The Book of the Saints of the Ethiopian church/Nehasse

by Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church

Nehasse

Nehasse 1 (August 7)

On this day the blessed Saint Abba ‘Aboli, the son of Justus, became a martyr. To this holy man belonged the kingdom of Rome. When he had fought in the war, and returned to the city of Antioch, he found that Diocletian had denied Christ, and had set up the worship of idols. He was able to destroy Diocletian and to take his kingdom from him, but he meditated upon a heavenly kingdom, which never passeth away; and Diocletian urged him, with many persuasive words, [to worship idols,] but he would not hearken unto him. And after this Justus urged the saint, until Diocletian wrote the order, and sent it to Justus, and his wife Theoklera, and his son ‘Aboli, who is commemorated this day, and he sent them to the country of Egypt, to Herminius, governor of the city of Alexandria, and he said in his letter, “When Justus, and his wife, and his son ‘Aboli arrive, persuade them to offer sacrifice to the gods, and if they will not do so, separate them from each other, and send them each alone into the city.” And that night our Lord Jesus Christ appeared unto Justus and his wife, and his son, and comforted them and encouraged them, and He told them what was going to happen to them, and He promised [to receive] them in His heavenly abode. And when they arrived in the city of Alexandria, and Herminius the governor saw them, he marveled greatly at them, and wondered why they had forsaken their royal position. And the governor did not dare to speak abusive words to them, but he addressed them with words of courtesy, and persuaded them earnestly to return to their honorable estate; but they would not hearken unto him. And straightway he became filled with wrath at Justus, and he separated them from each other; Justus he sent to the city of Antinoe, and his wife to the city of Sa, and his son ‘Aboli to the city of Basta; and he gave to each of them one of their servants to minister unto them. And when Abba ‘Aboli had arrived in the city of Basta, he confessed our Lord Jesus Christ before the governor, who tortured him severely, and burnt him with fire, and put him on the wheel, and cut off his limbs, and cast him to the lions. And God gave him strength, and delivered him, and raised him up whole and uninjured from the tortures. And when many of the men who were there saw what happened to Saint ‘Aboli, after the torturing, they marveled exceedingly, and they believed on our Lord Jesus Christ and became martyrs. And the governor was wroth with the saint, and he commanded his soldiers to flay off his skin, and to dip rags of sackcloth in vinegar and salt, and to rub all his wounds therewith; [and they did so,] and then they laid his skin upon his shoulders, and took him round through all the city. And the saint prayed and said, “O my Lord Jesus Christ, Thou Son of the Living God, help me and deliver me from this tribulation”; and forthwith the angel Michael came to him, and touched his body, and healed his wounds; and the governor commanded the soldiers to take him into the prison house until he could decide what he should do with him. And the saint stood up and prayed in prison, and whilst he was praying our Lord Jesus Christ appeared unto him, and He said unto him, “Peace be unto thee, O My chosen one ‘Aboli, be strong and fear not, for I will be with thee until the end of thy fight”; and when He had said this unto him He went up into heaven in great glory. And Saint ‘Aboli rejoiced with a great joy when he saw our Lord Jesus Christ. And there was a certain rich man whose name was ‘Abskiron, and who had two sons, and he brought some workmen to pull down the wall of his house and to rebuild it; and he commanded his two sons to stand by them until they finished their work. And when the workmen went up on the wall it fell down and killed twelve of the workmen, and the two sons of the rich man; and when the rich man heard what had happened he rent his garments, and cried out and wept. And he went to Saint Abba ‘Aboli, and bowed low at his feet and said unto him, “Have compassion upon me, for my two sons are dead with the seventeen (sic) workmen, if thou wilt raise them up from the dead I will believe on thy God.” And when he had said this unto him, the holy man rose up and prayed, saying, “O my Lord Jesus Christ, Who hast chosen me to suffer for Thy holy Name’s sake, do Thou make manifest Thy power over the men who are dead, and raise them up from the dead, so that all men may believe, and that all men may know that there is no other God beside Thee; for Thine is the glory for ever and ever. Amen.” And he took his skin and spread it out over those men, saying, “In the Name of my Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God, do ye all rise up alive”; and he took them by their hands, and raised them up, and all the people were looking on. And straightway they all cried out, saying, “One is the God of the Christians, Jesus Christ, the God of Saint ‘Aboli.” And straightway ‘Abskiron bowed down before the saint, saying, “Now do I know that Jesus Christ is the Great God: I believe on Him”: and all the men of his house believed with him, and the governor was put to shame. And our Lord Jesus Christ appeared unto the saint and made him a promise, saying, “O My chosen one ‘Aboli, whosoever shall ask Me for help in thy name when tribulation cometh upon him, I will hear his prayer and will fulfill all his petition and desire. And I will make to dwell in My kingdom whosoever shall build a church in thy name. And I will write upon the lips of the four beasts, and I will make to rest in the bosom of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and will make to eat of the dainty things of the Garden of Delight, every one who shall write down the story of thy fight, or shall read it, or shall make someone else to hear it. And even if he hath committed many sins, but doth repent, I will forgive him his sins. And I will forgive the sins of every one who shall feed the hungry in thy name, and I will make him to eat of the fruits of the Garden; and My peace shall be with thee. Amen.” And when our Redeemer had said these things unto him, He gave him the salutation “Peace,” and went up into heaven with great glory. And when the governor became tired of torturing him he commanded the soldiers to cut off his head with the sword, and they cut off his holy head with the sword, and he received the crown of martyrdom in the kingdom of the heavens. And his body resteth in the monastery of Handak, outside the city of Mesr (Cairo), and many signs and wonders take place through it, and great healings. Salutation to ‘Aboli. Salutation to you, O ye company of two hundred and forty men and women who were tortured and beheaded with Saint ‘Aboli.

And on this day also are commemorated Saint Hannah, the mother of our Lady Mary, and Hannah the prophetess, the daughter of Panuel. Salutation to the three virgins Pistis (Faith), ‘Alapis (Hope), and ‘Agapis (Charity), who suffered martyrdom, but whose beauty was unspoiled by the smoke, and whose bodies were unconsumed by the fire. And the fathers have commanded that on this day the people shall celebrate the commemoration of the honorable men Joseph and Nicodemus, who were held to be worthy to become ministers of the Divine Mystery. And they brought down from the Cross the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God, when He had fulfilled the Law of the Incarnation in every respect, with the exception of sin, and He had accepted suffering and death for the sake of the salvation of the [world]. So little did the terror of the Jews frighten them that they asked Pilate to give them His Body, and when Pilate gave them permission to carry Him away, they took Him down from the Cross, having withdrawn the nails from out of His hands, and His feet, and they bore Him away on their shoulders. And they heard a voice which came forth from His dead Body, saying, “Holy is the Lord, Holy is the Power, Holy is the Life Which dieth not, and which the holy Virgin Mary bore! Have compassion upon us, O Lord. Holy is the Lord, Holy is the Power, Holy is the Life Which dieth not, which was baptized in the Jordan, and was hung upon the wood of the Cross. Have compassion upon us, O Lord. Holy is the Lord, Holy is the Power, Holy is the Life Which dieth not, Which was raised up from the dead on the third day, Who went up into heaven with praise and sat down on the right hand of His Father, Who shall come again to judge the living and the dead. Have compassion upon us, O Lord. Glory be to the Father. Glory be to the Son. Glory be to the Holy Spirit, now and henceforth and forever. Amen. So be it! So be it!” And when they heard this their Faith in Christ was strengthened. And Joseph brought linen cloths, and Nicodemus brought perfumed unguents, and they wrapped our Lord in them, and buried Him in a new grave. And this Joseph was kinsman to Nicodemus, the brother of Cleophas, the kinsman of Stephen the martyr. And Nicodemus was the Phrisee, and the legate of the Jews, who went by night to our Lord Jesus Christ, and . . . His coming from heaven. And our Lord told him that it was impossible for a man to enter into the kingdom of the heavens, who was not born of water and of the Holy Spirit; and Nicodemus used frequently to rebuke the Jews when they derided the words of our Lord. And after His Resurrection, as they were travelling along the road to Emmaus, it was these two, Cleophas and Nicodemus, whom our Lord met; and they told Him everything which had happened in Jerusalem, without recognizing Him. And He told them that the prophets had prophesied concerning His Death and Resurrection; and then when they recognized Him, He disappeared from them. And they brought His words to His disciples. And Joseph the Jews bound fast in prison, and they wanted to kill him, because he had buried our Lord. And although the door of the prison was sealed with the seal of Pilate, and with the seals of the high priests, our Lord Jesus came to the place where Joseph was, and He was mounted on the chariot of the Cherubim, and with Him there were thousands of thousands, and tens of thousands of tens of thousands of angels, and Seraphim standing round about Him, and burning incense before Him. And the thief who was on His right hand stood on the right of Him wearing shining raiment, and he was making intercession for sinners, because he had found favor before Him; and the keepers of the house were terrified, and trembling seized them. And then our Lord cried out to Joseph and said unto him, “Be not afraid of the terrors of the Jews. Behold I have come to unloose thy bonds. I am that Jesus, the Nazarene, in Whose suffering thou didst participate. Look at the nail [marks] in My hands and feet, and the mark of the spear in My side, so that thou mayest know that of a truth I am He.” Then He caught up Joseph from that place, and took him to the city of ‘Armatyas. And the keepers of the prison house, having gone to Pilate, told him everything, which they had seen, and what they had heard from the mouth of our Lord, and how He had set free Joseph and taken him away with Him. And when the high priests went [there] they found the doors of the prison open and their seals unbroken. And these saints continued to preach the Gospel with the Disciples, and very much tribulation came upon them; and then they died in peace. Salutation to Joseph the rich man who begged the Body of Jesus from Pilate. Salutation to Nicodemus who believed on the Son of Mary. Glory be to God Who is glorified in His Saints. Amen.

Nehasse 2 (August 8)

On this day died Saint Athanasia. This holy woman was a native of the city of Manuf, and her parents were rich. When they died she arrived in her mind at the wise decision to make her house a dwelling place for monks and pilgrims, and this she carried into effect. And she used to receive all those who came to her, and she gave them whatsoever they needed, and at length she came to the end of her money. And certain evil men, whose actions were abominable, gathered together, and they corrupted her mind and induced her to commit sin, which she used to do continually, instead of doing what was good. And the holy elders of the desert of Scete heard the story of her, and they sorrowed for her with very great sorrow. And they called Abba John the Short and informed him of what had happened to her, and they asked him to go to her, and to show her affection in return for the many kind acts, which she had done to them, and to save her soul. And he submitted unto them in this matter, and asked them to help him by their prayers. And Saint Abba John rose up and departed, and came to the place where Athanasia was, and he said unto the woman who kept the door of her house, “Inform thy mistress of my arrival.” And when the woman had informed her about the arrival of the saint, she thought that he had come to her for the purpose of committing sin, and she adorned herself and sat upon her couch. Then she called him, and he came unto her singing these words, “Even if I have to go amid the shadows of death I will fear [no] evil, for Thou art with me” (Psalm xxii, 4). And when the saint came to her she made him to sit by her side upon her bed, and he looked at her and said unto her, “Why dost thou belittle our Lord Jesus Christ? Why hast thou forsaken thy good deeds and turned thyself to this evil course of life?” And when she heard his words she trembled, and she knew that her heart was melting; and the saint bowed his head and wept. And she asked him, saying, “Why dost thou weep?” And he answered and said unto her, “Because I see the Satans playing on thy face, and therefore I weep for thee.” And she answered and said unto him, “Is it necessary for me to repent?” And the saint said unto her, “Yea.” And she said unto him, “Take me away, and carry me whithersoever thou wishest”: and he said unto her, “Come,” and she followed him, and they departed and came into the desert. And when the eventide was come he said unto her, “Sleep by thyself,” and after he had finished his prayer he lay down at a distance from her. And when he rose up at midnight to pray he saw pillar of light shining upon her, and the pillar reached from earth to heaven, and he saw the angel of God bearing away her soul. And he rose up and went to her, and he found that she was dead, and he cast himself upon the ground and prayed to God to give him information concerning her. And there came unto him a voice, saying, “God accepted her repentance when she repented more readily than He did the repentance of those who were in a state of repentance for many years, and who repented even like her.” And Saint John went and told the holy elders everything, which had happened unto her, and the saints came and made her ready for burial and buried her. Salutation to Athanasia.

And on this day also are commemorated Saint Demiana and her brother.

