Nehase 8 — August 14

Lazarus, Salome, and Their Seven Children

Long, long ago, before Jesus was born, there lived a wise old teacher named Lazarus. He taught people the Law of Moses, the good rules God gave His people to help them live well. Lazarus had a kind wife named Salome and seven children. He loved his children, and he taught them all about God.

In those days a powerful king named Antiochus took over their land. He was unkind to God's people. He told them they must stop following God's Law and must eat foods that God's Law said not to eat. Many people were afraid and did what the king said. But Lazarus, Salome, and their seven children would not. They loved God too much to break His Law.

The king was angry and hurt this brave family because they would not give up their faith. One by one, the children stayed faithful to God, and so did their mother and father. They never stopped loving God, even though it cost them their lives, and that is why we call them martyrs. Their mother Salome stood near them the whole time, speaking gently and helping them be brave to the very end.

They were not afraid, because they knew God was waiting to welcome them home. In heaven, God gave each of them a beautiful crown, the way a winner gets a prize. Our church teachers tell us to honor these saints from long ago, because they were so faithful.

They loved God too much to break His Law, so they stayed faithful all the way to the end.

Ammon the Faithful

We also remember a saint named Ammon, another martyr who loved God with all his heart. Even when it was very hard, Ammon would not stop trusting God. He stayed faithful, and God welcomed him home to heaven. We thank God for brave friends like Ammon who show us how to be strong in our faith.

Abba John of Debre Libanos

Abba John was a gentle monk, one of the people who give their whole lives to quiet prayer. He lived at a monastery called Debre Libanos, a peaceful home where many monks pray together. Long before John, a holy man named Abba Takla Haymanot had started that monastery, and John was the sixth leader to sit on his special chair.

Abba John was chosen to be the leader because he worked so hard for God and was so good and kind. The other monks looked up to him.

There is a lovely story told about Abba John. People say that our Lady Mary, the mother of Jesus, would come to visit him in the shape of a soft white dove. She would gently wave her wing over him, the way a loving mother covers her child with a warm blanket. What a happy gift from heaven!

After many years of praying and serving God with all his strength, Abba John grew old. On this day, God called him home, and he went to live in everlasting joy.

Our Lady Mary would come to him in the shape of a soft white dove and gently wave her wing over him.