Sene 6 — June 13

Saint Theodore, the Brave Monk

Today we remember Saint Theodore (say it: thee-oh-DOR). He was a good and pure man who loved God very much. He lived in a monastery in the big city of Alexandria, a quiet home where people pray together all day. Theodore was a monk, so he gave his whole life to praying and serving God.

In those days there was some trouble in the church. A holy leader named Abba Athanasius (say it: ah-thah-NAY-see-us) was pushed away from his place, and someone who did not believe the true faith was put there instead. This new leader did not teach what was right.

Theodore was very wise. He talked with people who were teaching wrong things about God, and he showed them, kindly and clearly, what the true faith really is. Because Theodore was so brave to stand up for Jesus, the bad leader was angry and had him taken away.

Wicked men hurt Theodore because he would not stop teaching the truth about Jesus, and he died as a martyr, faithful to God even though it cost him his life. Theodore was not afraid, because he knew he was going home to God.

Later, the believers gently gathered Saint Theodore and laid him to rest with great love and honor. They had a feast for him, and they wrote a beautiful song of praise to thank God for him. People say Theodore received three crowns from God: one for believing in Jesus, one for his quiet life of prayer, and one for being brave to the very end.

Theodore loved the truth about Jesus so much that nothing could make him stop sharing it.

More Faithful Friends of God

On this same day we also remember more brave friends of God. There were four faithful people from a place called Mareotis (say it: mar-ee-OH-tis), and forty other faithful people too. We also remember a holy monk named Gebre Christos (say it: GEB-reh KRIS-tos), whose name means "servant of Christ."

We do not know every story about them, but we know the most important thing: they all loved Jesus with their whole hearts, and they stayed faithful to Him. Today we thank God for them and ask them to pray for us.

The Four Good Leaders of Ensena

In the city of Ensena (say it: en-SEH-nah) there lived four important men named Eusaphius, Taman, Harwag, and Bacchus. They were leaders and helpers in their city. Most of all, they were very kind: they gave food, money, and help to people who were poor and hungry.

One day a ruler came to their city who did not want people to follow Jesus. But these four good men were not afraid. They stood up bravely and said out loud that they loved Jesus and believed in Him. They wanted everyone to know whose side they were on.

The ruler was unhappy with them, and these four faithful men gave their lives for Jesus, just like Saint Theodore did. They became martyrs together. The Synaxarium says they fed themselves with hunger and watered themselves with thirst. That is a poetic way of saying they cared so much about loving God that they gladly shared their own food and gave to others. They were brave, generous, and full of faith.

We say it boldly: we are Christians, and we believe in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Word of God.— the four leaders of Ensena

Abba Eumenius, the Kind Church Father

Today we also remember Abba Eumenius (say it: yoo-MEN-ee-us). He was the seventh archbishop of the great city of Alexandria. (An archbishop is a leader who takes care of many churches.)

Abba Eumenius watched over God's people with great love and care. He looked after his flock, all the people in his churches, the way a good shepherd looks after his sheep. He pleased God by doing what is right. He led the church for thirteen years, and then he died in peace.

In his days there lived a holy woman named Sophia and her three daughters, who also stayed faithful to God. We thank God for all of them, and we ask these gentle saints to pray for us.