not forget them. He sent priests at night to care for the saints, and their bodies shone bright and white like fresh snow. Later, people built a church for them, and God answered many prayers there.

This is not magic, my brother. It is through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ that wonders like this are done.— Saint Tatos

Saint Julius, the Friend of the Saints

Saint Julius (say it: JOO-lee-us) was a kind man from a town called 'Akfehas. God gave him a very special job. In a time when many brave people loved Jesus, Julius took loving care of them. He wrote down their true stories so no one would forget, and he gently looked after them and bandaged their hurts with his own hands.

God watched over Julius like a shield. The rulers never bothered him and never made him bow to idols, the stone and wooden statues that people wrongly treated like gods. Julius had three hundred helpers who could write, and together they kept all the stories safe.

When a good emperor named Constantine began to rule, God gave Julius a new task: to go and tell the rulers, bravely and clearly, that Jesus is the one true God. Julius went and said so out loud. Some rulers tried to harm him, but God kept lifting him up safe and well, again and again. What a mighty God!

Julius prayed, and God showed everyone that idols cannot save anyone. Once an angel quietly tidied away a whole temple full of idols overnight. When the people came the next morning and saw their idols were powerless, they said something very wise.

Because of Julius, a great many people came to believe in Jesus. At last Julius, his son Theodore, and his brother Ionias finished their work on earth and went home to God. Their friends carried them to the city of Alexandria and laid them to rest, and built a church there where God blessed all who came.

If our idols cannot even save themselves, how could they ever save us?— the people of Athribis

You are as if you had given your own life for the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ.— the saints, to Julius

Remembering Balan

Today the Church also remembers a saint named Balan. We do not know many stories about Balan, but we know this: Balan loved God and is counted among His holy friends. On this day we say thank you to God for Balan, and we ask Balan to pray for us.

Even when we do not know every detail, God knows each of His saints by name. That is a happy thought! God remembers everyone who loves Him, and He keeps them close forever.