Tir 27 — February 04

Saint Sarabyos, the Brave Giver

Sarabyos (we say it Sa-RAB-yos, and some people call him Serapion) lived in a town in Egypt. He had lots of money and many sheep, but the thing he loved most was giving. He shared with people who were poor, again and again. That is called giving alms.

In those days a ruler was being unkind to Christians and trying to make them stop loving Jesus. Most people would hide. But Sarabyos was so brave that he walked right up to the ruler and said out loud that he loved the Lord Jesus Christ. His friend Theodore and his shepherd Sorma came with him and said the same brave words.

The townspeople loved Sarabyos so much that they wanted to rescue him. But Sarabyos stopped them. He did not want anyone fighting. He stayed strong and kind even when others were unkind to him, because he knew God's angel was right beside him, helping him.

At the very end, God did something gentle for him. The ruler put Sarabyos on a ship to send him far away, but while the sailors slept, God quietly steered the ship all the way home to Sarabyos's own city. A voice said to him, 'Look, this is your city.' Sarabyos stayed faithful to God to the end, and God welcomed him home to heaven. He is called a martyr, because he held on to God no matter what.

I came of my own free will to give my whole life for the Name of Christ, our Lord.— Saint Sarabyos

Saint Timothy Comes to a New Home

Long ago there was a kind helper of God named Timothy. He was an apostle's friend, a teacher who told many people about Jesus. After he had finished his life on earth, his body rested in a faraway city called Ephesus.

Many years later there was a good emperor (a ruler of a whole land) named Constantine. Constantine loved the saints very much. He liked to bring the bodies of the holy apostles and martyrs to his city, Constantinople, so people there could honor them and pray.

When Constantine heard that Saint Timothy was resting in Ephesus, he sent trustworthy priests to carry him gently to Constantinople. They laid Timothy in a beautiful church called the Church of the Holy Apostles. Today we remember the happy day they brought this dear saint to his new resting place.

Suriel, the Angel Who Prays for Us

Today we also celebrate a great angel named Suriel. Some people call him 'Safori.' Long ago he came to a holy man named Ezra and told him wonderful secrets about God.

The best thing about Suriel is what he does every single day: he prays for people who have done wrong and want to do better. Isn't that a kind job? We can ask this gentle angel to pray for us too.

Abba Bifamon, Who Loved Jesus Most of All

Abba Bifamon came from a family who loved God and shared with the poor. When he was nine years old, his parents sent him to a kind, God-loving priest to learn. Bifamon learned to read the holy books, and he loved to pray, to come to church, and to help anyone in need.

God gave Bifamon a special gift. Once a poor man who was very sick came to ask for help. When Bifamon reached out his hand to give him money, the man was made completely well, right then and there. Another time a man who was troubled by an evil spirit was set free when Bifamon prayed, because God is always stronger than anything bad.

When Bifamon grew up, a ruler was telling everyone to bow down to gold and silver statues instead of God. Bifamon would not. He bravely said that statues cannot see, or hear, or speak, but God is the one true and living God who hears us.

Wicked rulers were unkind to Bifamon because he would not stop loving Jesus, and at last he gave his life as a martyr. But God showed how special Bifamon was. A man who could not see and was very sick touched a cloth kept for Bifamon and was healed, and a sweet perfume filled the air so that everyone was amazed. After the hard days were over, people prayed at Bifamon's grave, and God healed many, many people there. Bifamon was never afraid, because he knew he was going home to God.

I will worship no one except my Lord Jesus Christ.— Abba Bifamon

Theophilantus and Sarnis

Today the Church also remembers two more brave friends of God named Theophilantus and Sarnis (some people call him Sosa). They too stayed faithful to Jesus to the very end, and they are now happy with God in heaven. We thank God for their courage.

Enoch, Who Walked With God

Long, long ago, near the beginning of the world, there lived a man named Enoch. Enoch loved God so much and walked so closely with Him that God did something no one expected. He took Enoch straight up to heaven, without Enoch ever having to die.

Enoch is called 'the scribe of God,' which means the one who wrote things down for God. God let him see shining things: a house built like glittering crystal, a great throne, tall mountains, and many bright angels. Enoch wrote about all the good things God would do, and he even spoke about Jesus, the Son of Man, who would come one day.

Enoch shows us something happy and hopeful: when we love God and stay close to Him, our true home is with Him forever.