Sene 14 — June 21

Four Brave Friends Who Loved Jesus

Today we remember four good friends who loved God very much. Their names were Abba Akra, John, Abtelma, and Philip. (Abba means "father," a kind name for a holy man.)

Abba Akra came from a town called Damanhur in Egypt. He had a brother named Philip, and Philip was very, very rich. The two brothers had two friends who were priests, named John and Abtelma. A priest is a church leader who helps people pray and learn about God.

The four friends decided to do something brave together. They went to a city called Kartes, and there they told the ruler that they believed in our Lord Jesus Christ. They were not afraid to say it out loud, even though the ruler did not want them to.

The ruler tried hard to make them stop. But God took care of His friends. When the soldiers shot arrows at them, the arrows could not reach them at all. When they were put near a hot fire, God sent His angel, and the fire did not hurt them. God showed everyone that He was watching over the four friends the whole time.

In the end, the four friends gave their whole lives for God, and they became martyrs. A martyr is someone who keeps trusting God even when it costs them everything. They were not afraid, because they knew they were going home to be with God forever.

After this, the people loved the four saints so much that they built beautiful churches for them. They laid the saints to rest inside, and many good things happened there. People who were sad or sick came to pray, and God helped them. It was as if the four friends were still caring for people, even from heaven.

We say a happy hello to these brave friends of God: to Abtelma, and Philip, and John, and Akra. They teach us to be brave and to keep loving God, no matter what.

When the soldiers shot arrows at them, the arrows could not reach them, and when they were put near the fire, God sent His angel and kept them safe.

They were not afraid, because they knew they were going home to be with God forever.