Nehase 14 — August 20

Simon and John, the Two Best Friends

Long ago there were two best friends named Simon and John. Their families were rich, but the friends loved God most of all. They traveled to Jerusalem to celebrate a happy feast of the Cross.

On their way home, riding their horses, they passed a monastery, a quiet home where people live together and pray to God. John whispered, "In there live people who serve God like the angels." The two friends looked at each other, and they wanted that life too.

So they prayed and asked God to show them the way. They came to a monastery, and the kind leader there welcomed them warmly. That very night God had told him in a dream that two new "sheep" were coming. He gave them the monk's robe, and their faces shone with joy.

Later the friends went to live in a quiet cave in the desert to pray. An evil spirit tried to scare them and stop them, but they kept praying, and God made them strong. God is always stronger than anything bad. Their wise teacher, Saint Nikon, even came to them in dreams and taught them songs of praise. They lived there for many years, happy and close to God.

When they were very old, God gently called both friends home to heaven on the same day. They had loved God together their whole lives, and now they were together with Him forever.

These are the homes where people serve God like the angels.— John, to his friend Simon

A Wonderful Miracle in Alexandria

In the big city of Alexandria, God showed His power while a holy church leader named Abba Theophilus was archbishop. An archbishop is the leader who cares for many churches.

There was a cross made of wood, and through it God did something no one expected. From that cross flowed water and blood, a sign that Jesus is truly the living Lord.

When people saw it, they could hardly believe their eyes. The leader gently touched the blood to the eyes of a girl who was blind, and right away she could see! Everyone gave thanks to God.

Many people who had not believed in Jesus before now believed with all their hearts. A rich man named Falaksinos and his whole household came to love Jesus too. The archbishop carried the holy cross to the church while everyone sang glad hymns, and he welcomed the new believers with great joy. They went home praising and thanking God.

It was a day full of happiness, because so many people found out that Jesus loves them and is the true God.

One is the Lord God of the Christians, and we believe on Him!

Damiates the Brave

Today we also remember a faithful man named Damiates. He loved God so much that he stayed true to Him no matter what, even when it was very hard, all the way to the end. That is why we call him a martyr.

Through Damiates, God showed His care. A blind man was able to see again, and a man who had died was raised back to life! Everyone who saw these gifts knew that God was watching over His people. We thank God for brave Damiates.

Saint Basilicus and the Voice of Jesus

Saint Basilicus was a man who loved Jesus with all his heart. One time, when he was having a hard day, Jesus Himself appeared to comfort him and told him to say a loving goodbye to his family. Basilicus spent the night gently saying farewell to his mother and his loved ones.

Some rulers wanted him to stop following God, but Basilicus would not. He stayed brave and kind, and he prayed and thanked God through all of it.

When they tried to make him bow to statues that were not really God, Basilicus prayed instead. God answered with His power, so that everyone could see those statues were nothing. Basilicus only ever worshiped the one true God.

At the end, Basilicus became a martyr and went home to heaven. People saw his happy soul carried up by many shining angels, and Jesus Himself called out to welcome him.

Come, ascend, Basilicus, for I fulfill all that I say.— the words of Jesus