Miyazya 4 — April 12

Victor, Decius, Irene, and Their Brave Friends

Today we remember some very brave friends of God: Victor, Decius, and a girl named Irene, along with many other men, women, and young women. They all loved Jesus with their whole hearts.

They lived a long time ago, when a kind king named Constantine ruled the land. Constantine and his son loved God too. They took down the old places where people used to bow to idols, the statues that people wrongly treated as if they were gods. In those places they built beautiful churches, named for Mary, the mother of Jesus, and for many holy saints. It was a happy and peaceful time.

But after the good king died, a new ruler took his place who did not love God. He told people to bow to idols again. This made it hard to follow Jesus.

Victor, Decius, Irene, and their friends were not afraid. They kept loving God out loud, and they would not bow to the idols. Wicked men hurt them and would not let them go free, but the saints stayed faithful right to the end. They held on to God even when it cost them their lives. That is what makes them martyrs.

We do not feel only sad, though. These saints were not afraid, because they knew that loving Jesus was the best and bravest thing of all. God welcomed them home to heaven and gave them shining crowns, the way a king gives a prize to his bravest helpers. We say a happy hello, called a salutation, to Victor, Decius, and their friend named Ermo.

They would not bow to the idols, because they loved God more than they feared anything.

Salutation to Victor, and Decius, and Ermo.

Isaac, the Gentle Holy Father

Today we also remember a kind and gentle holy father named Isaac. He was an abbot, the loving leader of a monastery, which is a quiet home where people pray together every day.

Isaac watched over the people in his care like a good shepherd watches over his sheep. He prayed, he worked, and he showed everyone how to live close to God. We say a glad salutation to the holy father Isaac, and we ask him to pray for us too.