And on this day also died Saint Eupraxia. This holy woman belonged to a race of kings. Then name of her father, who was a royal councilor, was “’Atekhanos,” and the name of her mother was “Eupraxia,” and they fasted, and prayed to God that He would give them a son; and when they had gotten this saint, they called her by her mother’s name “Eupraxia.” And after a few days her father died, and the king and queen mourned for him, and her mother took Saint Eupraxia to a house of virgins when she was six years old. And when she saw the beauty of the excellence of the virgins, she said unto them, “Why do ye lead this life of service?” And they told her, saying, “It is for Christ’s sake.” And she said unto them, “Where is Christ?” And they showed her a picture of Christ, and she came up to it, and bowed low before it, and kissed its feet. And she went to the deacons, and asked [them] to received her as a nun, and they told her mother, and her mother gave her to the deaconess; and her mother, having handed her over to the care of all the virgins, left her and departed. And after a few days Eupraxia, her mother, died, and the saint assumed the garb of the monastic life; and she fought the spiritual fight continually and fasted every eighth day. And Satans was envious of her, and tempted her, and sometimes he threw her into the water, and sometimes he wounded her with the axe when she was cutting up wood, and sometimes he poured boiling water over her, but nothing harmed her. And she continued to minister unto the virgins, to each in her turn. Sometimes they commanded her to tend the furnace, and sometimes to bake the bread, and sometimes to draw water, and she never hesitated to perform these works. She never lay down upon the ground, but stood upright for forty days at a time, until at length the virgins marveled at the severity of her fight. And God made manifest by her hands signs and wonders, and the sick were healed, and the devils went out, and the lame walked, and the blind saw, when she prayed over them. And there was a certain virgin whose name was Iyalya, and it was she who taught Eupraxis to read and to write, and the duties of the ascetic life; she was her companion in every work, and they loved each other very much. And when she was thirty years of age she saw a vision wherein the deacons were taking up Eupraxia into the royal palace, wherein was the heavenly Bridegroom and never-ending joy; and when she woke up she knew that the death of Eupraxia was nigh. And on the following day she told the virgins, and when they went to Eupraxia they found that she was in a high fever. And they wept over her, and asked her to pray over them, and she blessed them, and died, and she was buried in the tomb of her mother, at whose tomb she had prayed three days before. Salutation to Eupraxia. Glory be to God Who is glorified in His Saints. Amen.

Nehasse 3 (August 9)

On this day died the glorious holy father, the ascetic and fighter, Abba Simon of the Pillar. This saint came from the island of Sorya. When his days were three years, his father set him to tend his sheep. And he used to go to church frequently and hear the Holy Scriptures, and the grace of God moved him, and he went to a certain monastery and became a monk, and devoted himself to the ascetic life and fought the spiritual fight for many years. And he used to carry loads of dust and ashes upon his head, and he afflicted his soul with fasting and much prayer, and with prolonged periods of thirst. And then he tied a cord so tightly about his waist that is sank into his body, and very stinking worms used to issue from the wound. And his brother monks were distressed at his filthy smell, and at his dirtiness, and they all gathered together and came to the abbot, and said unto him, “If thou dost not expel this monk Simon from among us, we shall all forsake thee and depart.” And the abbot said unto them, “What hath he done?” And they said unto him, “Call him, and see what he hath done”; and the abbot called Saint Abba Simon. And when Simon stood before him the abbot saw blood, mixed with pus, flowing down upon his feet, and it was an exceedingly hard matter for the abbot. And he opened Simon’s apparel and saw the rope, which had cut, into his flesh, and the abbot was wroth with him, and said unto him, “Why hast thou dared to do this thing, which thou wishest to do with such toil?” And the abbot had the rope taken off the saint’s body. And they continued to treat him in this saving manner for a space of fifty days, until his wound was healed. And the abbot said unto him, “O my son Simon, depart whithersoever thou wishest.” And he went forth from them, and departed, and came unto a dry pit, and he dwelt therein with serpents and scorpions. And the abbot saw a vision by night wherein it seemed that one said unto him, “Why dost thou send away My servant Simon? Seek him, and bring him back, for it shall be better for him than for thee in the Day of Judgment”; and the voice rebuked him very severely because of the going forth of Abba Simon from the monastery. And when the morning had come, the abbot told all the brethren what he had seen, and how the voice had rebuked him because of Saint Simon; and the brethren were frightened, and were exceedingly sorry. And the abbot said unto them, “Depart ye and search for him in every place, and come not back to me until ye have found him.” And they departed and searched for him in many places, but they found him not. And after this they went to that pit, and they lighted a lamp, and they saw him seated with the serpents and scorpions, without food and without drink; and they let down a rope to him, and they drew him up out of the pit, and they bowed low before him and said unto him, “Forgive us our sin.” And Saint Abba Simon said unto them, “Forgive ye me for having caused you all sorrow, for I have transgressed the command of my teacher the abbot.” And from the time when he took up his abode in the pit until they took him out he had neither eaten bread nor drunken water; and they took him to the monastery, and he lived there a life of stern self-denial, and he fought many spiritual fights. And when they had set him in the monastery, he craved not for the glory of this fleeting world, and he left the brethren and fled from them, and departed secretly, and came to a certain rock, and stood up before it for sixty days without sleeping. And after this the angel of the Lord came unto him, and comforted him, and made him to know that Gad had called him for the salvation of many souls. And then he stood for fifteen years upon a pillar, the height whereof was thirty cubits, and he performed signs and many wonders, and great healings; and he used to teach all those who came unto him. And his father sought him but found him not, and he died before he could see him. And after many years his mother heard the report of him, and she came to him whilst he was standing on the pillar, and she wept greatly; and then she used to sleep under the pillar of the saint. And the saint asked God to deal graciously with her, and she died whilst she was sleeping, and they buried her under the pillar of the saint. And Satan became envious of the saint; and smote him a severe blow in one foot, and it became diseased, but he stood upon the other foot for many years, until the diseased foot rotted, and worms dropped on the ground from it. And the captain of a gang of thieves came to him and repented under his direction, and he lived a few days [there] and died. And the saint asked our Lord Jesus Christ, and a spring of water sprang up at the foot of the pillar, for the use of those people who used to come to him to drink water for their troubles. And after this he departed to another high pillar and he stood upon it for thirty years. And when he had completed eight and forty years, during which time he lived the ascetic life and fought the spiritual fight, he departed to the God Whom he loved, having converted many infidels and pagans, and brought them into the Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ. And he taught many men, and arrayed them in the garb of the monastic life, and they became like angels of God; and he died in peace and inherited the kingdom of heaven. And when the Archbishop of Antioch heard that Saint Abba Simon was dead, he came, bringing with him priests, and deacons, and officers, and they took away the body of Saint Simon with great honor, and brought it to the city of Alexandria, with spiritual songs and psalms. And they laid it in a church there, and many signs, and wonders, and great healings took place through it. Salutation to Simon of the Pillar.

And on this day also died Saint Sophia. This saint was a kinswoman of a race of kings, and she had riches and possessions, and she crossed the Sea of Rome with her three daughters to received the seal of Christ. And the Emperor Andrianus, knowing that she was a Christian, had her and her daughters brought before him, and questioned her about her country and her name; and she said unto him, “The name which comes first with me is that of ‘Christian’; as for what my kinsfolk call me, it is ‘Sophia,’ and I am of a noble family of Italy. And the Lord Jesus Christ hath in His mercy brought me into thy city, that I may offer myself and my daughters as an offering.” And she encouraged her daughters, and bade them not to fear the tortures. And after this her three daughters finished their testimony, and she wrapped them in shrouds and buried them outside the city. And she went out to celebrate the commemoration of her three daughters with many other women of the city, and when she arrived at their graves, she bowed down and prayed, saying, “O my perfect daughters who are crowned with crowns incorruptible, may I too receive a crown with you!” And having said thee words she died in peace, and was buried with her daughters. Salutation to Sophia. Salutation to the translation of the body of Mercurius, the fighter, which was taken to a new grave on the backs of three oxen. Glory be to God Who is glorified in His Saints. Amen.

Nehasse 4 (August 10)

On this day died King Hezekiah, son of Ahaz, of the seed of David, of the tribe of Judah. After David, the prophet, there was never appointed any king over the children of Israel like unto this saint, for all the kings of Israel worshipped idols, and built altars to them, with the exception of this king. When he reigned he broke the idols, and laid waste their altars, and broke in pieces the serpent of brass because the children of Israel worshipped it; and because he had done the things which were good God rewarded him by adding greatly to his days. In the fourteenth year of his kingdom Sanakrem (Sennacherib), the King of Fars (Persia), came and besieged Jerusalem. Now Sanakrem (Sennacherib) was a very great and most powerful king, and there was no king as strong and mighty in his days, and all the [other] kings were afraid, and were subject unto him. And Hezekiah was afraid of him, and sent to him much money and tribute; but Sanakrem (Sennacherib) was not pleased with him, and would receive nothing whatsoever from him. And Sanakrem (Sennacherib) sent an angry message to Hezekiah, and he uttered many threats against him, and promised that he would destroy him, and blot out his city. And he reviled God, the Glorious and Most High, with his foul tongue, saying, “God is not able to deliver thee out of my hand”; and then he sent to Hezekiah two letters, wherein were written wrathful blasphemies. And Hezekiah wept, and rent his garments, and he put on hair sackcloth, and sent into the house of God and prayed before Him, saying, “Thou O God knowest what Sanakrem (Sennacherib) the king and his messengers are saying, this king worshipeth the gods of the land which are of wood and stone, but Thou, O God, alone art the Lord God, the Sustainer of the Universe.” And then Hezekiah sent a letter to Isaiah the prophet, and made him to know what Sanakrem (Sennacherib) the King of Fars (Persia), was saying; and he asked him to pray for him. And Isaiah answered him with the word of God, saying, “Be of good courage and fear not, for God is about to do unto Sanakrem (Sennacherib) an awful thing, the like whereof hath never been heard of in all the earth.” And that night Michael, the angel of God, came down from heaven, and slew in the camp of Sanakrem (Sennacherib) one hundred and fourscore and five thousand men in a moment. And when [the Persians] woke up and found that their hosts were slain, those who were left of the slaughter fled to the country of Fars (Persia), together with the king. And Sanakrem (Sennacherib) came into [the temple of] his gods to pray, and his sons rose up against him and slew him, and Hezekiah escaped from his hand and praised God. And when the time drew nigh for Hezekiah to die, Isaiah the prophet came unto him, and found him lying sick of a most serious sickness, and he said unto him, “Give commands to thy sons, for behold, thou shalt die.” And Hezekiah prayed before God, and God sent Isaiah unto him a second time, and made known to him that God had added to his days another fifteen years; and when he required from Isaiah a sign, he made the sun to go back for him on the sun-dial. And all the kings of the earth were afraid of Hezekiah, and they brought tribute unto him, because they knew that God was with him; and he continued in his kingdom nine and twenty years, and all the days of his life were four and fifty years, and he pleased God [and died] in peace. And the prayer of the saint, which he uttered through the Holy Spirit when he was healed of his sickness, is written in the Psalms of David. Salutation to Hezekiah.

And on this day also the saints David and his brethren, and Philip, became martyrs in the city of Sengera, in the north of Egypt. Salutation to David and his brethren who became martyrs in the land of Sengar.

And on this day also died Abba Matthew, the anchorite. This saint dwelt in the desert, and wore hair sackcloth, like a sheep, and he taught Marmehnam to believe on Christ, and he cleansed Sara of her leprosy. Salutation to Matthew. Glory be to God Who is glorified in His Saints. Amen.

Nehasse 5 (August 11)

