Miyazya 25 — May 03

Saint Sara and Her Two Sons

Long ago, in a city called Antioch, there lived a kind woman named Sara who loved Jesus with all her heart. Sara had two little boys. More than anything, she wanted them to be baptized, to be washed with holy water and welcomed into God's family.

It was a hard time to be a Christian, so Sara took her two boys on a ship and sailed toward a faraway city called Alexandria, where a good church father named Abba Peter could baptize them. On the way, the wind grew strong and the waves grew big, and Sara was afraid. So she prayed a long prayer and gently made the sign of the Cross on her boys, and she dipped them in the sea three times, saying, "In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit." Right away the sea became calm and peaceful again.

When Sara reached Alexandria, she brought her boys to Abba Peter. But something surprising happened. Every time he tried to baptize them, the water turned to ice and slipped right off! Three times this happened. Then Abba Peter understood. He smiled and told Sara not to be afraid.

Sara loved God so much, and she was very brave for her children. In the end, she and her two boys went home to be with God forever, wearing crowns of joy in heaven.

Do not be afraid, for it was our Lord Jesus Christ Himself Who baptized your sons, with His own hand, when you dipped them in the sea.— Abba Peter to Saint Sara

Dara and Abba John the Archbishop

We also remember Dara, and a good church leader named Abba John. Abba John was an archbishop, which means he lovingly watched over many churches and many people.

Like all the saints, they loved God and spent their lives serving Him. We thank God for kind shepherds who help people learn to pray and to follow Jesus, and we ask these holy friends to pray for us.

Abba Babnuda, Saint Theodore, and the Brave Hundred

We remember Saint Abba Babnuda as well. He was an anchorite, someone who goes off to a quiet place all alone to pray and grow close to God. Abba Babnuda loved the stillness, because there it was easy to listen to God.

We honor Saint Theodore too. People call him "the fighter," but not because he fought with swords. He was a fighter for God, which means he stayed strong and faithful and never gave up loving Jesus, even when it was very hard.

And we remember one hundred friends of God in a faraway land. They loved Jesus so much that they stayed faithful right to the very end, and they went home to God together, wearing crowns of joy in heaven. What a happy welcome that must have been! We thank God for giving His people such brave and loving hearts, and we ask all these saints to pray for us.