Sene 7 — June 14

Abba 'Abaskiron, the Brave Soldier

Long ago there lived a kind and honest soldier named Abba 'Abaskiron (say it: ah-bas-KEER-on). He came from a town called Kalen, and he loved God with his whole heart.

In those days a powerful ruler told everyone to bow down to idols, which are only statues, not God at all. Abba 'Abaskiron would not do it. He stood up in front of all the people and said that only the one true God should be worshipped. Even when the rulers grew angry, he was not afraid.

Five of his soldier friends felt the very same way. Together they promised to stay faithful to Jesus no matter what. They were very brave.

The rulers tried again and again to make him change his mind, and they hurt him many times. Each time, God sent an angel, one of His shining helpers from heaven, to comfort him and heal him. And each time, Abba 'Abaskiron simply said thank you to God.

In the end this faithful soldier died still holding tightly to his love for God. We call him a martyr, because he gave up his very life rather than turn away from God. He was not afraid. He knew he was going home to live with God forever.

Only the one true God should be worshipped — not statues made by people.

The Wonderful Flying Church

Here is one of the happy wonders God did through Abba 'Abaskiron.

In a little village in Egypt there was a church, but the people who lived there had stopped doing what was good. The saint waited a long, long time, hoping they would change their ways and be kind again.

One night the saint rode his horse all the way to a far-off town called Beyahu. The people were sitting outside in the moonlight, talking before bed. He greeted them gently, "Peace be unto you," and they welcomed him warmly. He asked them for a small piece of ground, drew a line on the earth with his spear, and gave them a gift of gold. Then, in a blink, he was gone. The people could hardly believe their eyes.

While everyone slept, God lifted up the whole church and carried it from the first village all the way to Beyahu. When the people woke in the morning, there stood a beautiful church they had never seen before. They were so happy, and they thanked God. From that day on, many good and joyful things happened in that church.

Peace be unto you.— Abba 'Abaskiron

The Many Faithful Friends

On this day we also remember a very large group of people, sixteen hundred of them, who all loved God and stayed faithful to Him. That is a huge crowd, more people than fit in a big school!

Staying true to God was hard for them, but they held on and did not give up. Today we say thank you for all of them, and we ask God to help us be brave the way they were.

A Church Opens Its Doors Again

Today is also a glad day in the big city of Cairo, in Egypt. There was a special church named for our holy Lady, the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus.

For three whole years and six months the doors of that church had been shut, and no one could go inside to pray. Then, at last, the day came when the doors were opened wide again. The people could come back, sing, and worship God together. What a happy day. We thank God, and we ask the Virgin Mary to pray for us.