Tahsas 2 — December 11

The Three Brave Children in the Fire

Long ago there lived three young friends named Ananias, Azarias, and Misael. They are also called Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. A powerful king named Nebuchadnezzar (say it: neb-uh-kad-NEZ-er) had taken them far away from their home to a land called Babylon.

One day the king made a giant statue of gold. He told everyone, "You must bow down and worship it!" But the three friends loved the one true God. They would not bow down to a gold statue, not for anyone.

This made the king very angry. He had them thrown inside a huge fiery oven called a furnace. The three friends were not afraid. They stood close together and prayed, lifting up their hands to God.

Then God sent His angel down. The angel turned the blazing fire into a cool, gentle breeze, and the three friends walked right out. The flames had not touched them. Not even one hair on their heads was burned.

When King Nebuchadnezzar saw this, he bowed down and worshipped the true God, and he honored the three brave children. Now everyone could see that God is stronger than any fire.

The angel of the Lord went down and made the fire become like a cool wind, and the fire did not even singe the hair of their heads.

The Faithful People of Antioch

On this day we also remember many faithful people who lived in a city called Antioch (say it: AN-tee-ock). They loved God with all their hearts.

A ruler named Diocletian (say it: dy-oh-KLEE-shun) did not want them to follow Jesus. They kept loving God anyway, even when it cost them their lives. We call such brave people martyrs.

Like the three children in the furnace, they were not afraid, because they knew they were going home to be with God forever. We remember them today and thank God for their courage.

More of God's Faithful Friends

Today the Church also remembers several other holy people who loved and served God during their lives.

There were Abtesfen and Anbas, who came from the lands of the West. There was Nathaniel, a monk who lived a quiet life of prayer and did wonders by God's power. And there was Eutychianus (say it: yoo-tik-ee-AH-nus), who kept his faith strong and trusted God right to the very end of his life.

Each of them lived for God in their own way, and today we thank God for all of them.

Eutychianus finished his course and kept his Faith.

Abba Hor, Whose Prayers Gave Life

Abba Hor was a holy man born in a town called Gawrah, in the land of Upper Egypt. He spent many quiet years in the desert, praying to God.

One day an evil spirit tried to trick him. It whispered, "Out here in the empty desert it is easy to be good, because no one is around. If you are truly strong, go to the busy city of Alexandria." So Abba Hor went to the city, and there he did kind things. He carried water to people in prison and to people who were poor.

While he was there, something terrible happened. Some horses came galloping through the streets, and one of them struck a little child, and the child died. The evil spirit stirred the people into anger, and they wrongly blamed the gentle old monk. "It must have been him!" they said.

But Abba Hor was not angry. He lifted the child gently into his arms. He prayed quietly and made the sign of the Cross over the child. And the child opened his eyes, alive again! Abba Hor placed the happy child back into his mother's arms. Everyone could see that God's love is stronger than sadness.

After this, Abba Hor went back to his beloved desert and lived there many more years, always praying and doing good. When it was nearly time for him to go home to God, he saw many saints calling to him, and his heart filled with joy. He gathered the monks who followed him and told them to stay strong and keep loving God. Then he peacefully fell asleep and went to be with our Lord Jesus.

Abba Hor took the child in his arms, prayed, made the sign of the Cross, and the child rose up alive.