On this day died Abba Abraham, the second. The parents of this saint were exceedingly rich, and they brought him up in the admonition and fear of God. And when he was grown up, they brought in a wife for him against his will, and on the seventh day, when he was sitting on his couch, the grace of God moved him, and he went forth from his marriage- chamber, the light guiding him, and he found an empty house, and he took up his abode therein. And he built up the door thereof, leaving only a small opening through which his food might be handed in to him. Ten years after he had left the world his father and his mother died, leaving him many possessions, which he distributed among the poor and needy. And he lived a life of fasting and prayer, and he possessed nothing except a head cloth, a tunic, a sackcloth coat, a bowl for water, and a coarse carpet for his bed; and in such circumstances he fought the fight for fifty years. The men in a certain city, from little to great, were pagans, and there was no man who was able to convert them to the True Faith. One day when the bishop remembered the faith and the wisdom of Abba Abraham, he urged him to become a priest, and to make the pagans believe; and with difficulty he appointed him a priest, and sent him thither. And having come into their city, he built a church, and made prayer therein, and he entreated God to convert them to the knowledge of Himself. And one day he came into the house of their idols, and cast them down from their seats. And when the men of the city saw this, they were filled with wrath, and beat him, and cast him out of the city, but when the night came they found him in the church praying. And they also bound him with a rope, and dragged him outside the city, and they cast stones at him, and left him well-nigh dead, and went away. And having risen up, by the might of God, they found him praying for their conversion; and being bound with ropes and dragged about by them he lived for three years. And when God saw his patience He turned their hearts to believe on Him, and they were baptized in the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, from the least of them to the greatest; and they became strong in the Faith of Christ. And when Abba Abraham saw the strength of their Faith, he was afraid lest they should bring upon him the pleasure of idleness, and he prayed to God, and made the sign of the Cross over the city. And he went forth, not knowing where to go, and he departed to another city. And Satan, the hater of good, set himself in opposition to him and frightened him with many infernal devices, but the saint conquered him by the power of his prayer. And he continued to fight many strenuous fights, and practiced severe abstinence, and not a day passed without his shedding tears; he never laughed with his teeth, he never smiled with his lips, he never anointed his face, he never washed his face and feet with water; and he thought each day that he might die that day. And when his brother, according to the flesh, died, he left a daughter, seven years old, whose name was Marta, and her kinsfolk took her to Abba Abraham, and she was brought up under his direction. And he taught her the fear of God, and how to pray, and to fast, and to weep, and she was under his authority until she was twenty years of age. And then Satan envied him, and he made her to be on such intimate terms with a certain monk that at length he destroyed her virginity; and she changed her apparel, and her nun’s garb, and departed to another city. And that night the saint saw in a vision a huge serpent swallowing a dove, and there remained a little vomit under his feet. And on the following day when Mary (sic) was missing from her place, Abraham was frightened, and he prayed to God, with tears, that He would enable him to find her. And after a few days he heard where she was, and he changed his apparel, and wrapped his face in cloth, so that [none] might know him, and he mounted a horse, and arrayed himself and departed to that city; and when he arrived there, he went to the place where she was. And when he saw her dressed like a serving woman in a tavern, he was very sorry that she had left her seclusion, but he did no know how he could have prevented her flight. And then he gave the master of the house one dinar, which he had brought with him, so that he might prepare for him food and drink wherewith to make merry with Mary (sic), and he pretended to her that he wished to commit sin with her. And after supper he had her brought inside the house, and he took her hand and looked her in the face, and when she recognized him she became like a dead body. And he said unto her, “Fear not, O my daughter, for thy sin lieth upon me. There is no man without sin, except God. Come, return to thy old life and habit”; and she said unto him, “I will.” And on the following day he took her with him, and he set her on a horse, which he led by the bridle, and he marched along rejoicing, because he had snatched his daughter (sic) out of the hand of Satan. And when he had come to his house, he shut her up in a chamber, and she repented in sackcloth and seclusion, and she submitted so completely to his authority that all those who heard about her marveled. And God made manifest through her signs and wonders in connection with the casting out of devils and the healing of the sick. And when Abba Abraham had watched her repentance for ten years, he died at the age of seventy winters, praising God. And Mary (sic) lived fine years longer, and devoted herself more and more to the ascetic life, and to weeping by day and by night, and then she died; and those who saw her ascribed glory to God because of the great light which was on her face. Salutation to Abraham.

And on this day also died Saint John, the fighter of the spiritual fight, the soldier. This saint had Christian parents. He was a soldier in the army of Julian, and with him were other soldiers, and [Julian] commanded them to afflict the Christian people wheresoever they went. And he was the soldier at the head of his companions, and pretended outwardly to them that he hated the Christians, and wished to make war upon them, but in secret he fought on their behalf, and did good unto them, and gave them whatsoever they wanted. And he used to fast and pray continually, and give alms. And he lived a life like unto the lives of the saints, and he pleased God, and died in peace, and many miracles were seen at his grave. Salutation to John, the soldier.

And on this day also died Abba Philip of Debre Bizen. Salutation to Philip. Glory be to God Who is glorified in His Saints. Amen.

Nehasse 6 (August 12)

On this day Saint Justa (Iyalota) became a martyr. This spiritual fighter came from the country of Caesarea in Cappadocia, and she inherited from her parents many possessions; but a certain oppressor robbed her and took away all her money, and possessions, and slaves, and handmaidens by bribery. And when that robber knew that the saint wished to inform against him, and expose his sins, and his lying words, he informed the governor of Caesarea that she was a Christian. And she said within herself, “The possessions of this world are fleeting things; are they anything at all? And behold, they have robbed me, and taken them away by force; but if I gain possession of the habitation which is in heaven, no one will be able to take it from me.” And when she came to the governor and stood up before him, she confessed boldly, saying, “I am a Christian, I believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God, and Creator of the heavens and the earth and of all that in them is.” And the governor was wroth, and he commanded the soldiers, and they cast her into the fire, and she delivered up her soul into the hand of God. And the fire neither touched her, nor harmed her in the least degree, and they took her body out of the fire as if it had come forth from water. And instead of her money and possessions, she received an everlasting and never ending kingdom; and Saint Basil praised her greatly. Salutation to Justa.

And on this day also died the holy father and spiritual fighter Abba Wisa, the disciple of Abba Sinoda, and he lived under his authority for many years. And Saint Abba Sinoda revealed unto him many of the mysteries, which he had heard from our Lord Jesus Christ; and Abba Wisa wrote the history of the fight of Abba Sinoda, according to what he saw and what he heard from him. And having finished his good course, and pleased God, he died in peace. Salutation to Abba Wisa.

And on this day also died Saint Mary Magdalene. This saint followed our Lord Jesus Christ, and He cast seven devils out of her, and she ministered unto our Lord and followed Him, and she also followed the Apostles; and she was present at the time of the Passion, and the Crucifixion, and Death and Burial of our Lord. And on the following day, at early dawn, she saw the stone rolled away, and the angel sitting upon it, and she and Mary, the mother of our Lord, being afraid, the angel said unto them, “Be not afraid, behold I know that ye are seeking Jesus, Who was crucified. Behold He hath risen, He is not here.” And our Lord also appeared unto this Mary and said unto her, “Go ye and tell My brethren, that I have ascended to My Father, and your Father, and My God and your God.” And this saint came and told the Apostles about the Resurrection of our Lord and Redeemer, and she told them how she had seen our Lord, and she told them how He had spoken to her; and she boasted over them how she had seen our Lord and told them how He had spoken unto her. And after the Ascension of our Lord, she continued to minister unto the Apostles, and the grace of the Holy Spirit Paraclete descended upon her together with them, even as Joel saith in his prophecy, “Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and I will pour out my Spirit upon My menservants and maidservants” (Joel ii, 28). And she preached with the Apostles, and she converted many free women, and many slave women, to the Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ. And the Apostles made her a deaconess because of her teaching of women, and she baptized them; and great tribulation came upon her, and opprobrium, and scourging, and much disgrace through the Jews. And she continued to minister to the Apostles until she died. Salutation to Mary Magdalene. Salutation to Tekle Michael, the singer of hymns and psalms from his youth up. Salutation to the dedication of thy house and to the translation of thy body; neither the teeth nor the claws of wild beasts, or lions, or leopards could harm thee. Salutation to Tekle Iyesus. Salutation to Julia. Glory be to God Who is glorified in His Saints. Amen.

Nehasse 7 (August 13)

On this day God sent the great angel Gabriel, and he spoke unto Joachim the righteous man, saying, “Behold, thy wife Hannah shall conceive, and she shall bear thee a daughter, and in her shall be joy and salvation for all the world”; which actually took place through Mary, the bearer of God in the flesh. This righteous man Joachim, and his wife Hannah, were very old in days, and they had produced no child, for Hannah was barren, and they were exceedingly sorrowful because of this, for the children of Israel used to thrust aside him that had not begotten a son, and would say unto him, “O thou who lackest the blessing of God.” Because of this the hearts of this righteous man and his wife were sad, and they fasted, and prayed, and entreated God frequently by day and by night [for a child]; and they had reached old age and had become old. And they begged and entreated God frequently, and they vowed a vow to Him that if they got a child they would make him a ministrant in the Temple of God. And Joachim was in the sanctuary praying frequently and making supplication, and behold, slumber descended upon him and he slept, and Gabriel, the angel of God, appeared unto him, and told him that Hannah his wife would certainly conceive, and bear a daughter wherein he would rejoice, and because of whom his eyes would sparkle; and likewise all the world would rejoice, and be glad and would be saved through her. And when he woke from his dream he came to his house, and told his wife the vision which he had seen during sleep; and she conceived forthwith, and brought forth our holy Lady, the Virgin Mary, the God-bearer, the object of boasting of all the world. Salutation to thy spiritual conception, O Mary. Salutation to Aaron, the brother of Moses.

And on this day also is celebrated the festival of the honorable Apostle Peter, the head of the Apostles, for in it he confessed among the Disciples, saying, “Christ is the Son of God.” And when our Lord had brought them outside the city of Caesarea of Philippi, even as the Holy Gospel saith, He asked them what men said about Him. He knew all the thoughts and hearts of men, but He took them outside the city by themselves, so that they might talk out what they were thinking in their hearts about Him. Now the Apostles were divided among themselves. Some of them said that He was Elias, and some said that He was one of the early prophets. And Peter was wroth with them, and said unto them, “Nay, He is Christ, the Son of the Living God.” And when our Lord knew this He brought them outside the city by themselves, and He asked them, saying, “What do men say about Me?” And they said what was in their hearts, and some of them said, “One of the prophets.” And our Lord said unto Peter, “And thou, what dost thou say and confess?” And he said, “The Apostles have talked when they were by themselves, and they say, ‘Thou art Christ, the Son of the Living God.’” And because of this our Lord entreated him kindly, and gave him the keys of the kingdom of heaven, that he might loose and bind; and from that hour Peter became the head of all the Apostles. And he took the place of our Lord in the city of Rome, and his position was above that of the chiefs of the world, and of Archbishops, and Bishops, and Priests, and Deacons, and every other order of the priesthood. Glory be to our Lord Jesus Christ. Salutation to Peter, the chief of the Apostles and of all the priesthood of the world.

And on this day also died the holy father, Abba Timothy, the twenty-sixth Archbishop of the city of Alexandria. God chose this saint, and appointed him Archbishop of the city of Alexandria, after the holy father and spiritual fighter Dioscoros died. And great tribulation came upon him, and they drove him out into exile in the island of Gagra, whither they had driven Dioscoros the Archbishop, who had lived there before Abba Timothy for six years. And then the Emperor Leo sent and brought him back from exile with great honor. And after Marcian had become emperor, he appointed an Archbishop of Alexandria. And after Marcian died, the men of Alexandria rose up against the archbishop whom Marcian had appointed, and killed him; and [they] appointed Timothy archbishop according to the command of Abba Dioscoros. When Leo, the son of Marcian, became emperor he appointed Archbishop of the city of Alexandria one who was called Timothy, and ‘Abbas, the Archbishop, he exiled to the island of Gagra, the place where he exiled Dioscoros; and he lived there for ten years, till Leo died and Zeno reigned. And Timothy the wicked one fled from Alexandria, and Abba Timothy returned to the city by the emperor’s command with great honor. And he taught the people continually, and rebuked them, and encouraged those who believed in the True Faith. He lived in peace and quietness all the days of his office, and he sat upon the throne of Mark the evangelist for two and twenty years; and he pleased God and died in peace. Salutation to Timothy.

And on this day was born Joseph, the son of Rachel. Glory be to God Who is glorified in His Saints. Amen.

Nehasse 8 (August 14)

On this day nine saints became martyrs, that is to say, Lazarus an aged man, and his wife Salome, which is being interpreted “Weeper,” and their seven children, whose names are ‘An’imo, Antonitus, and ‘Ozya, and Lazarus, and ‘Astibam and Semuna, and Marcolus. And this elder Lazarus was one of the teachers of the Law of Moses in his days, and his father was one of the Seventy-two translators who translated the Book of the Law and the Prophets for Ptolemy, King of Egypt. And this just man taught his children the Law of Moses. And when Antiochus, King of Rome, reigned over the country of Asia, and the land of Judah, he besieged Jerusalem, and reigned over it, and he afflicted the people of Judah, and he punished them with many punishments. And he compelled them to break the Law of Moses and to eat what was forbidden to eat by the Law of Moses, that is to say the flesh of swine and such like; and there were many who broke the Law of Moses, and who set themselves under his authority. But these saints kept the Law of Moses, which had been given to them by God, and Antiochus tortured them severely, and he beat them, and sawed their bodies with an iron saw, and cut off their limbs; and the righteous woman Salome, their mother, encouraged them and made them to endure until they had finished their martyrdom. And after all of them [were dead], she cast herself into the fire of her own free will, and did not wait for them to throw her into it; and they received crowns of martyrdom in the kingdom of the heavens. And it is right that thou shouldst know, O thou who readest this, that our fathers and doctors of the Church have commanded us to celebrate a festival in honor of the saints of the Old Dispensation, in their divers degrees, and to pay far more honor to them than to the fathers of the New Dispensation, because they did far more than the later fathers. Salutation to the God of the martyrs Lazarus and his wife.

And on this day also Ammon became a martyr.

And on this day also died the ascetic and father Abba John, Abbot of Debre Libanos, and he was the sixth from our father Takla Haymanot. Because of his great righteousness, and his strenuous spiritual fight, [the monks] chose him and set him upon the throne of Abba Takla Haymanot; and it is said of him that our Lady Mary, in the form of a dove, used to appear to him and wave her wing over him. And after pleasing God with his abundant labors, he died on the eighth day of Nahasse and departed to everlasting joy. Glory be to God Who is glorified in His Saints. Amen.

