Nehase 3 — August 09

Abba Simon, Who Prayed on a Tall Pillar

Abba Simon came from a faraway island. When he was only three years old, his father gave him a happy little job: taking care of the sheep. While the sheep ate grass, Simon went to church as often as he could to hear stories from the Bible. He loved God so much that, when he grew up, he went to live in a monastery, a quiet home where people pray together. There he became a monk and spent many years praying.

Simon wanted to show God how much he loved Him, so he prayed a lot and ate very little. But he was hard on himself in ways that hurt his body, and the kind leader of the monastery, called the abbot, helped him get well again. Simon was sorry he had made the other monks worried.

After that, Simon did something most people never try. He climbed onto a tall stone pillar and stood up there to pray, close to the sky. He stayed on the pillar for many years. People came from all around to visit him, and God healed sick people through Simon's prayers. He taught everyone who came to him about Jesus.

One day an evil spirit tried to hurt Simon's foot, but Simon kept right on praying, because God is always stronger than anything bad. Even a leader of robbers came, listened to Simon, and decided to follow God. Simon prayed, and a fresh spring of water bubbled up at the bottom of the pillar so thirsty visitors could drink. When Simon finally went home to God in peace, a bishop carried his body to the city of Alexandria with songs and joyful praise.

Seek him, and bring him back, for it shall be better for him.— a voice that spoke to the abbot in a dream

Saint Sophia and Her Three Daughters

Saint Sophia was a kind and important lady from Italy. She loved God so much that she sailed across the sea with her three daughters to be baptized, washed with water as a sign that they now belonged fully to Jesus.

When a powerful ruler asked Sophia who she was, she gave a brave answer. The very first name she wanted to be called was "Christian," which means a follower of Jesus. Her own name, Sophia, came after that.

Sophia gently encouraged her daughters to be brave and to keep loving God no matter what. Her three daughters stayed faithful to God to the very end, and they went home to heaven. Sophia wrapped them lovingly and laid them to rest. Then she came to pray beside them, and there, peacefully, she too went to be with God. Now the whole family is together with Jesus forever, wearing crowns of glory.

O my perfect daughters who are crowned with crowns that never fade, may I too receive a crown with you!— Saint Sophia

Carrying Saint Mercurius to His New Resting Place

This is also a special day for a brave saint named Mercurius. His body was moved to a new resting place so people could visit and pray near him. To everyone's surprise, three strong oxen carried him there. It was a happy day of honor for a saint who loved God.