Tir 26 — February 03

The Forty-Nine Brave Monks of the Desert

Far out in the quiet desert of Egypt, in a place called Scete, many holy monks lived together, spending their days in prayer. People called them the elders, because they were old and very wise, and folks all over the world had heard how much they loved God.

A king named Theodosius wanted a son. He asked the elders to pray for him. A wise old monk named Bisudura told the king something surprising: God knew what was best for him, and he should trust God's plan. The king listened, said thank you, and trusted God.

One day, rough strangers came to the desert who did not love God and wanted to harm the monks. A kind elder named John gathered everyone. He told them gently, "If you are afraid, it is alright to go and hide safely up in the tower." Some monks went to the safe place. But forty-nine of the elders chose to stay with John. They were not afraid, because they knew that if they died, they would go straight home to God.

And that is just what happened. The forty-nine elders gave their lives rather than turn away from God, and so they became martyrs, faithful to the very end. A boy named Deyas, who had come with his father, looked up and saw something wonderful: angels were placing shining crowns on the heads of the elders. The boy and his father wanted that joy too, so they also stayed faithful to God to the end.

Later, the monks who had hidden came back and lovingly buried their friends. A beautiful church was built in their honor, and people still pray there today. It is called "the forty-nine martyrs."

He who is afraid, let him go up to the fortress; and he who wishes to be brave, let him stand with me.— Abba John to the monks

Deyas and His Father, Together Forever

Here is the sweetest part of the story. After the boy Deyas and his father went home to God, the monks gathered their bodies to bury them. But when they tried to lay the boy and his father in different places, something strange kept happening. By morning, the two were always side by side again.

One night a monk had a dream. In the dream, the father smiled and said something beautiful. He explained that he and his son had never been apart while they lived, so why should they be apart now that they were both safe with Jesus?

From that day on, no one ever tried to separate them again. They rested together, just as they had always loved each other together. It is a happy reminder that the love of a family does not end. It lives on with God.

When we were alive we were never separated. Why should we be separated now that we are with our Lord Christ?— the father, in a dream

Saint Anastasia, the Hidden Helper

Anastasia (say it: ah-nah-STAH-zee-ah) lived in a grand palace in a city called Constantinople. She was kind and lovely, and an emperor wanted to marry her. But Anastasia did not want to marry him, and she was honest and good about it.

To stay safe, Anastasia traveled far away to Egypt. There she wanted only one thing: to spend her whole life loving God and praying. So she went to the desert and asked a wise old monk named Abba Daniel to help her.

Abba Daniel gave her a tiny room of her own, far from everyone. Anastasia lived there quietly for many, many years, praying to God every single day. A kind helper brought her fresh water each week and set it by her door, so she could keep praying in peace.

When at last Anastasia grew old, she said a gentle prayer: "I give myself to God." Then she went home to heaven. Abba Daniel told everyone how brave and faithful she had been. She had given up a life in a fancy palace because she loved God most of all. We can learn from her to be honest, to be brave, and to love God with our whole heart.

I commit myself to the keeping of God.— Saint Anastasia

Mesratius, Sernius, and Joseph Who Loved the Poor

Today we also remember two faithful friends of God named Mesratius (say it: meh-STRAY-shus) and Sernius (say it: SER-nee-us). They loved God so much that they held on to Him all the way to the end of their lives, becoming martyrs too.

We also remember a very generous man named Joseph. Joseph loved people who were poor, and he gave away everything he had to help them. He was a little like a kind woman in the Bible named Tabitha, who sewed clothes and did good things for everyone around her.

Joseph reminds us that one of the best ways to love God is to be generous and to share. When we help someone who has less than we do, we are doing exactly what God loves.