Nehasse 9 (August 15)

On this day Saint Abba ‘Ori became a martyr. This saint was priest of Satanuf, and he was of an exceedingly merciful and compassionate disposition, and was pure in mind and in body, and he saw divine visions frequently. And our Lord Jesus Christ appeared unto him upon the altar, and revealed unto him the hidden things, which he wished [to know about]. And the report of Abba ‘Ori reached the ears of the governor of the city of Nakyus, and he had the saint brought before him, and said unto him, “Offer incense to the gods and idols”; and the saint refused to do so, and he was unafraid of the governor; and although the governor was wroth with him he did not fear his wrath. And the governor tortured him severely, and after that sent him to the city of Alexandria, where the governor also tortured him severely, and cast him into prison. And he used to work signs and perform many wonderful things, and he healed the sick; and the report of him was noised abroad, and many men came unto him from all the cities. And when the governor heard this he commanded the soldiers to cut off his head with the sword, and they cut off the head of the saint with the sword, and he received the crown of martyrdom in the kingdom of the heavens. And Saint Julius came and took his body, and wrapped it in cloths, and sent it to the city of Satanuf, and after the end of the days of persecution they built a beautiful church for him, and laid his body therein, and great signs and miracles took place through it. And his body resteth there at the present time and it performeth great healings for all the sick folk who come unto him in faith. Salutation to ‘Ori.

And on this day also is commemorated Pilate, the Archbishop. Glory be to God Who is glorified in His Saints. Amen.

Nehasse 10 (August 16)

On this day Saint Matra became a martyr in the days of Demetrius, Archbishop of the city of Alexandria, and in the days of the Emperor Decius, who denied Christ. When this saint had read the Edict which order [all men] to deny Christ, and to worship idols, he went and stole the arm of the idol Apollo, which was of gold, and he broke it into little pieces, and gave them to the poor and needy; and when they (the priests) searched for the idol’s arm, and could not find it, they seized many men because of the theft. And at that time this saint came to the governor and confessed before him, saying, “I am he who stole the arm of the unclean idol, and I gave it to the poor”; and when the governor heard this he punished him with great severity, and tortured him. And then he cast him into a red-hot oven, but God delivered him there from, and brought him out sound and uninjured. And then they cut off his hands and his feet, and they roasted his body with fire, and they hanged him upon a tree, head downwards, until much blood ran down from his mouth upon the ground. And at that moment the angel of God came down from heaven, and released Saint Matra from hanging, and touched his body with his hand, and healed his wounds. And a certain man who was blind came and took some of the blood which was flowing from the nose and mouth of Saint Matra, and he smeared his eyes therewith, and he saw forthwith. And when the governor was tired of punishing him, he commanded the soldiers to cut off his head with the sword, and they cut off his head and he received the crown of martyrdom in the kingdom of the heavens; and his body became a means of great healings for the sick. Salutation to Matra.

And on this day also Saint Christopher became a martyr in the days of Maximianus, the wicked emperor. And when the emperor had him set before him, he said unto him, “Offer sacrifice to the gods,” and Christopher said unto him, “I worship my Lord Jesus Christ and to Him I offer up sacrifice.” And Maximianus was wroth with him, and commanded the soldiers to beat him with rods until his flesh dropped on the ground, and then they cast him into prison. And then he sent unto him two women to lead him astray with their beauty, but the saint taught them the Faith of Christ and made them believers. And when they came back Maximianus said unto them, “What did ye do?” And they said unto him, “We believe in Christ, the God of Saint Christopher.” And when the governor heard this he commanded the soldiers to hang one of them on a tree and to burn her with fire, and to tie a stone to the neck of the other and to hang her, head downwards; and thus they finished their martyrdom. And then he called Christopher, and they gathered together old, dry wood, and set it on fire, and they cast the saint into the flames, his hands and his feet being bound, but the fire did not touch him. And when the people saw this, they all believed, and ten thousand men were slain. And they also brought plates of iron made red-hot, and they made the saint to stand upon them, but it injured him not. And when the men of Rome saw [this] they believed on our Lord Jesus Christ, and twenty-thousand and two hundred of them, and forty children, believed and became martyrs. And when Maximianus saw that all the people believed, he was wroth with Christopher and commanded the soldiers to cut off his head with the sword. And having gone forth from the emperor’s presence, the saint made a prayer, and sealed his face with the sign of the Cross, and then the soldiers cut off his head with the sword and he finished his martyrdom. Salutation to Christopher.

And on this day also Saint Bikabos and John became martyrs. Bikabos was from the city of ‘Esmutenakha, and he was a soldier; he was a Christian in secret, and one told Antiochus the governor about him and about the Bishop Abba ‘Aklog, and about Abba Nakharew, who was from the city of Tarsa, and about Abba Philip. And when one informed the governor that they were Christians, he had them brought before him, and he said unto them, “Are ye Christians?” And they confessed our Lord before him and said, boldly, “Indeed we are Christians, and we believe on our Lord and Redeemer Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God.” And the governor said unto them, “Put away this thing from you, and offer sacrifice to the gods.” And the saints answered and said unto him, “We will not sacrifice to unclean idols, which are to be rejected, we will only sacrifice to our Lord Jesus Christ, the Creator of the heavens and the earth.” And when the governor heard this he was exceedingly angry, and he tortured them very severely. And he tortured Saint Bikabos severely, and often, and he bound him in iron fetters, and threw him on the wheel, and hanged him, head downwards, and cut off his limbs; and God strengthened him to endure, and He raised him up whole and uninjured. And after this the governor sent the saint, with many other martyrs, to the city of Baramun in a ship, and for sixteen days he neither ate bread nor drank water. And when they came to the city of Baramun the soldiers tortured the saint very severely, and then they hacked his body in pieces, and he finished his martyrdom, and received his crown in the kingdom of heaven. And a certain rich official of the city of Baramun took the body of the saint and wrapped it up in costly cloths, and sent it to the city of ‘Esmunatekha. And in the days of his torturing an innumerable multitude of people became martyrs, and through his finishing his martyrdom five and ninety souls became martyrs. And they built a beautiful church for Saint Bikabos, and they laid his body therein, and many signs and wonders took place through it. Salutation to Abba Bikabos. Salutation to the ancient Lawgivers and to the Evangelists who followed after them. Salutation to the three thousand, two hundred, and twenty men and two women, who suffered martyrdom through Christopher. Glory be to God Who is glorified in His Saints. Amen.

Nehasse 11 (August 17)

On this day three hundred people became martyrs with Basilides the martyr, general of the city of Antioch.

And on this day also died the holy father Abba Mysis (Modosis), Bishop of the city of ‘Awsim. This father was holy and chaste, and a virgin from his youth up, and learned all the doctrine of the Church, and was made a deacon; and then he went up to the desert of Hebayeb of Scete, and became a monk under the direction of a righteous man, and he lived with him and ministered unto him for eighteen years; and he devoted himself to the ascetic life, and fought the fight in the narrow way in respect of eating, and drinking, and sleeping, and he fasted, and prayed, and kept vigil constantly in his great humility and love. When the report of him, and his virtues, and his righteousness became noised abroad, God chose him to be Bishop of the city of ‘Awsim, after Saint Abba Gamel. When this father had been made bishop he fought a good fight, and he performed far more strenuous ascetic labors then he had performed as a monk. And he protected the Christian flock from the wolves of the Devil, and he watched unto prayer on their behalf, and he never made any money of this fleeting [world] all the days of his life. When Abba Michael was appointed Archbishop of the city of Alexandria, he became a martyr, without the shedding of blood. And this father was with those who were in prison, and great tribulation came upon him, and they beat him with many cruel stripes, and they shut him up in prison, with irons on his legs, for a long time. And God performed by the hands of this father many signs and wonders, and because of his miracles, those who knew nothing of his righteousness and virtues learned about him. And the gift of prophecy was bestowed upon him, and he declared many things before they came to pass; and they did happen, even as he prophesied. He prophesied to Abba Theodore, Bishop of the city of Mesr (Cairo), that the king would not come back in his splendor, and his prophecy was fulfilled; and he prophesied as to what would happen to the governor of Egypt, and his prophecy was fulfilled. And he healed many sick and suffering persons by his prayer. And having finished his fight at a good old age, and pleased God, he fell sick of a slight fever, and he knew that the time of his death [had come]. And he called the people, and blessed them, and absolved them, and asked them to pray to him, and they all wept and entreated him to pray for them. And he prayed over them and said unto them, “Take good heed to yourselves and be strong in the True Faith”; and when he had said this he died. And they wept over him with a great weeping, and they wrapped him [in costly cloths] and buried him with great honor and with the singing of psalms and hymns in the manner which befitteth bishops; and many miracles and great cures took place through him. And all the days of his life were twenty years and more. Salutation to Mysis, Bishop of ‘Awsim.

And on this day also Saint Ptolemy, of the city of Upper Manuf, became a martyr. And one informed the governor that this saint was a Christian, and he had him brought before him, and Ptolemy confessed our Lord Jesus Christ; and the governor tortured him severely, and cut off his head with a sword, and the saint received the crown of martyrdom in the kingdom of the heavens. Salutation to Ptolemy. Glory be to God Who is glorified in His Saints. Amen.

Nehasse 12 (August 18)

On this day is celebrated the festival of the glorious Archangel Michael, for on this day he appeared unto the righteous Constantine above the city of Rome, and gave him power over all his enemies, and the emperor conquered them, and his kingdom became strong. And he destroyed the houses of idols, and built churches, and decorated them with every kind of decoration. For this reason our Fathers, the doctors of the Church, have commanded us to celebrate the festival of the glorious angel, Michael the archangel, on the twenty-second (?) day of this month. Salutation to thee, O Michael, angel of the covenant and counsel of God.

And on this day also the righteous Emperor Constantine began to reign over the city of Rome, and over all the kingdoms of the countries, and the country of Syria, and Jerusalem, and the country of Egypt, and the Christian kingdoms. He reigned with his father Konesta in the city of Baranteya (Byzantium) and all the borders thereof for twelve years, and his father died, and he reigned in Baranteya (Byzantium) and the districts thereof. And he blotted out oppressors and the workers of iniquity in his kingdom, and his righteousness and justice were famous in all the ends of the world. And the chiefs of the city of Rome sent to him asking him to deliver them from the oppression of the Emperor Maximianus, who denied Christ, and to save them from his slavery. When Constantine read their letter he was very sorry, because the oppression of that infidel had come upon them, and he pondered in what way he could deliver them. And the honorable Cross appeared unto him, and he was helped thereby. He departed to fight against Maximianus, and he crushed him and conquered him, and Maximianus fled from him; and the bridge which was over the river split asunder and he died an evil death, and his soldiers were drowned in the river. Now this took place in the seventh year of his reign. And straightway the elders of the city of Rome, and all the men thereof, received Constantine with great honor, and with joy and gladness, and he made a festival to celebrate his victory for seven days. And all the learned men of the city of Rome, and the poets (?) thereof, whose words were sweet and who were skilful in declaiming them, pronounced encomiums on the Honorable Cross, and called it the “Savior of their city”; and they pronounced encomiums on Constantine, and called him, “Conqueror,” and “Conqueror by the might of the Cross.” And in the eleventh year of his reign Constantine was baptized with Christian baptism by the hand of Sal Peter (sic), Archbishop of the city of Rome. And his name was mentioned at the altar, as at this day, and how the Honorable Cross appeared unto him, and how he waged war on Maximianus, and how that infidel was drowned. And behold we have written the description of all this in the section for the eighteenth day of the month of Megabit, the day of the death of this righteous king. Salutation to the day when Constantine began to reign in Rome.

And on this day twenty hundred men became martyrs with Basilides. Glory be to God Who is glorified in His Saints. Amen.

