Tahsas 24 — January 02

Queen Esther, the Brave Helper

Today we remember a good and brave woman named Esther. When Esther was little, her father died, so her kind cousin Mordecai took her into his home and raised her like his own child.

Esther was both beautiful and wise. The king of that land chose her to be his queen, and he loved her very much. But Esther kept a secret. She was one of God's people, the Jews.

One day a proud man named Haman made a wicked plan to harm all the Jews. When Esther heard, she was frightened, but she trusted God. She asked all her people to pray and to fast, which means going without food for a little while so you can pray harder. She fasted too.

After three days of prayer, Esther put on her finest dress and walked bravely to the king. "Please save my people," she said. "Someone wants to hurt us." The king asked, "Who would dare do such a thing?" Esther answered, "It is Haman." Because Esther was brave, God used her to keep all her people safe. The wicked plan was stopped, and everyone was glad again.

Go and gather together the Jews, and tell them to pray and to fast, and I and my maidens will fast too.— Queen Esther

A Greeting to Many Faithful Friends

The Church also sends a loving greeting to several other friends of God on this day. We say hello to Aboli, to Felhasius the quiet helper, to Basil, and to Arius, who all loved God with all their hearts.

We greet, too, the good fathers of a city called Kadih Aswan. They were so kind that they shared what they had and made poor people rich.

And we celebrate the birthday of a famous Ethiopian saint named Takla Haymanot. For a long time his mother had no children, and she was very sad. Then God gave her this special baby boy. When Takla Haymanot grew up, he loved God so much that people all over the world still tell his story today.

Abba Pawli and the Stronger God

Abba Pawli (we say his name PAW-lee) was a holy teacher who came to a city where the people had forgotten how to be good. Gently, he taught them the right way to live, the way God wants.

One night Abba Pawli prayed and prayed for the people to learn their lesson. Then something dark and frightening came near him, an evil spirit. But Abba Pawli was not afraid, because he knew God is always stronger than anything evil.

He asked the evil spirit, "How do you trick people into doing wrong?" The spirit had to tell the truth. It could not bother anyone who walked in God's path and prayed in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. When an angel of God appeared, the dark spirit had no power at all, and it ran away.

After this, Abba Pawli taught the people about Jesus, and many of them were baptized and began a brand-new life. Then this good old man went home to God in peace.

We have no power over anyone who walks in the path of God, or who prays in the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.— the evil spirit, forced to tell the truth

Saint Ignatius of Antioch

Saint Ignatius was a student of John the Evangelist, one of Jesus' closest friends. Ignatius learned so well that he grew up to lead the churches of a big city called Antioch, as its archbishop.

Ignatius told everyone about God's love, and many, many people came to believe in Jesus. But the ruler at that time did not believe, and it made him angry that so many people now followed Christ. He told Ignatius to stop. Ignatius would not stop loving God, no matter what.

He stayed faithful right to the very end, giving up his life rather than turn away from God. That is what we call a martyr. Ignatius was not afraid at all, because he knew he was going home to be with Jesus, whom he loved most of all. Even the watching crowd was amazed at how calm and brave he was.

Nothing can separate me from the love of Christ, the Living King.— Saint Ignatius

Abba Fulgosius, the Gentle Father

Last of all, we remember Abba Fulgosius, another archbishop of the city of Antioch. When he was younger he had a family, but after his wife died, he gave his whole life to God and became a monk, living quietly in prayer.

Because he was so good and gentle and kind, God chose him to lead the churches. He cared for God's people the way a loving shepherd cares for his sheep. He lived very simply. He owned almost nothing, not even a spare set of clothes, because his treasure was God.

Abba Fulgosius pleased God and died peacefully. A famous teacher named Saint John Chrysostom even wrote about how good and faithful he was. What a kind father he must have been.