Tikimt 15 — October 25

Saint Bilamon, Who Loved Jesus With All His Heart

Today we remember a brave and gentle man named Bilamon (say it: bee-LAH-mon). He grew up in a city called Nicomedia, far away and long ago. His mother loved Jesus, and she wanted Bilamon to love Jesus too.

Bilamon was very smart, and he went to school and learned many things. A kind priest named Harmalus became his teacher. Harmalus taught him about our Lord Jesus Christ and baptized him, washing him with holy water so he became part of God's family.

God gave Bilamon a special gift. When Bilamon prayed, people were healed. One day a man who was blind came to him. The man could not see anything at all. Bilamon made the sign of the Cross over the man's eyes and said, 'In the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.' Right away the man could see again. The light came back, just like before, and everyone thanked God.

Bilamon was always brave about loving Jesus. Even when a king was unkind and wanted him to stop, Bilamon never did. He stayed faithful to God all the way to the end of his life, and we call him a martyr, one who keeps loving God no matter what. Bilamon was not afraid, because he knew he was going home to live with God forever.

Bilamon made the sign of the Cross over the man's eyes and said, 'In the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit' — and right away the man could see again!

The Man Who Could See Again

Do you remember the man whose eyes Bilamon healed? After he could see, he was so thankful that he wanted everyone to know about Jesus.

The king asked him, 'Who healed your eyes?' The man was not shy at all. He said, 'Saint Bilamon healed me. He put his hand on my eyes and made the sign of the Cross and said, In the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and right away I saw the light!'

Then the man said boldly, 'I am a Christian!' He was proud to belong to Jesus. He stayed faithful to God to the very end and went to be with Him in heaven. He had begun his life in the dark; he ended it in the bright, happy light of God's love.

I am a Christian!— the man who could see again

Jesus Comes to Comfort Bilamon

When Bilamon was having a very hard time, something beautiful happened. Our Lord Jesus came to be with him, looking just like his old teacher Harmalus, the kind priest. Bilamon heard Jesus' voice, full of joy.

Jesus told Bilamon that a wonderful, never-ending happiness was waiting for him in heaven. Bilamon was never alone, because Jesus was right there with him.

Some of the king's soldiers were standing nearby, and they heard those joyful words too. Their hearts filled with love, and they came and said, 'We believe in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God!' They became God's children that very day, and they too went home to heaven to be with God forever.

O My chosen one Bilamon, I have made ready for you a heavenly joy which lasts for ever.— the words Bilamon heard from Jesus

The Friends of Saint Pantaleon

On this day we also remember a big group of brave people, five hundred and sixty of them! They were the friends and helpers of a saint named Pantaleon (say it: pan-TAL-ee-on).

All of these people loved Jesus very much, and they stayed faithful to God together. Just think how many that is: more than all the children in a big school! They are all happy together now in heaven, and we remember them with thankful hearts.

More Saints We Greet Today

Today we also say a loving hello to many more of God's holy friends. We greet two saints named Askir and Cyriacus. We greet Silas, who helped the great apostle Paul, one of Jesus' closest helpers, who traveled far and wide to teach about Jesus. And we greet the holy Apostles of the Father.

We also remember many faithful saints who finished their lives loving God and went home to heaven. Their names are Salation, Atrakius, Abba Yarpes, Andronicus, Hermolius, Hermes, Harmoktis, the holy women Admania and Samata, Father Isaiah, and Silas the helper of Paul.

That is a lot of names. Each one was a real person who loved God. We are like a big, happy family with all of God's saints, and we ask them to pray for us.