Nehasse 13 (August 19)

On this day is celebrated the festival of our Lord Jesus Christ, and how His appearance was changed on Mount Tabor, when there were with Him three of His disciples, that is to say, Peter, and James, and John. And our Lord said concerning them, “There stand here those who shall not taste death until they see the Son of God and of man coming in His glory.” This is the glory wherein the Apostles saw Him. His apparel was white as snow, and His countenance was changed and became like lightning, emitting light. And behold Moses and Elias came to Him, and they talked with Him that all men might know that He was the God of Moses, whom He had raised from the dead, and the God of Elias, whom He had brought down from heaven (sic). And because of this Peter said unto our Lord, “Dost Thou wish, O Lord, that we should make here three tabernacles, one for Thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias?” In these words, which Peter spoke, there is a sign of lowliness and humility. He saw our Lord, and thought that He would live on the mountain . . . and he wished to make for Him a place where He could hide from the sun. Peter did not wish for himself, and for his fellow-apostles, as he wished for our Lord, and for Moses, and for Elias; but he made himself and his fellow-apostles like slaves of those lords. And marvel not at the little knowledge of the apostles, for they were not perfect in knowledge at that time. And when Peter said this, a cloud overshadowed them, so as to make it clear to Peter that He did not want a habitation made by the hand of man. And a voice came forth from the cloud which confirmed the belief in the Godhead of our Lord in the minds of the apostles, saying, “This is My Son, Whom I love, in Whom I am well pleased; hear ye Him.” And Moses and Elias talked with Him, and they confessed His grace and His goodness, for by the coming of our Lord and by His going up upon the mountain [the truth] of the prophecy of the prophets was made known of a certainty. And the apostles and the prophets rejoiced, for they saw His Incarnation which they had known not of, and the apostles rejoiced also when they heard the voice of the Father, which they had never before heard. They heard it at that time, and by the voice of the Father they became certain of the Incarnation of our God the Son, which was hidden from them; and when they heard the voice of the Father the glory of the kingdom appeared, and the apostles knew that it was our Lord Jesus Christ Who had raised up the soul of Moses, and that it was He Who had brought up Elias, for verily none save God Who buried him knew where the grave of Moses was, and none save He Who had brought him up to heaven knew where Elias was. And none was able to make the dead to live save Almighty God, Who hath dominion over the heavens and the earth. And Mount Tabor is a similitude of the Church, and our Lord gathered together therein the Two Laws, the New and the Old. And when the disciples heard the voice of the Father, they fell down and became like dead men; and Moses returned to his grave, and Elias went up to heaven. And our Lord Jesus Christ stood alone, for the voice came because of Him, and the prophets were frightened and the apostles fell down upon their faces, for the Father revealed the Name of His son, and that He existed for ever with His Father. Because of that voice the Apostles preached that He was God indeed, and also that the flesh (or, body), which He had put on, was of the race of the children of man. And in the Gospel our Redeemer preached saying . . .. If He was not flesh, why did the angel Gabriel say unto Mary, “God be with thee!” And if He was not flesh, Whom did they lay in the manger? And if He was not God, Whom did the angels praise when He went down from heaven on the day of His birth, saying, “Glory to God in the heights, and peace on earth, His goodwill to man.” If He was not flesh, Whom did John baptize in the Jordan? And if He was not God, Who was it that raised up Lazarus from his grave? It was Christ, the Only Son, the Word of God. We confess that He is perfect God and perfect man, One Person without separation. And when the apostles fell down upon the earth, and became like dead men, our Lord touched them with His Life- giving hand, and He said unto them, “Rise up, and fear not.” And they rose up straightway, and they lifted up their eyes and saw no one except our Lord Jesus Christ, Who was alone. Salutation to Debre Tabor, which is called Debre Telul.

And on this day also was the martyrdom of Saint Safrira, the daughter of Moses the prophet.

And on this day also died Abba Galyon, the spiritual fighter. This saint was a spiritual fighter, and he ceased from prayer neither by day nor by night. He used to eat one meal only during the whole week, and from the time, when, as a young man, he became a monk until he became an old man, he never went outside the court of the monastery; and none of the brethren ever saw him except at prayers. And when Satan saw his spiritual fight, he took the forms of monks and they came to him at the time of midnight, and said unto him, “We are dwellers in the desert and recluses; one of us having died, we want to take thee with us, and we have come to thee.” And Abba Galyon thought that their words were true, and he went with them until they brought him to the top of a desert mountain, where there was no food; and when he saw that they were making a mock of him, he made the sign of the Cross over his face, and they disappeared from him. And having turned to this side and to that, he lost the road whereon he should go, and he prayed a long prayer, and then there appeared unto him some holy monks from the monastery of Abba Sinoda, who were going about from one monastery to another singing the Psalms of David, and they asked him questions about his actions. And when he told them his story they took him with them, and he dwelt a full year with them, and ate fish dried in the sun. And Abba Isaac, his teacher, who had made him a monk, lacking news of him, asked God to be allowed to see his face [again]; and Abba Galyon knew this by the spirit, and went to him. And when Abba Isaac saw him, he rejoiced and said unto him, “Where hast thou been?” And Abba Galyon told him everything, from the beginning to the end. And then at the time of his death the brethren came, and wrapped him in cloths and buried him. Salutation to Abba Galyon. Salutation to Benjamin, who by reason of his spiritual excellence was caught up in the body [to heaven]. Glory be to God Who is glorified in His Saints. Amen.

Nehasse 14 (August 20)

On this day died Simon Shalusi and John his friend. These saints were in the kingdom of Yostos (Justus), the believing emperor, and their parents were rich and honorable; they wished to keep the festival of the Cross, and they departed to Jerusalem to worship at the holy places. And when they had finished celebrating the festival, as they were riding back to their own city on their horses, they drew nigh to Jericho, and John saw on the plain of the Jordan certain monasteries wherein monks dwelt. And he said unto Simon, “O my brother, these are the monasteries wherein live the angels of God.” And Simon said unto him, “Can we see them?” And John said unto him, “If we were with them (i.e. the monks) we could see them.” Then they got down from their horses, which they handed over to their servants, and they told them to go on slowly in front until they overtook them; now they pretended to them that they wanted to fulfill the law of the body. And when they had drawn nigh to the road of the Jordan they both said, “Come, let us make a prayer. Let one of us stand on the road to our city, and let one of us stand on the road which will bring [us] to the monastery of the monks; and let us cast lots, and where it pleaseth God [for us to go], let us go.” And then Simon stood up on the road to the Jordan, and John stood up on the road whereon their men had departed; and when they had cast lots, the lot went forth for the road of Simon. And they embraced each other and kissed, and they went along the road to the Jordan rejoicing. And one admonished the other to be vigilant in the doing of good works, and each feared that his companion would not attain to his end. John feared for Simon, that he would not attain to his end, [because of his] love for his parents, and Simon feared for John, because of love for his parents, and because he had married in those days a beautiful and rich wife. And then they prayed and said, “O Lord our God, if we find a monastery, the doors of which are open, let this be a sign unto us that it is the monastery wherein we are to become monks.” And there was a certain archimandrite, who was called Nikon, and he used to work many miracles, and the gift of prophecy had been given to him. That night he saw, as it were a man, who said unto him, “Open the doors of the monastery in order that sheep may come in.” And when Simon and John came to him, he said unto them, “Welcome to you, O ye sheep of Christ”; and then he received them to himself as men who had been sent by God. And they asked the archimandrite to give them the tonsure, and to array them in the garb of the monk, for they had seen a monk, with a crown of light on his head, surrounded by angels, and therefore they longed to become monks quickly. And on the following day when the archimandrite put the holy garb upon them, their faces were shining with the grace of the Holy Spirit, and even in the night they could see each other’s faces as they did by day; and they saw crowns of light upon their heads, like unto those they saw upon the head[s] of the monks. And then there came to them the spiritual thought that they should be separated from among the monks, and should go forth into the desert. That night a shining man appeared to the archimandrite, and said unto him, “Open the gates that the sheep of Christ may go forth.” And when he woke up he went down straightway, and found the doors of the monastery open, and whilst [he stood] sad and sorrowing, behold the servants of Christ came, wishing to go forth. And he saw in front of them figures of eunuchs carrying lamps, and some of them were carrying staves of kings, and when he saw them he rejoiced greatly, and he joined them and they told him what was in their hearts, and they asked him to pray for them. And then he wept for a long time, and he turned his face towards the East, and he set Simon on his right hand and John on his left. Then stretching out his hands to heaven, he made a prayer, and committed them to the care of God, and he entreated Him to protect them from all evil; and he sent them away in peace. Then they departed by the road to the Dead Sea, and they came to a river which was called ‘Arnon. And the found a cave wherein an old desert monk used to live, now he had recently died, and in it there was what they needed, that is to say, a store of grain and food from which the elder had eaten; and they rejoiced in God exceedingly Who had prepared this for them. And they lived there, and fought the spiritual fight for many days, and they lived apart from each other, the distance between them being a stone’s throw. And Satan set himself in opposition to them, and he fought against them, and Saint Nikyos, their father, used to come to them in a vision, and pray on their behalf, and teach them psalms whilst they were asleep; and when they woke up they would recite everything which he had taught them during sleep, and they rejoiced exceedingly. And heavenly visions were granted unto them, and the power to perform miracles. And they dwelt in that desert nineteen years, and endured the cold of the night and the heat of the day, until they had vanquished Satan by the might of Christ, And then Simon said unto his brother John, “What doth it profit us to live by ourselves in the desert? Come let us go into the desert, that we may be profitable to others and deliver them.” And John said unto him, “O my brother, this thought appeareth to me to be due to the envy of Satan.” And Simon said unto him, “God hath commanded me to become the mockery of the world; come, let us pray a prayer.” And then they prayed, and they embraced each other, and they wept until they spoiled their apparel. And Simon went to Jerusalem, and he continued to pray for three days to God that He would keep hidden his work until he died. And then he went into the city, and pretended to be mad, and sometimes he healed those who were mad, and sometimes he carried fire in his hands. And he found by the gate a dead dog, and he dragged it about by his girdle like people who amuse themselves, and at last the people reviled him and cried out, “The mad monk”; and they used to run after him and buffet him. One day, now it was the First Day of the week, he took a branch (?) of a nut-tree, and went into the church at the time of the Offering, and he broke the lamps, and beat the women until he drove them out of the church. And sometimes he seized women as if he were going to lie with them, and [he kept them fast] until their husbands beat them. And when the time of his death had drawn nigh God commanded His angel to tell him the day of his death, and of the death of John his brother. And he went in under a vine, and he and John his brother delivered up their souls into the hand of God. Salutation to Simon and John.

And on this day God worked a great miracle in the city of Alexandria, (by reason of which many Jews believed,) by the hand of Saint Abba Theophilus, Archbishop of the city of Alexandria, brother of Saint Cyril. Now the miracle was this: There was in the city of ‘Esmadreya a very rich Jew whose name was Falskinos, who feared God and performed the Law of Moses, according to his ability. And there were in the city of Alexandria two men who were Christians, and they were poor and earned their living with their hands. And Satan brought into the heart of one of them a blasphemous thought, and he said unto his companion, “O my brother, why do we serve Christ and [remain] poor, whilst this Falaksinos who is a Jew, is exceedingly rich?” And his companion answered and said unto him, “O my brother, know that the possessions of this world are nothing before God. For if He had power over them, He would not give them to the worshippers of idols, and to whoremongers, and to thieves, and to murderers. The prophets were poor men and lived in tribulation, and also the Apostles, and our Lord saith, ‘The poor are My brethren.’” And Satan, the hater of good things, would not permit that man to receive any of these words, but he stirred him up, and he went to that Jew Falaksinos, and he asked him and said unto him, “Let me be thy servant.” And the Jew answered and said unto him, “It is not convenient to me for thee to serve me. I only want a servant who believeth my Faith, and who is my own man. If thou dost want alms, I will give thee money, and [then] depart.” And that wretched man answered and said unto him, “Take me into thy house, and I will do whatsoever thou commandest me.” And the Jew Falaksinos answered and said unto him, “Wait until I take counsel with my teacher.” And the Jew departed and he told his teacher how the man was a Christian. And his teacher said unto him, “If he hath denied Christ his Messiah, take him and circumcise him.” And the Jew returned, and told the Christian what his teacher had said to him, and the wretched man accepted this condition, and the Jew took him a carried him to their synagogue. And the chief of the Jews questioned that wretched Christian before all the Jews, and he said unto him, “Is it true that thou wishest to deny thy Messiah, and become a Jew?” And the Christian said unto him, “Yea”; and that debased and contemptible man denied our Lord Jesus Christ, our God, before the Jews. Thus to poverty in money he added poverty in Faith. And the chief of the Jews commanded them to make for him a cross of wood, and they made one for him as the chief of the Jews commanded, and they gave him a reed, on the top of which was a sponge full of vinegar, and a spear. And he said unto the Christian, “Spit upon this cross.” And he offered to him the vinegar and said, “Pierce [the cross] with this spear, [saying,] ‘I have pierced Thee, O Christ.’” And that debased man took the cross and the spear from them and did as he commanded him. And when he pierced the honorable cross with his cursed hand, much blood and water flowed forth, and ran down on the ground, and it continued to flow for a long time. And straightway that apostate fell down and died, and dried up like a stone. And great fear fell upon all those Jews, and they cried out, saying, “One is the Lord God of the Christians, and we believe on Him.” And then the chief of the Jews took some of that blood, and made a sign therewith over the eyes of a girl who was blind, and she saw straightway. And that Jew and all the men of his house believed, and very many of the [other] Jews believed. And then one went and told Abba Theophilus, the Archbishop, what had happened, and he rose up, and took with him Abba Cyril, and many of the priests, and many of the people, and went to the synagogue of the Jews. And the archbishop saw the cross with blood and water running down from it, and the saint blessed himself, and made the sign of the Cross with the blood on his forehead, and on the foreheads of all the people. And he commanded, and they took up that cross with great honor and brought it with the singing of hymns to the church, and laid it therein; and they gathered up the blood from the ground and laid it in a vessel for “blessing,” and it healed the sick. And after this Falaksinos and all the men of his house, and many other Jews, followed the archbishop, and they confessed before him our Lord Jesus Christ, Whom their fathers in times of old had crucified, and then he baptized them with Christian baptism in the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost. And he associated them with him in prayer, and he administered to them the Holy Mysteries, and they departed to their houses rejoicing, and praising, and thanking God. Salutation to the conversion of the Jews.

And on this day also died Damiates, the martyr, who worked a miracles at the time when he, together with his servants, were stoned to death. Salutation to the great miracle of making a blind man to see, and raising up to life a dead man on his bier.

