Nehase 24 — August 30

Abuna Takla Haimanot, Father of the Monks

Today we remember a much-loved saint named Abuna Takla Haimanot (say it: TAK-la Hai-MA-not). He is called the father of all the monks, the holy men who give their whole lives to quiet prayer. He was born in a place called Showa, in Ethiopia.

His mother and father loved God and prayed for a long time for a baby. One day God sent the archangel Michael to keep his mother safe and carry her home on his wings. Then an angel told them they would have a son whose goodness the whole world would hear about. They were filled with joy when their baby was born!

When the little boy was only three days old, he spoke about the Holy Trinity. He grew up loving God, and God gave him special gifts. When the food ran low at home, he would touch a little flour with a smile, and the whole house would be full of food again.

When he was seven, his father taught him the Psalms and the books of the Church. One day, while he was out hunting, Jesus appeared to him and gave him a new name: Takla Haimanot, which means 'plant of faith.' Jesus said he would no longer catch animals but would help many people come to love God.

Takla Haimanot traveled all over the land, teaching people about Jesus and baptizing them. God gave him power to heal sick people and to make sad and evil things go away, because God is always stronger than anything bad. He prayed all his life, even when it was hard, and he helped thousands and thousands of people find God.

What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and destroy his soul?— the words of Takla Haimanot

Saint Thomas, the Brave Bishop

We also remember a holy bishop named Thomas, a leader who watched over many churches. He lived in a city called Mar'as. Thomas loved God so much that he prayed day and night, went without food to be closer to God, and shared what he had with people who were poor and hungry.

In those days, a cruel ruler wanted everyone to stop following Jesus. He told Thomas to give up his love for God. But brave Thomas would not. He said he would worship only Jesus, the Son of the Living God. Wicked men hurt him and locked him away for many years, but Thomas was not afraid, because he knew God was with him.

While Thomas was shut up, a kind woman quietly brought him food through a little window so he would not be hungry. God took care of him through her gentle kindness.

At last a good emperor named Constantine became the ruler. He set free all the people who had been locked up for loving Jesus. The kind woman led the priests to Thomas, and they carried him out, singing happy songs! Everyone came to receive his blessing.

Later, Thomas joined many other church leaders at a big meeting in a city called Nicaea, where they wrote down the true faith for everyone to keep. The emperor bowed low and kissed him to thank him for being so brave. Thomas went home, taught his people the true faith one more time, and then died in peace, happy in God.

I will worship only my Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God.— the words of Saint Thomas

The Many Friends of Saint Thomas

Many other people loved God right alongside Saint Thomas. There were thousands of them! Like brave Thomas, they stayed faithful to God all the way to the end of their lives.

They are called martyrs, because they kept loving God even when it cost them their lives. They were not afraid, because they trusted that God was waiting to welcome them home. Today they live forever with God in heaven, and we thank God for their faith.