Tahsas 6 — December 15

Saint Anatolius, Who Loved God

Today we remember Saint Anatolius (say it like "An-a-TOH-lee-us"). He was a priest, a special helper in God's church who prays for people and teaches them about Jesus.

Anatolius loved God with his whole heart. He would not stop teaching about Jesus, even when it was very hard, and he stayed faithful right to the end of his life. Because he kept loving God when it cost him everything, we call him a martyr.

We send him a little greeting today, to thank God for his brave and faithful heart.

Abba Abraham, the Merchant Who Became an Archbishop

Long ago there was a kind man named Abba Abraham. He came from a land in the East, and he was a merchant. He bought and sold things, and he had a lot of money. But money was not what Abraham loved best. He loved God best, and he was always sharing with people who were poor.

Everyone could see how good and wise Abraham was. So the church leaders chose him to be the archbishop of a great city called Alexandria, the leader who watches over many churches. And the very first thing Abraham did was give away all his money to people who needed it.

Abraham wanted everything in God's church to be honest and fair. He made a rule that no church leader could ever take money in secret to give someone a job. He wanted people to do what was right because they loved God.

Abraham led God's people kindly for three years and six months. He fought a good fight for God, and then he died in peace. Everyone was sad to say goodbye, but glad that he had gone home to the God he loved so much.

May God lengthen thy days upon earth; for myself I do not want money.— Abba Abraham

The Day the Mountain Moved

While Abba Abraham was archbishop, he had to answer a hard question. A leader had read the words of Jesus in the Bible: if you have faith, even faith as small as a tiny mustard seed, you could tell a mountain to move and it would move. The ruler of the land wanted to see this happen with his own eyes, and he gave Abraham just three days.

Abraham was worried. So he gathered the priests and the people, and they went to the church of Saint Mary. For three days and three nights they prayed and asked God to help them.

On the third night, the holy Lady Mary appeared with a bright and joyful face. She told Abraham not to be afraid. Go and find a kind shoemaker named Simon, she said, the one who carries water on his shoulder. Simon was a quiet, humble man who loved God very much.

So everyone gathered at the mountain: the ruler, his soldiers, the people, Abraham, and Simon hidden among the crowd. Together they cried out forty-one times, "Lord, have mercy on us!" Then they bowed down low. And the mountain lifted high into the air. When they bowed again, it gently came back down. They did this three times.

Everyone stood amazed. The ruler was so glad that he honored Abraham and helped him build many beautiful churches. God had shown that He listens when His people pray together.

If there be in you faith as large as a mustard-seed, and ye say to this mountain, Depart, it shall depart.— Matthew 17:20

Saint 'Arsima and Her Friends

Today we also remember a brave young woman named Saint 'Arsima (say "AR-si-ma"). She loved God so much that she would never stop following Him, no matter what.

A king named Tiridates once asked her, "Don't you want to live a long, happy life here with us?" 'Arsima answered with a brave and beautiful heart. She wanted heaven, she said, which is better than anything on earth.

'Arsima stayed faithful to God to the very end, and so did twenty-six of her friends who loved God too. They are all called martyrs. They are happy forever with God in heaven now, wearing the shining crown He gives to those who love Him.

On this day, the people built a church to honor 'Arsima, and they carefully brought her body and the bodies of her friends to rest there, so everyone could remember how much they loved God.

My desire for heaven, which is better, is greater.— Saint 'Arsima

More Friends of God

Today we remember even more of God's faithful friends. There was Batelsis the priest, and Abraham the carpenter, a good Christian who worked with wood, just as Joseph and Jesus once did. There were also Ta'Amani, Sufit, Meryan, Michael, Yolsawis, and Ptolemy.

We remember a man named Elyab too. He did not know God at first, but God was kind and merciful to him and helped him find the way home. That shows us how big God's love is. He never gives up on anyone.

All these holy friends loved God, and today we thank Him for each one of them.