And on this day also Saint Basilicus became a martyr. To this saint our Lord Jesus Christ appeared when he was in prison, and He said unto him, “Depart, say farewell to thy kinsfolk, behold the time of thy martyrdom hath come.” [The text is corrupt here.] And he passed the night in saying farewell to his mother and to his kinsfolk. And on the following day they brought Saint Basilicus, and tied him to two pillars, and beat him, and they made for him pegs of brass, and they fastened them to his feet like shoes so tightly that they pierced his feet, and the blood ran out on the ground; and all those who saw him wept for him. And then they tied him to a dry tree, and men struggled with each other to touch the hem of his garment, when they saw the miracles, which he performed on many sick folk. And then they took him to the city of Terlinos in a ship, and the soldiers said unto him, “Eat, that thou mayest not die.” And the blessed Basilicus said unto them, “I am filled with heavenly food, and I do not choose [to eat] the food which perisheth.” And on the following day they brought him to the governor, who said unto him, “Sacrifice to the gods.” And Basilicus said unto him, “I offer offerings of praise to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” And then the governor commanded the soldiers to bring him into the house of his idols, and the saint stood up and prayed to God and at length fire came down from heaven, and burnt up the idols. And the governor being afraid took to flight, and went outside the city, and he was wroth and commanded the soldiers to hang him [on a tree]. And the saint prayed, and gave thanks to God, and they cut off his head, and we saw his soul with many angels who were taking it up [to heaven], and our Lord Jesus Christ called to him and said unto him, “Come, ascend, Basilicus, for I am not a liar, and I fulfill all that I say.” And thus he finished his martyrdom. Salutation to Basilicus. Glory be to God Who is glorified in His Saints. Amen.

Nehasse 15 (August 21)

On this day Saint Christina, the daughter of Rubanos, became a martyr. Her parents worshipped idols, and she herself offered incense to them according as her father had taught her. And one day the fear of God entered her heart, and she turned herself towards the East, and she asked Him to teach her the path of the kingdom of heaven; and the Holy Spirit taught her the Faith of the Trinity. And when her father came he said unto her, “What hath happened unto thee, O my daughter?” And she said, “I am going to live the life of Christ.” And her father was dismayed, and he said unto her, “What hath changed thy heart?” And she said unto him, “I am instructed by the God of heaven”; and then her father departed, being very sad and sorrowful. And Saint Christina rose up, and prayed to God, and straightway the angel of God came unto her, and he said unto her, “Be strong, for thou shalt be tortured by three governors.” And then the angel of God sealed her with the seal of the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, and he gave her the Holy Mysteries. And [she] went into the house of the idols, and broke the idols in pieces, and when her father saw her he commanded them to beat his daughter, until there went forth from her body honey instead of blood. And they also laid her upon an iron bed, and they lighted a fire under her, but the fire did not harm her and it consumed ten thousand pagans [who were there]. And then her father commanded his servants to cast her adrift on the sea on a raft. When she had prayed, our Lord Jesus Christ came with His angels, and baptized her, and Michael gave her, on a trident of fire, the Body and Blood of Christ, and cleansed her from the uncleanness of idols. And that night Rubanos her father died. And another governor, whose name was Dios, came, and he commanded the soldiers to bring Saint Christina, and to hang her on a tree, and to beat her, and to light a fire under her; and when the women saw her stripped naked they cursed the governor, and he cut off their heads with a sword. And Christina they cast into the prison house. And when the people saw her three thousand of them believed, and the wicked Dios died. And there came a third governor, whose name was Julius, and he seized Saint Christina, and forced her to sacrifice to the gods, and when she cursed him he cast her into a vessel filled with boiling pitch, and lead, and wax, but this did not harm her. And he also commanded the soldiers to cast her to the serpents, but they licked the dust at her feet, and bit the keeper of the serpents, who died. And they also slit open and cut her breasts, and cut out her tongue, and she took the piece of her tongue, which was cut off, and cast it into the eyes of the governor, and blinded him. And he was filled with wrath, and commanded the soldiers to cast her to the serpents; and one bit her in her heart, and one in her side, and thus she died by the Will of God; and innumerable miracles and wonders were made manifest at her grave. Salutation to Christina, whom God baptized. Salutation to the three thousand companions of Christina who were martyred. Salutation to God Who helped the Apostles to be present at the burial of the Virgin.

And on this day also died Saint Marina. This saint was the daughter of a man, who was very rich indeed, and he was a Christian; and the name of her mother was Mary. And Marina’s mother died when she was a little girl, and her father brought her up with good teaching until she became a woman, and then he wanted to give her in marriage, and to go himself and become a monk in one of the monasteries of the desert of Scete. And she said unto her father, “Why wouldst thou save thine own soul, and destroy mine?” And he answered and said unto her, “What shall I do with thee, seeing that thou art a woman?” And she said unto him, “O my father, I will take off my woman’s dress, and will put on the garb of a man”; and she rose up straightway, and shaved off the hair of her head and put on the garb of a man. And when her father saw the strength of her will, and the earnestness wherewith she fought to carry out her will, he gave all his possessions to the poor and needy, keeping only a very little for himself, and he changed his daughter’s name from Marina to ‘Anba Marina; and then he took her with him and carried her to the desert of Scete. And he went into a certain monastery, and dwelt in a cave with his daughter for ten years, fighting the spiritual fight, and then her father, who was an old man, died; and Saint ‘Anba Marina was left by herself, and she doubled her fasting, and prayers, and vigil. And the abbot sent the saint, together with three monks, to the city on certain business of the monastery, and he did not know that she was a woman, but by reason of the low sound of her voice, which was due to her manifold ascetic labors, he thought that she was a young man. And having departed with the monks, she and they lodged in a guesthouse. And that same night there came one of the king’s soldiers and lodged in that guest house, and he saw the daughter of the master of the house, and he destroyed her virginity, and he said unto her, “When thy father shall say unto thee, ‘What hath happened unto thee?’ do thou say unto him, ‘It is the young monk ‘Anba Marina who hath destroyed my virginity.’” And when she had conceived, and her father knew that she had done so, he asked her saying, “What hath happened unto thee, O my daughter? Who hath destroyed thy virginity?” And she answered and said unto him, “It is Anba Marina who hath destroyed my virginity.” And her father rose up, and went to the monastery and began to curse the monks. And when the abbot heard him he asked him, saying, “Who dost thou curse the monks, and dost not fear God?” And the man told him what had happened to his daughter, and he said unto him, “Anba Marina the monk is he who hath destroyed the virginity of my daughter.” And when the abbot heard this, he asked him questions, and the man answered believing that what he said was true. And the abbot asked the master of the guesthouse, and said unto him, “Hide this matter, and do not bring disgrace upon the monks in the eyes of the laity.” And then the abbot summoned ‘Anba Marina the monk, and rebuked him, and cursed him, and Saint ‘Anba Marina did not know why the abbot cursed her. And when she knew what had happened, she wept and bowed down at the feet of the abbot, and she besought him, saying, “I am young, I have sinned, forgive me my sin”; and the abbot was furious with her, and cast her out from the monastery. And she sat outside the door of the monastery until the daughter of the master of the guest house had brought forth her child; and the parents of the girl took the child, and brought it to ‘Anba Marina and set it down by her. And she took the child and went over to some shepherds, who were pasturing cattle and sheep, and she begged from them, and they gave her milk, and she made the child drink it. And she increased her fasting, and prayers, and spiritual fight, and she lived outside the gate of the monastery for three years. Then the monks gathered together, and asked the abbot to have mercy upon ‘Anba Marina, and to bring her into the monastery; and he brought her in, and having laid heavy penalties upon her, she mingled with the monks. And the saint used to perform very hard labors, and she boiled the lentils, and cleaned the cells, and took up the dust and ashes and carried them away and cast them outside the monastery, and fetched water; and she gave the boy to drink. And he grew up and became a monk. And when four (?) days were fulfilled for Saint ‘Anba Marina in that monastery, she was sick for three days, and then died in peace. And when the abbot knew that ‘Anba Marina was dead, he commanded the monks to blow a trumpet before they buried her. And when they removed her clothing, and found that she was a woman, all the monks cried out, saying, “God have mercy upon us”; and they marveled exceedingly and glorified God, and informed the abbot what had happened. And the abbot came and looked upon her and marveled, and he wept because of what he had done to her. And then he sent and had the master of the guest house brought, and told him that ‘Anba Marina was a woman, and he took him in, and the master of the guest house saw and wondered; then the abbot prayed over her and they wrapped her up, weeping, and singing psalms and hymns; and when they had prayed for her blessing they buried her. Behold now, see what happened. God commanded a certain Satan, and he took the daughter of the master of the guesthouse, and the young man who had destroyed her virginity, and he tormented them until he brought them to her grave, where they confessed their sin before all the people. And innumerable miracles and wonders were made manifest at her grave. Salutation to Marina.

And on this day also Saint Laurentius became a martyr in the days of Decius Caesar. This saint was a man in whom great confidence was placed, and he was appointed an archdeacon, and he had charge of the revenues of the archbishop. And when the emperor had killed the archbishop because of his Christian Faith, he commanded his soldiers to bring Saint Laurentius before him, and when they had brought him, they took him into the prison house. And the saint found there, a blind man, and he said unto him, “Wilt thou believe in the Son of the Living God? And wilt thou be baptized in His Name, so that thine eyes may be opened?” And the blind man said unto him, “Yes, my lord.” Then the saint prayed over some water in the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and washed his eyes therewith, and his eyes were opened, and he cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Blessed be our Lord Jesus Christ Who hath given light to mine eyes, through the prayer of His servant Laurentius.” And when the emperor heard this, he commanded his soldiers to bring Saint Laurentius before him, and he urged him to bow down to the idols; and when he refused to do so they broke his teeth with a stone, and tore off his garments, and laid him upon an iron bed, and kept a fire burning under him until his body melted. And the saint continued to pray to his God until he delivered up his soul into the hand of God, and the angels came to meet it, saying, “Hallelujah,” and they brought it into the heavenly Jerusalem. Salutation to Laurentius. Glory be to God Who is glorified in His Saints. Amen.

Nehasse 16 (August 22)

On this day took place the Ascension of the body of our Lady Mary, the God-bearer, into heaven. After her death the Apostles continued to be sad and sorrowful, because of her separation from them, and because they were left orphans by her; for our Lord had given them the hope that they would see her in the flesh. Whilst John the evangelist was preaching in the country of Asia, on the sixteenth day of the month of Nahasse, he was caught up in the spirit to the Garden of Delight, and he saw our Lord Jesus Christ sitting by the Tree of Life, where was the body of our Lady Mary, and He commanded His Seven Angels to summon her from earth. And they said unto her, “God, our Lord Jesus Christ, commandeth that the body of His pure mother shall go forth.” And straightway the body of our Lady Mary went forth from the grave at the foot of the Tree of Life, and our Lord Jesus Christ comforted her, and He said unto her, “Come to Me, O My beloved mother, that thou mayest ascend to the kingdom of heaven, to the joy which is everlasting.” And straightway all the trees of the Garden bowed their heads, and the angels and archangels took her up, and the righteous bowed low to her. And David, the prophet, sang a hymn of praise, saying, “And the Queen shall stand at Thy right hand, and her apparel shall be of fine needlework with gold woven through it” (Psalm xlv, 9). And she sat down at the right hand of the Son of God, with great glory, and she went up into the heavens sitting upon the chariot of the Cherubim. And John the evangelist was blessed by her, and he bowed low before her, and he turned and came down from heaven, and found the Apostles gathered together and sorrowing for the body of our holy Lady, Mary the Virgin. And John told them what he had seen, and how they had taken the body of our Lady Mary up into heaven, with great joy, and praise, and songs, and hymns. And when the Apostles heard this they were exceedingly sad and sorrowful because they had neither heard nor seen what John had heard and seen. And whilst the Apostles were sorrowing behold our Lord Jesus Christ appeared unto them, and said unto them, “Peace be unto you, O My children! Why are ye sad about the body of My mother Mary? Behold, I shall show her to you, and your hearts shall rejoice”; and having said these words He went up into heaven with great glory. And the Apostles continued [to wait] there for a full year. And on the first day of Nahasse John said unto the Apostles, “Come, let us fast for two weeks and let us entreat God, and make supplication unto Him, that He will consider us worthy and will show unto us the body of our holy Lady, the Virgin Mary, sitting on the right hand of her beloved Son, that we may rejoice in her.” And they fasted as John had said unto them, and it came to pass that when the sixteenth day of Nahasse had come, as it were to-day, our Lord Jesus Christ caught all the Apostles up to heaven, and they saw in her flesh our holy Lady, the Virgin Mary, sitting on the right hand of her beloved Son and God in great glory. And she stretched out her hands, and blessed each one of the Apostles, and the souls of the Disciples rejoiced exceedingly. And our Lord Jesus Christ served as priest in His holy Body, and Stephen the archdeacon ministered with Him, and John with Him, saying, “Stand up in fear”; and all the Apostles stood up around the altar. And there was great joy at that time, the like whereof before never was. And when our Lord had finished, He gave them the Holy Mysteries. And then [Mary] went up before them sitting upon the chariot of the Cherubim. And our Lord Jesus Christ said unto our Lady Mary, “Tell thy children, the Apostles, to preach in all the world the commemoration of thy Ascension into heaven,” as it were on this day. “Whosoever shall celebrate thy commemoration, I will destroy his sins, and he shall never see the fire at all, for mercy shall find every soul who shall take heed and shall receive the Holy Mysteries on this day, which is the day of thy Ascension into heaven.” And our Lady Mary said unto Him, “Behold, my sons, behold, they have seen with their eyes, and they have heard with their ears, and they have received with their hands, and they shall see other wonders greater than these”; and as the Virgin was saying these words she gave the salutation of “Peace” to the Apostles, and they returned to the Mount of Olives. And it is meet for us, O beloved brethren, to celebrate the commemoration of the Ascension of our Lady Mary into heaven with joy and gladness, so that she may make intercession for us, at all times, with her beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Salutation to the Ascension of Mary into heaven, and to Mary as the tree of knowledge, and to her body.

