Nehase 11 — August 17

Basilides and His Brave Friends

Today we remember a soldier named Basilides (say it: bah-SIL-i-dees). He was a leader of soldiers in a big city called Antioch. He was strong and important, but the One he loved most was God.

Basilides was not alone. Three hundred friends loved God right beside him! They held on to Jesus together, even when it was very hard, even when staying faithful cost them their lives. People who keep loving God like that, no matter what, are called martyrs.

They did it together, and that is a beautiful thing. When you have good friends who love God too, being brave is easier. So today we thank God for Basilides and his three hundred friends, who are safe and happy with Him now.

It is easier to be brave when good friends stand beside you.

Abba Mysis, the Gentle Bishop

Abba Mysis (say it: MY-sis) was a holy father who lived a long time ago. He loved God from the time he was a little boy. He learned everything the Church teaches, and he became a deacon, which is a helper in church.

Then Abba Mysis went far away to a quiet desert place called Scete, where people pray together. There he became a monk, giving his whole life to prayer. He lived with a wise, good man and helped him for eighteen years, and bit by bit he learned to pray, to share, and to be patient and kind.

Because he was so gentle and so good, God chose him to be a bishop in a city called Awsim. A bishop looks after many churches. Abba Mysis watched over God's people like a shepherd watches over his sheep, keeping them safe and praying for them every day. He never cared about money at all.

God gave Abba Mysis a special gift. When he prayed, sick people got well again. God also let him know things before they happened, and they came true just as he said. Hard times came, and some people were unkind to him, but God stayed close and kept him strong.

When Abba Mysis was very old and tired, he knew it was almost time to go home to God. He called all the people together, blessed them, and gave them one last loving message before he gently closed his eyes.

Take good heed to yourselves and be strong in the True Faith.— Abba Mysis

Saint Ptolemy Who Was Not Afraid

Saint Ptolemy (say it: TOL-e-mee) came from a town called Upper Manuf. He loved Jesus with his whole heart, and he was not afraid to say so.

One day a ruler asked him if he was a Christian. Ptolemy could have hidden the truth to keep himself safe. Instead he stood up tall and said yes, he belonged to our Lord Jesus Christ. He stayed faithful to God all the way to the end, and he became a martyr.

Ptolemy was brave because he knew something happy: he was going home to God, who loved him. God gave him a beautiful crown in heaven, and there he is joyful forever. We can ask Saint Ptolemy to pray for us, so that we can be brave and honest about loving God too.