Tikimt 5 — October 15

Abba Paul, the Faithful Church Father

Long ago there lived a good man named Abba Paul. He was an archbishop, the leader who takes care of many churches, in a great city called Constantinople (say it: kon-stan-tih-NO-pul).

In those days some people were teaching a wrong idea about Jesus. They said Jesus was not truly God, but that was not true. Abba Paul loved the truth, so he kindly but firmly asked these teachers to stop spreading the wrong idea in his city.

The emperor, who was the king of the land, liked the wrong teaching, and he told Abba Paul to leave the teachers alone. But Abba Paul would not change his mind, because telling the truth about Jesus mattered more to him than pleasing the king.

The emperor was upset and sent Abba Paul far away from his home, again and again. But Abba Paul had good friends. Abba Athanasius and Abba Julius, two other church fathers, welcomed him warmly and wrote letters to help him. Even a kind ruler named Constans wrote to help bring Abba Paul home.

In the end, wicked people who did not love God hurt Abba Paul, and he died and went home to heaven in peace. He had served God faithfully for forty years. He was never afraid, because he knew he belonged to God.

Telling the truth about Jesus mattered more to him than pleasing the king.

Saint Cyriacus and His Mother Hannah

On this day we also remember a brave bishop named Cyriacus (say it: SEER-ee-ah-kus) and his loving mother, Hannah. A bishop is a church leader who helps God's people.

A ruler who did not love God wanted Cyriacus to stop teaching people to worship the one true God. But Cyriacus would not stop. He stood up tall and said he belonged to Jesus, no matter what.

Wicked people hurt Cyriacus and his mother Hannah because they loved God so much. Both of them stayed faithful and prayed to God the whole time. They were not afraid, because they trusted that God was with them and was bringing them home to heaven.

Then God did something wonderful. Cyriacus was thrown into a deep pit full of snakes, but God protected him, and not one snake hurt him at all. God took such good care of His friend.

Saint Cyriacus is also remembered for a wonderful reason: he once helped the Empress Helena find the place where Jesus' holy Cross had been kept long ago. His own father had told him the secret. Cyriacus, his mother Hannah, and their faithful friend Admonius all loved God right to the end.

He stood up tall and said he belonged to Jesus, no matter what.

James the Apostle and His Brave Friends

Today we also celebrate James, the son of Alphaeus. James was an apostle, one of the close helpers Jesus chose, and he traveled to tell people the good news that God loves them.

We remember some other brave friends of God with him too: Adrawos, Awaras, Aldrakwos, and Endronos. Like James, they all loved God with their whole hearts and stayed faithful to Him.

These faithful friends remind us that loving God is something we can do together, with our families, our friends, and our whole church. We ask all these holy saints to pray for us today.