And on this day also took place the translation of the body of Saint George, the chief of the martyrs, from the country of Persia to the church of Lydda, with great splendor. The translation of his body took place at the same time as the translation of the body of our Lady Mary, and therefore those who know how to love her, paint his picture with her picture, so that it may be a port of salvation for those who pray in his name. Salutation to George.

And on this day also Gegar, governor of Syria, [became a martyr]; and this was the reason for his martyrdom. When our Lord was with His mother Mary in the mountains of Libanos, and Gegar heard that Herod wanted to seize them and kill them, he sent horsemen to them to bring them away from the mountains. And because of this Herod seized him, and tortured him with every kind of torture, and he cut off all his limbs. And then our Lord Jesus Christ appeared unto him, and gave him a promise concerning everyone who should call upon his name, and celebrate his commemoration, and write the history of his strife. And then the soldiers cut off the head of Gegar, and he was crowned with three crowns. Salutation to Gegar, the governor of the martyrs. Glory be to God Who is glorified in His Saints. Amen.

Nehasse 17 (August 23)

On this day ‘Entawos (Entaeus), the ‘Amorawi, became a martyr. Originally this saint was a wicked man, and knew not Christ, and he devoted all his toil and thought to heap up money. And having arrived in the city of Damascus, he went into the church of Saint Theodore, the man from the East, whilst the congregation was assembled there, now it was the day of their festival, and having entered the church, he set fire to the furniture thereof, and broke the cross. And when he went up into the upper part of the church, he saw with his own eyes fire coming down from heaven in the form of arrows, which transfixed all his soldiers, and one of the arrows pierced his right eye, and he suffered great agony, and the sweat dropped from him. And he cried out from the depth of his heart, and, shedding tears, said, “I believe in Thee, Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, the God of Saint Theodore, and in the Holy Trinity”; and he pledged himself never again to worship any other [god]. Now the Christians, who were celebrating the Offering, did not know what had happened, and when they heard they marveled, and their Faith was increased. And when Saint ‘Entawos (Entaeus) had gone to the bishop, whose name was Elias, he told him everything that had happened, and he asked him to baptize him with Christian baptism. And when the bishop prayed over the water in the vessel for baptism, a pillar of light, like unto the rainbow came down, and all the people saw it. And Saint ‘Entawos (Entaeus) and those who were with him, both Jews and pagans, sixteen hundred and ninety-eight in number, were baptized, and received the Body and Blood of Christ. And Saint ‘Entawos (Entaeus) said, as he marveled at this, “I saw in a dream a shining Lady, and she took me by the hand and led me to the altar, and she brought me near with her hand. And then I went to Jerusalem and I received the Body of Christ. And again I saw on the altar a White Lamb, and having been slain with the knife (?) of the cross, its blood ran into the cup. And when I had partaken of the Body of Christ, the Body became pure bread, and His Blood became wine.” And then, when he was departing from Damascus, the people thereof seized him, and took him to the king. And when the king knew that he was strong in the Faith of Christ, he commanded his soldiers to beat his mouth with clubs (?) until his teeth were broken, and his blood filled his mouth. And then they tied him up in strips of hide for several days, without water and food, and they took him out from them and cast him into a furnace, which was heated with pitch, and sulfur, and bitumen, and fat, and there came forth there from a sweet and pleasant odor. And when the soldiers looked at him they found him standing up in the middle of the fire praying, and they took him to the king. And the king said unto him, “Where didst thou learn the power of magic?” And the saint said unto him, “I know nothing of magic, but [I know] that the might of my Lord Jesus Christ hath put thee to shame.” And being filled with wrath, the king commanded the soldiers to cut off his head with the sword. And when Saint ‘Entawos (Entaeus) stood up facing the East, he stretched out his hands, and committed his soul to God; and as he was praying, a voice came from heaven saying, “Come, My servant, in peace, so that thou mayest rest with George and Stephen.” And when he had finished his prayer the soldiers cut off his head with the sword, and having finished his martyrdom innumerable signs and wonders were made manifest through his body. Salutation to ‘Entawos (Entaeus).

And on this day also ‘Akrates, the brother of Antaeus, became a martyr. Salutation to ‘Akrates.

And on this day also Saint James, who was from a small city the name of which is Manug, on the borders of Abus, in Lower Egypt, became a martyr. The parents of this saint were Christians, and fearers of God, and they had begotten three daughters before they begot him. And when they were grown up a little, they committed them to a nunnery to be taught, and brought up, in the fear of God, and they learned many of the Books of the Church and of the Old and New Testaments. And when their parents wished to bring them back from the nunnery, the maidens did not wish to return, but they dedicated themselves as the brides of Christ; and their parents sorrowed because of their separation from them, but God consoled them by means of this Saint James, and they rejoiced in him when he was born to them. And when his days were six years, they sent him to the city of ‘Awesu, to school, and he studied learning of every kind, and was perfect in every branch of knowledge; and his father deputed him to take charge of his money and possessions, and his herds and flocks. And there lived with his father a certain old shepherd of sheep, and he used to perform many works of excellence, and he used to go down into a well of water during the days of winter and stand up therein the whole night praying; and Saint James used to do even as did the old shepherd of sheep, and he continued to do so for many days. And Satan having brought tribulation upon the Christians, many of them became martyrs. And the old man handed over the sheep to the father of Saint James, and when Saint James departed to become a martyr, the father of Saint James asked the shepherd to go with him. And he left [him] with that old man, and [told him] to return. And when he had gone with him, he found that the governor was in Upper Egypt, passing judgment upon Justus, the king’s son, who had forsaken his kingdom and become a martyr. And the old man said unto James, “Observe, O my son, if this king of Egypt hath rejected a kingdom of this world, and followed Christ, and hath separated himself from his wife and family, how very much should we, who are poor folk, be consoled. O my son, be not sorrowful because of thy separation from thy parents.” And then the old man approached the governor, and confessed the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ before him, and cursed his gods. And the governor condemned the old man, and cut off his head with the sword speedily, and he became a martyr. And he tortured Saint James very severely, and he beat him with whips made of cords, and then he made [an iron] red-hot and laid it on his belly. And Saint James lifted up his eyes to Christ, and prayed, saying, “O my Lord Jesus, help me under this tribulation”; and the Lord delivered him from the torture and raised him up whole and uninjured. And then the governor put him in a sack, and cast him into the river, and the angel of the Lord raised him up from the river whole and uninjured. And the saint stood up before the governor, and cursed him and his unclean gods; and the governor was wroth with him and sent him to the governor of Farma, who tortured him very severely. They cut out his tongue, and tore out his eyes and his eyelids, and they tortured him on the wheel, and they made slits in every part of his body, and at length all his limbs were crushed, and his blood flowed down on the ground like water; and Suriel, the angel of God, came down and delivered him, and health his wounds. And when the governor was tired of torturing him, he commanded the soldiers to cut off his head with the sword, [and they did so,] and he received the crown of martyrdom in the kingdom of the heavens. And when he was in the city of Farma there were two other men who became martyrs with him, that is to say, Abraham and John, who were of the men of the city of Gamnudi. Salutation to James, who was learned from his youth. Salutation to the aged shepherd who followed the Law of God. Glory be to God Who is glorified in His Saints. Amen.

Nehasse 18 (August 24)

On this day died the holy father, Abba Alexander, Archbishop of the city of Alexandria. This holy father was an honorable man, and much tribulation came upon him through the people of Arius. And in his day Abba Athanasius renewed the excommunication of Arius, and he removed him, and expelled his followers, from the churches of the city of Alexandria. And Arius departed to the city of Constantinople, and he went unto the Emperor Constantine, the son of Constantine the Just, and he made accusations against Athanasius to him. And when he found no rest with him, Arius asked the emperor to command this Father Alexander to receive him with his priests. And the emperor sent messengers to this father, and had him brought, and he said unto him, “Athanasius transgressed our command, and would not received Arius; thou knowest that we appointed thee, and thou must not transgress our command. Make my heart glad, and release Arius from thy ban.” And Saint Abba Alexander answered and said unto him, “The Church will not receive Arius, because he doth not worship the Holy Trinity”; and the emperor said unto him, “But he confessed his belief in the Holy Trinity before me.” And Alexander answered and said unto him, “If he believeth in the Holy Trinity and if he believeth that the Son is equal with the Father in His Godhead, let him write this with his hand.” And the emperor had Arius brought, and he said unto him, “Write with thy hand the True Faith,” and he wrote with his hand the True Faith, although he did not believe it in his heart, and then he took an oath on the Holy Gospels that this was the True Faith, but he swore falsely. And the emperor said unto this Father Alexander, “There is now no pretext to be found against him since he hath written the True Faith with his own hand, and taken an oath on the Holy Gospels.” And Abba Alexander said unto the emperor, “Athanasius renewed the proclamation of the excommunication of Arius, which was written by the hand of thy Father Constantine, and was written also by the hands of the Three Hundred and Eighteen [Bishops] of the True Faith, and he expelled him and all his people from the city of Alexandria. But wait, at my request, for one week, and if nothing happeneth to him during this week, then his profession of the Faith is sincere, and his oath is righteous, and I will receive him, and will let him mix with the priests, and he shall take part with them in the service of the Sanctuary.” And the emperor answered and said unto him, “Know thou that I will not wait at thy request seven days. If thou wilt not receive him I will levy a very heavy tax upon the churches.” And after this Father Alexander went out from the emperor’s presence, and departed to his own house, and he fasted there the whole week, and he besought God to deliver Arius from his sin. And when the week was expired, Arius arrayed himself in fine apparel, and went into the church, and sat down in front of the altar with the priests. Then this Father Alexander entered, being sad and sorrowful, and not knowing what to do. And he stood up and began the service of the Offering. And the bowels of Arius were moved, and he went to answer the call of nature, and everything, which was in his body flowed away from beneath him, and he was left empty. And when Arius delayed in returning, the people searched for him and enquired where he was, and they found him dead in the latrine; and they told this father what had happened, and he praised Christ Who had not cast away the Church. And the emperor marveled about this, and knew that Arius had sworn an oath falsely, and had written a lie with his own hand; and then the emperor knew the holiness of this father, and his righteousness, and Orthodoxy, and he knew that Arius was an infidel. And the emperor praised the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost, and confessed that their Godhead is one. And this father, having followed a good course, and arrived at a good old age, departed to God, Whom he loved, and received the crown of martyrdom in the kingdom of the heavens. Salutation to Abba Alexander. Salutation to Justinus, who dwelt on the top of a mountain, and learned by heart the Psalms, and the Books of the Prophets and Apostles. Glory be to God Who is glorified in His Saints. Amen.

