Sene 5 — June 12

Abba Jacob, Who Told the Truth to a King

Abba Jacob lived far away in the East. He was a holy man who chose to live a quiet life of prayer in a monastery, a peaceful home where people pray to God together. Telling the truth and loving God were the most important things to him.

In those days a king named Valens did something very unkind. He locked the doors of many churches so people could not go inside to pray. This made God's people sad. So Abba Jacob was brave. He walked all the way to the big city to talk to the king, even though that was a scary thing to do.

Abba Jacob looked at the king and said: please open the churches again, so the people can pray. He told the king that praying to God is the way to be truly safe. The king did not want to listen, and he was not kind to Abba Jacob. But Abba Jacob was not afraid, because he trusted God.

Soon everyone could see that God had been speaking through Abba Jacob the whole time. People were amazed! Many who had been mixed up about God now understood the truth, and they came and thanked Abba Jacob. After this he went back to his quiet life of prayer, and when he was very old he died in peace and went home to God.

Open the churches to the believers, so that they may pray.— Abba Jacob to the king

Abba 'Ebsoy, the Boy God Promised

A long time ago, a kind husband and wife loved God very much, but for many years they had no children. This made them sad. One night a shining angel came to the father and said wonderful news: God had heard their prayers, and they would have a son! The angel even told them his name would be 'Ebsoy (say it: EB-soy), and that he would grow up to love God in a very special way.

Soon the baby was born, just as the angel had promised. His parents raised him to be kind and wise, and to love God with all his heart. When 'Ebsoy was still a young boy, he went to learn from a gentle old teacher named Joseph. There 'Ebsoy and his friend Peter spent their days praying, and God worked through them.

When 'Ebsoy grew up, some unkind people wanted him to stop loving God. But 'Ebsoy would not stop, no matter what. Whenever things were hard, God sent the angel Gabriel to comfort him and make him well again. 'Ebsoy stayed faithful to the very end, a true friend of God who kept loving Him no matter what. That is what we mean when we call someone a martyr.

Afterward, God showed how much He loved 'Ebsoy, and his people carried him home and laid him to rest beside his good friend Peter. 'Ebsoy was never afraid, because he knew God was always with him.

Be strong, 'Ebsoy, chosen one of God, and do not be afraid, for I will be with you.— the angel Gabriel

Saint Bifamon, the Faithful Helper

Saint Bifamon was a loving helper. He had a cousin named John who loved God very much, and Bifamon took care of John and stayed close to him when times were hard. He was a true friend.

When John went home to God, Bifamon felt very lonely. He missed his cousin so much. But God comforted him and gave him courage. Bifamon decided he would also stand up bravely and tell everyone that he loved Jesus, no matter what.

And so Bifamon did. He was not afraid to say out loud that Jesus is Lord. He stayed faithful to God right to the end and became a martyr, joining his cousin John in heaven. Now the two friends are together with God forever, where no one is ever lonely or sad again.

More Brave Friends of God

On this day we also remember a whole group of God's brave friends: Saint Mercurius, Feg, Eblag, Isaac, and Ablarius. And we remember Saint Mark, too.

Each one of them loved God so much that they stayed faithful to Him all the way to the end of their lives. They were martyrs too.

We may not know a lot of stories about these friends, but God knows every single one of them by name. He remembers them, and we remember them too. We can ask all these kind saints to pray for us, and we can try to be brave and loving, just like they were.