Sene 10 — June 17

Sophia and Her Brave Daughters

Today we remember a kind mother named Sophia and her two daughters, Dabamon and Bastamon. They loved God with all their hearts.

A good man named Warsenof was about to become a bishop, a leader who looks after God's churches. One night an angel of God came to him and gently said it was time to be very brave and to tell everyone how much he loved Jesus. Warsenof told Sophia and her daughters about the angel, and together they all decided to be brave for God, no matter what.

A ruler tried to scare them and tried to make them stop loving Jesus. But they would not. When the soldiers were unkind to them, God sent His angel to give them strength and to make them feel better. God was watching over them the whole time.

Dabamon was a beautiful woman who prayed all the time and helped people who were poor. She and her friend Yona made lovely clothes to sell, and they gave the extra money away to people who needed it. That is what it looks like to love God and love your neighbor.

These holy women stayed faithful to Jesus right to the end, and they died as martyrs, keeping their love for God even when it cost them everything. They were not afraid. They knew they were going home to God, who had a crown of joy waiting for them in heaven.

Rise up and tell the world about our Lord Jesus Christ, for a crown of joy is waiting for you.— what the angel said

Three More Friends of God

Today we also remember three more people who loved God and stayed faithful to Him: a brave man named 'Aklemos, a holy father called Abba Na'on, and a faithful man named Yawsek.

We do not know many stories about them, but God knows every single one. They all chose to follow Jesus and to keep loving Him, and now they are happy with God forever. We can ask them to pray for us too.

The Happy Day the Churches Opened

Something joyful happened on this day long ago, and even the angels in heaven were glad. A kind and fair emperor named Constantine, who loved God, sent out a special message to every city in his land. An emperor is a king over many countries, and an order like this, sent to everyone, is called an edict.

For a long time, people had not been allowed to pray to God in their churches. Constantine's happy message changed all of that. It said the churches could open their doors again, and everyone was free to worship God!

When the message arrived in the great city of Alexandria, the news spread to all of Egypt. Christians everywhere were so happy. They opened their churches, and they had a big celebration to thank God. It was a day full of joy, and we still remember it with thankful hearts.

Open the doors of the churches, so the people of God may worship Him with joy.