Tahsas 9 — December 18

Saint Abba Ba'Amin, the Faithful Helper

Long ago in the land of Egypt there lived a kind man named Abba Ba'Amin (say it BAH-ah-meen). He worked for a rich man, looking after his house and his money. Everyone loved Ba'Amin because he was honest and fair, and he never told a lie.

But Ba'Amin loved God most of all. His heart was set on heaven, and he wanted to give his whole life to prayer. So he went to live in a monastery, a quiet home where people pray together and love God, and there he became a monk. The rich man and his wife were sad to lose such a good helper, and they begged him to come back. Ba'Amin gently told them he had given himself to God, and a promise to God is kept.

For many years Ba'Amin prayed and fasted and stayed awake at night to talk to God. He was brave, and he stayed faithful even when bad men tried to frighten Christians and hurt him. God was with him and kept him strong and well. Then a kind ruler named Constantine became emperor and told everyone to stop hurting Christians and to set the faithful people free. There was joy everywhere.

God gave Ba'Amin a special gift: when he prayed for sick people, they got well. People came from far-off lands to ask for his prayers, and God healed them. Ba'Amin always gave the thanks to God.

I cannot come back. I have given myself to God.— Abba Ba'Amin

The Empress and the Deacon Who Was Found Alive

Far away there lived an empress, the queen of a great kingdom. She had been sick for a very long time, and no doctor could make her well. A wise man told her, "If you go to the holy men in Egypt, you will get better." So she traveled by ship to visit Abba Ba'Amin.

When the empress met Ba'Amin, she bowed low. He prayed over some oil, gently put it on her, and at last she was healed. She was so happy. Then Ba'Amin told her something wonderful. A good deacon, one of the church's helpers, had once been thrown into a river. But God sent a shining helper to lift him safely out of the water and set him on a little island, where he was still alive and well, reading his holy book.

The empress could hardly believe such happy news. She thanked God with all her heart. She tried to give Ba'Amin lots of money, but he took only enough to buy gifts for the church: a cup and a plate for Communion, and a golden cross. Then she hurried home to tell the emperor.

The emperor sent helpers to the island, and there was the deacon, alive and safe, just as Ba'Amin had said. The emperor was sorry for what he had done, and the deacon forgave him kindly. Later that good deacon became a great church leader in the city of Rome. God had watched over him the whole time.

May God forgive both of us our sins.— the deacon, forgiving the emperor

Abba Ba'Amin Goes Home to God

Abba Ba'Amin kept praying day and night his whole life long. Once some people were teaching things about God that were not true, and a worried bishop came to ask for help. Ba'Amin and his monks prayed hard, and God set everything right again, so the people could hold on to the truth.

When Ba'Amin grew very old, he became sick. He gathered his fellow monks, comforted them, and told them he was going home to God. Then he gently fell asleep, and his soul went to be with the Lord he had loved so much. His friends sang happy songs and prayed, and even after he was gone, God kept blessing the people who came to remember him.

Three More Friends of God

On this same day we also remember three more holy people who loved God and now rest with Him in heaven: Badlamo, Yawaremya, and Zachariah the monk. We thank God for all His faithful friends, and we ask them to pray for us.