Nehase 9 — August 15

Saint Abba 'Ori, the Kind Priest

Today we remember a gentle saint named Abba 'Ori. He was a priest, which means he led people in prayer and helped them love God. He lived in a town called Satanuf.

Abba 'Ori had a very kind and caring heart. He was always gentle with people, and he kept his thoughts and his actions pure and good. Because he loved God so much, God gave him a special gift. When Abba 'Ori prayed, he sometimes saw holy visions, pictures from God that showed him something true. Our Lord Jesus even appeared to him by the altar and told him secret things.

A powerful leader called a governor heard about Abba 'Ori. The governor wanted everyone to bow down to statues called idols instead of worshipping the one true God. He told Abba 'Ori to do this too. But Abba 'Ori said no. He was not afraid, because he knew God was with him, and he would stay faithful no matter what it cost him.

The governor sent him far away to a big city called Alexandria and put him in prison. Even there, God kept healing sick people through Abba 'Ori's prayers. People came from many towns to be made well, and they all thanked God.

In the end, Abba 'Ori went home to God and received a shining crown in heaven. A kind man named Saint Julius carefully took his body back to Satanuf. Later, people built a beautiful church for him there. To this very day, people who come with faith are still healed. What a happy gift from God. We say: Salutation to 'Ori.

Offer incense to the gods and idols.— the governor's command, which Abba 'Ori bravely refused

Abba 'Ori was not afraid, because he knew that God was always with him.

Pilate the Archbishop

We also remember a church father named Pilate. He was an archbishop, a leader who lovingly watches over many churches at once and helps all the people in them pray and follow God.

He served God's people faithfully and cared for them like a good shepherd cares for the sheep. We thank God for kind leaders like him, and we ask him to pray for us all.