Yekatit 10 — February 17

James the Apostle

James was an apostle, one of Jesus' closest helpers. People sometimes call him "James the son of Alphaeus," so we know which James they mean.

James traveled to many cities to tell everyone the good news about Jesus. Then he went back to Jerusalem, into a big meeting place called a synagogue, where people gathered to pray. There he spoke up loud and clear: Jesus is truly the Son of God.

James was brave and not at all afraid. He taught that Jesus has always been with the Father, and that Jesus came to be born of Mary the Virgin so He could live among us as a real person. God Himself became a man.

Some people did not like to hear this, and they were unkind to James. He would not stop teaching about God, and in the end he gave his life for it. That is what makes him a martyr. His friends gently cared for him and laid him to rest near the church. James was not afraid, because he knew he was going home to God.

He told everyone that Jesus is truly the Son of God, Who was with the Father before the world began.

Saint Justus, Who Chose Heaven

Justus was the son of a Roman emperor, almost like a prince. He was a strong soldier and a fine leader, and one day the people even wanted to make him their king.

But there was a problem. A ruler named Diocletian had stopped loving God, and that made Justus very, very sad. The people came to Justus and said, "Let us make you the king instead!" Justus said no. He did not want a crown on earth. He wanted to belong to God forever in heaven.

Justus loved Jesus so much that he was ready to give up everything to stay faithful: his palace, his power, even his safety. He, his wife Theocleia, and his son Aboli were each sent away to faraway towns in Egypt. They held on to God's love to the very end, and Justus gave his life as a martyr.

After that, the place where Justus rested became a place of healing. Many sick people came and prayed, and God made them well. They went home full of joy, thanking God for His goodness.

Justus chose a crown in heaven instead of a crown on earth, because he loved God more than anything.

Abba Isidore, the Wise Teacher

Abba Isidore came from a rich and kind family who loved God. He was their only child, and they made sure he learned all he could. He read every holy book of the Church and remembered them by heart.

Isidore was very clever. He studied the stars in the sky and the wide world around him, and he grew into one of the wisest teachers anywhere. Best of all, he was gentle, humble, and close to God.

One day Isidore heard that the leaders wanted to make him an archbishop, in charge of many churches. He was so humble that he slipped away quietly in the night and went to a town called Farma. There he gave himself to a monk's life of prayer, living alone in a tiny room called a cell for many years.

In that little room, Isidore did beautiful work for God. He wrote helpful letters and lessons, some even for kings, and he copied holy books so more people could read them. God's good words seemed to pour out of his heart like a river. He lived a long, happy, holy life, and at last he died in peace, close to God.

Saint Felos the Bishop

Felos was a bishop, a church leader who looks after God's people. He lived in a faraway land called Persia.

In that land, the king wanted everyone to bow down to the sun and the fire instead of to God. Felos loved God with his whole heart, so he would not do it. He stayed faithful and kind, no matter what.

Felos would not stop loving and worshiping the one true God, and so he gave his life as a martyr. He was brave right to the end, sure that God was holding him safe. We remember Felos today, and how dearly he loved God.

Three More Faithful Friends

Three more holy friends of God share this day: Nicolaus, Simon, and Sadalakos.

We do not have long stories about them, but we know they loved God and belong to His big family of saints. We thank God for all His faithful friends, even the ones whose stories stay quiet, and we ask them to pray for us.