Meskerem 30 — October 10

Athanasius, the Shepherd the Angels Brought Home

Today we remember a glad day that Jesus made for a brave church father named Athanasius (say it: ah-tha-NAY-shus). He was the archbishop of a big city in Egypt called Alexandria, the leader who watched over all its churches.

Some people back then said wrong things about Jesus. They would not believe that Jesus is truly the Son of God. Athanasius loved the truth, and he was not afraid to say it out loud. Because he kept teaching the truth, he was told to leave his city, so he hid quietly for six years.

After that, Athanasius went to ask the ruler if he could go home to his churches. The ruler put him in a tiny boat all alone, with no food, no water, and no one to steer it. But Athanasius was never really alone! God was with him.

The little boat floated softly and safely across the sea. God's angels lifted it up on their wings, and in just three days it arrived back in Alexandria! When the people heard their good shepherd was home, they ran to meet him with bright lamps, happy songs, and music. They brought him into the church with great joy and thanked God for taking such good care of him.

Although the emperor had not given him bread and water, the saint had with him the Bread of God from heaven, and the Water of Life.

Saint Gregory of Armenia

Today we also remember Saint Gregory, the archbishop of a faraway land called Armenia. He helped many, many people learn to love God. We thank God for kind teachers like Gregory who show others the way to Jesus.

James and John, Called to Follow Jesus

On this day we remember when Jesus called two brothers, James and John, to be His helpers. They were fishermen, and their father was named Zebedee. When Jesus said, "Come, follow Me," they left their boat right away and went with Him. They became two of Jesus' twelve apostles, the friends who stayed closest to Him.

We also remember some faithful friends of God named Pawle, Maryu, Peter, and Asotares. They loved Jesus with all their hearts and stayed true to Him their whole lives. They are now happy forever with God in heaven.

Come, follow Me, and they left their boat at once and went with Jesus.— after Matthew 4:21–22

The Great Teachers Absadi and Aaron

Today we send a loving greeting to two great teachers from a holy place called Debra Maryam, which means "the Mountain of Mary." Their names were Absadi and Aaron of Galilee. They spent their lives teaching people about God and helping them pray. We ask these good teachers to pray for us.

Abba Shalusi and the Wonderful Wall

Abba Shalusi was a holy man who lived with other monks in a desert home of prayer. He had a humble secret: he prayed in private, where no one could see, and he often went without a meal as a way of praying, so that people would not praise him. He only ate a tiny bit of simple food made from desert plants.

The other monks loved him and wondered about his quiet ways. One festival day, the leader asked the monks to make sure Abba Shalusi waited and ate together with everyone. But Abba Shalusi had promised God to eat alone, and he did not want to break his promise.

So Abba Shalusi did a brave and gentle thing. He prayed, "Mary, my Lady, please help me," and he tapped the church wall with his little cap. Wonderfully, the wall opened a doorway just for him, he stepped through, and then the wall closed up again as if nothing had happened! The monks were amazed and praised God again and again.

His little cap was kept in the church with great love, and through it God healed many sick people. Abba Shalusi lived a long, peaceful life of prayer, and then God called him home.

His fasting and his praying were done in secret, where only God could see.