Miyazya 22 — April 30

Abba Isaac and the Loaves of Bread

Abba Isaac was born in a town in Egypt to a mother and father who loved God. When Isaac was very little, his mother died, and his father took care of him. As soon as Isaac was big enough, he helped by watching over the family's sheep.

One year there was a famine, which means food was very hard to find. Even though Isaac was only five years old, he shared his small piece of bread with the other shepherds and waited until evening to eat. He loved to give to others, even when he had only a little.

His father wanted to make sure Isaac still had something to eat. So Isaac wrapped three little clumps of dried mud in his cloak. When his father opened the cloak, the mud looked just like three loaves of bread! Nobody could believe their eyes, and they thanked God for this small wonder.

When Isaac grew up, he became a monk, giving his life to quiet prayer. He spent his days praying, fasting, and serving God in peace until he went home to heaven. Long after, a bright lamp appeared shining over his grave, and people knew God wanted everyone to remember this gentle, giving saint.

Salutation to Isaac, who made clods of earth to appear to be loaves of bread.

Abba Alexander, a Brave Teacher of the Truth

Abba Alexander was a kind and holy leader of the church in the great city of Alexandria. He grew up serving God from the time he was a boy. People remembered that he never read the Holy Gospel sitting down. He always stood up to read it, because he loved God's word so much.

Alexander also taught people to do everything in a balanced way. He said we should eat a little, rest a little, and work a little, and do every good thing without going too far. That is wise advice even today!

In Alexander's time, a teacher named Arius started telling people something untrue about Jesus. Alexander wanted everyone to know the truth: that Jesus is truly God's Son. So a great meeting of three hundred and eighteen church fathers gathered in a city called Nicea, and Alexander helped lead it. Together they wrote down the true faith, in simple words that Christians still say today.

Alexander shepherded God's people with love and peace for many years, and then he died peacefully. He helped keep the truth about Jesus safe for all of us.

One should eat in moderation, and fast in moderation, and work in moderation, in every good matter.— Abba Alexander

Abba Mark, the Father Who Set People Free

Abba Mark the Second was also a leader of the church in Alexandria. He was gentle and clever, and his voice was so sweet that everyone loved to listen when he taught about the Bible.

Abba Mark cared deeply for people who were hurting. In his time, many Christians had been taken far from home and sold, which made Abba Mark very sad. So he gathered money from churches and from kind people, and he used it to buy back many of these Christians and set them free.

He did even more than that. He told the freed people, "If you want to go back to your own country, I will give you what you need for the journey. And if you want to stay with me, I will take care of you." He kept his promise, helping each one find a safe and happy home.

Abba Mark also fixed up churches that had fallen down, and through his prayers God healed many sick people. When it was time for him to go home to God, he was peaceful and full of joy.

Whosoever among you wisheth to stay with me, I will look after him and protect him.— Abba Mark

Abba Michael, Who Loved Quiet Prayer

Abba Michael was a holy monk who loved nothing more than to be alone with God in prayer. He lived in the quiet desert, praying and serving God with all his heart.

The people loved Abba Michael so much that they asked him to become the leader of the church in Alexandria. He was shy about such a big job and did not feel ready, but he agreed to serve. Even then, he still went back to the quiet desert during the Great Fast to pray, because that is where his heart felt closest to God.

Abba Michael once asked God for a special gift: to be allowed to rest with Him. God heard his prayer and lovingly took him home to heaven. It is a comforting thing to know that God listens when we talk to Him, and that He keeps His children close.