Nehasse 19 (August 25)

On this day took place the translation of the body of Saint Abba Macarius the Great to the desert of Scete. After his death certain man came from the city of Selawir and stole the body of the saint, and built a church over it in their city; and it remained there until the Muslims ruled over the city, and then the men of Selawir removed it to another city. And they built a church over him in their country, and he remain therein until the days of Abba Michael the Archbishop, that is to say for a period of four hundred and forty years. When Abba Michael was appointed, he became steward (or, administrator) of the church of Saint Abba Macarius. And when the archbishop went up to fast the Great Fast in the monastery of Abba Macarius, he cried out, saying, “I wish that our Lord Jesus Christ would help me, and that I shall find happy days, and that the body of Saint Abba Macarius shall be among us in this monastery.” And after a few days Abba Michael, the steward of the church, and certain elder monks with him, departed on some business of the monastery, and a spiritual thought moved itself in their minds. And they came to the place wherein was the body of Saint Abba Macarius that they might take him up, and the governor and all the men of the city gathered together with staves and swords, and prevented them from taking up the body of the saint; and the elder monks fell asleep being very sad and sorry in their hearts. And that night Abba Macarius appeared to the governor and said unto him, “Why dost thou prevent me from departing to my sons? Let me go with them to my own place, and prevent them not from carrying me away with them.” And when the morning was come, the governor rose up, and he was in fear and trembling, and he called the elder monks, and delivered over to them the body of Abba Macarius, and they received him with great joy. And they placed the body in a ship, and when they arrived in the city of Tarnut, there were many people with them from every city, who had come to bid the body of Abba Macarius farewell. And the elder monks lodged there that night, and they prayed, and they celebrated the Offering, and received the Holy Mysteries, and then they took up Macarius and carried him to the desert. And as they were going along, they came to a place in the desert, which was half way, and they wished to rest for a little because of [their] fatigue. And Abba Michael said unto them, “As God Who holdeth the place of the Cherubim in His hand liveth, we will not rest until God revealeth unto us and shows unto us, [the place wherein] Saint Abba Macarius shall rest.” And when the camel which was carrying the body of Abba Macarius came to that place, he knelt down, and would not rise up again, and he began to turn his head to this side and to that, and to lick the box wherein was the body of Saint Macarius. And the elder monks knew that that was the place where the saint was to rest, and they marveled exceedingly, and glorified God greatly; and that place is well known to this day. And when they came to the monastery, all the monks went out and received him with great honor, and with singing and with hymns, and with the Gospel, and with the Cross; and they had lighted lamps with them. And they carried him on their heads, and they bore him along singing as they went, until they brought him into the church, with great honor; and God performed many miracles that day. Salutation to the translation of the body of Abba Macarius. Salutation to the children of Macarius. Salutation to Finhanes (Phinehas). Glory be to God Who is glorified in His Saints. Amen.

Nehasse 20 (August 26)

On this day died Abba Salama the interpreter, and on this day also is commemorated Saint Hizawi (Hizaku). Salutation to Salama. Salutation to James, the Pure.

And on this day also died the seven holy young men of the city of Ephesus. And it came to pass that in the days of the wicked Emperor Decius these seven young men were in his army, and he appointed them to offices in his government. And when he established the worship of idols, certain men made accusations against these saints to him, and he seized them and shut them up in prison. But as he wanted to go to another place he released them from their bonds and sent them away until he returned, thinking within himself that they would turn from their good counsel. And when the emperor had gone out of the city, these saints refused to do the work of the soldiers and would not worship unclean idols, and then they went to a cave in the mountain, and closed up the mouth thereof and went to sleep inside it. And they had among them silver moneys on which was stamped the name of the Emperor Decius. And one after another of them used to go into the city every day in the early morning, and buy food for them. One day one of them heard a rumor of the coming of the Emperor Decius; and when the news reached them that the Emperor Decius had come to the city of Ephesus, they closed the doors of the cave on themselves, and went to sleep. And a certain believing soldier knew the place where they were, and he used to wait for them to come into the city, but after the arrival of the emperor they did not come. And the soldier rose up and departed and came to that cave, and he found that they had shut the doors of the cave from the inside, and he thought that they were dead. And he took a tablet of brass, and wrote upon it the story of their strife, and of what had happened to them, and he laid that tablet in a cavity in the wall of the cave. And sorrow laid hold upon the saints, and they slept by the commandment of God for three hundred and seventy-two years. And Decius died, and many other emperors reigned after him, and at length came the days of the Emperor Theodosius. And it came to pass in the thirty-eighth year of his reign, that certain men discussed among themselves the words of those who said, “There is no resurrection of the dead,” and many people followed them. And God wished to reveal the truth, and to make men to be certain that the resurrection of the dead would assuredly take place, and He woke up those seven holy young men. And they gave to one of their number some of the moneys, which they had, and they commanded him to go and buy them food to eat, and he heard [from] them the story of the wicked Emperor Decius. And when he came into the city, the manner thereof appeared to him to be changed, and he saw crosses on the gates of the city and on the walls thereof, and he heard the people taking oaths in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ. And he asked one of them, saying, “Is not this the city of Ephesus?” And the man answered and said unto him, “Yea.” And he took out the silver moneys which he had and gave to a certain merchant in the market, in order to buy from him food to eat; and when the merchant saw the silver money, he did not find it to be the silver money with which one could buy in those days; for he found the name of Decius, the wicked emperor, stamped upon it. And the merchant seized him and bound him, and he said unto him, “Thou art a seeker after ancient treasure, and behold this silver money which is on thee is a proof of it.” And whilst they were quarrelling together, many men gathered round about them, and they asked him, saying, “Whence comest thou?” And he answered and said unto them, “I belong to this city.” And they said unto him, “Whom dost thou know among the men of this city?” And he said unto them, “So and so.” And of those men whom he said he knew, there was not one of them left alive; and they dragged him away, and were wroth with him. And the story of the young man was heard by the bishop, Abba Theodore, and by the Emperor Theodosius, who had that man of the seven brought before him. And the emperor and the bishop asked him, saying, “Tell us what hath happened unto thee, and from what country thou comest.” And he answered and said unto them, “We were seven men, and we belonged to the army of the wicked Emperor Decius. And when he departed to another place we went out of the city of Ephesus, and came into a cave, and we closed up the mouth of the cave. And we lay down and have slept there until now. And behold my six companions are lying in the cave.” And the emperor and the bishop went forth, and all the people with them, and they came to the cave, and they found the saints lying there, and the written and engraved tablet, in the cave. And they read the tablet, on which it was said that it had been engraved in the days of the wicked Decius, that is to say, three hundred and seventy-two years before. And when the emperor, and the bishop, and all the people saw this, they marveled exceedingly, and they glorified God greatly; and those who did not believe in the resurrection of the dead believed forthwith when they saw this miracle. And when the seven young men had been questioned, and they had made known everything, which had happened to them, they lay down again, and delivered up their souls into the hand of God. And the emperor made gold coffins for them, and he wrapped them in silk cloths and laid them in the gold coffins, and signs and wonders took place through their bodies. Now their names were these: Maximanus, Tamukigros, Mardimus, John, Constantine, Antonius, and Dionysius. Salutation to the Seven Brethren. Glory be to God Who is glorified in His Saints. Amen.

Nehasse 21 (August 27)

On this day is celebrated a festival commemorating our Lady Mary, the God-bearer, who became the salvation of the world, and who maketh intercession for us at all times, and for all those who celebrate her commemoration. Salutation to thee, O Mary.

And on this day also died Saint Irene, which is being interpreted, “Peace.” This saint was the daughter of King Lucianus, and he built for her a palace, and he placed in the walls eight windows, and round about it were twelve halls. And he made for her a table of gold, and vessels of gold and silver, and he commanded a certain elder to teach her; and then he settled her in the palace, with three handmaidens to render her service, and closed the doors of the palace upon her. And the elder teacher used to instruct her from outside; and her days at that time were seven years. And one day whilst she was sitting at table, she saw a dove with an olive leaf in her mouth, and she laid it upon the table, and then there came an eagle with a crown, which he laid upon the table, and a raven came with a serpent, which he laid upon the table; and she was frightened at this sight, and she told her teacher about it. And he answered and said unto her, “The dove is the teaching of the Law, and the olive leaf is Christian baptism; the eagle is the conqueror, and the crown is the works of the righteous; the raven is a king, and the serpent is tribulation.” And her teacher said unto her, “Thou must fight the fight for the Name of Christ.” And her father the king came to visit her, and he said unto her, “O my daughter, I wish to marry thee to one of the great nobles”; and she asked him, saying, “O my father, wait three days, until I can take counsel about it with my soul.” And when her father had departed from her, she shaved off her hair, and stood up before the altar of the idols which were in the palace, and asked them to advise her about marriage; but they made no response whatsoever to her. And the saint lifted up her eyes to heaven, and said, “O God of the Christians have mercy upon me according to Thy good pleasure.” And the angel of God came to her and said unto her, “Behold, on the morrow there shall come to this city one of the disciples of Paul the apostle, and he shall baptize thee with Christian baptism”; and on the following day God sent unto her one of the disciples of the apostle, and he baptized her with Christian baptism. And after three days her father and her mother came to her, according to their promise, and she said unto them, “I am a Christian. I believe on my Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God; the Creator of heaven and earth.” And her father was wroth with her, and he had her brought out into the midst of the city, and he commanded his servants to bind her with cords, and to throw her in the road, and to make horses trample upon her; and they did to her as he commanded, but no harm came to her. And when her parents saw this, they believed on our Lord Jesus Christ and marveled exceedingly, and they forsook their kingdom, and departed to their abode and dwelt there. And when the king, who lived near their country, heard the story of them, and what had happened to them, he came to that city, and said unto them, “Return to you kingdom,” but they did not wish to do so; now that king ruled the whole country. And he tortured Saint Irene, and he set starving lions and serpents to attack her, but no evil whatsoever happened to her. Then he sawed her with a saw, and he hung a heavy stone about her neck, but our Lord Jesus delivered her, and raised her up uninjured from every torture. And her parents called the priest who had baptized her, and he baptized them with Christian baptism, and three hundred of their servants, and many of their kinsfolk and people of the city. And then Numerianus the king heard the report of her, and he sent and had her brought to him, and he took her to the city of Kalani, where he tortured her severely, and shut her up in a brass bull, but God smashed the brass bull, and brought her out there from. And Numerianus the king died, and King Sabor reigned in his stead. And he heard the report of Saint Irene, and he had her brought to him, and then he speared her with the spear, which was in his hand, and she delivered up her soul. And our Lord Jesus Christ raised her up from the dead. When Sabor the king saw this miracle, he marveled exceedingly, and he bowed low before her and believed on our Lord Jesus Christ, and with him were many people of the inhabitants of the city. Now the number of those who believed through her was three hundred and ten thousand . . .women. And the father and mother of Saint Irene died in the palace. And the Divine power bore the saint to the city of Ephesus, where she performed many signs and wonders. For her confidence was in our Lord Jesus Christ [when she stood] before the kings of Persia, and the kings of Macedonia, and the kings of Kalaika and Constantinople. And then she died in great honor, and they built a beautiful church for her, and laid her body therein, and many signs and wonders took place through her body, and a great healing of the sick. Salutation to Irene. Glory be to God Who is glorified in His Saints. Amen.

Nehasse 22 (August 28)

On this day [is commemorated] the great prophet Micah, the son of Eyoel Yoak, and his father also called him “Joram.” This righteous man prophesied in the days of Jehosaphat, King of Judah, the son of Joram, and of the kings Ahaziah, and Khatolya, and God proclaimed by his mouth great things. And he prophesied concerning the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ, saying, “Behold, God shall come from His place, and He shall come down and walk upon the earth.” And he prophesied concerning the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in Bethlehem of Judah, saying, “And thou Bethlehem [in] the land of Ephratha, shall not be less than the kings of Judah, for from thee shall go forth a king, who shall rule my people Israel; and his going forth shall be before the creation of the world.” And he prophesied concerning the destruction of the Temple of the Jews, and concerning the rising up of another Temple in its place in all the ends of the earth. And he prophesied concerning the going forth of the Gospel, saying, “The Law shall go forth from Zion, and the Voice of God from Jerusalem.” And he prophesied to Ahab, the King of Israel, saying, “Thou shalt die in the battle of Edom, King of Gilead.” And many years having been fulfilled to this prophet, and having reached a good old age, he departed to God, Whom he loved. And he prophesied eight hundred years before the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ, and he was buried in the village the name of which is Merata. Salutation to Micah. Glory be to God Who is glorified in His Saints. Amen.

Nehasse 23 (August 29)

On this day three (or, thirty) thousand of our Christian brethren in the city of Alexandria became martyrs. And this took place when the wicked Emperor Marcianus exiled our father Dioscoros to the island of Gagra; and there was rebellion and great tumult in the city of Alexandria for many years. And when Marcianus died, and Leo reigned, the people of Rome set over themselves a man from the city of Alexandria, whose name was Abrutarius, as archbishop. He had been a priest in the city of Alexandria, and he believed in the Council of Chalcedon. Only a few of the Alexandrians accepted him, and the rest of the people received the Holy Mysteries from the priests whom our father Abba Cyril and Abba Dioscoros had appointed. And when Abrutarius was appointed, he formed a company of his friends who believed his words, and he excommunicated ‘Awtaki (Eutyches), the priest, who declared that the Godhead [of Christ] was mingled in His Incarnation. And by this he wished to seduce the man of the city, and to make them at length to enter into an evil faith; and they believed his words, because they thought that our father Dioscoros and his company agreed with ‘Awtaki (Eutyches) in [his] denial. Now our father Dioscoros excommunicated ‘Awtaki (Eutyches), and he cursed all those who mingled the Godhead of Christ with His Incarnation. How could one turn and believe his words? Nay, the Faith of our father Dioscoros was like the Faith of Saints Basil, and Gregory, and Cyril, who believed in the One Nature of God, the Word, Which became incarnate, and not that the Godhead changed and became flesh, and not that the flesh changed and became Godhead, but that each of them remained by Itself. And it was not right for them to say that Christ became Two Natures, and Two Persons, and Two Things after His Union, which did not destroy [His] Unity. And ‘Awtaki (Eutyches) believed in the mingling of Nature. Our fathers excommunicated those who separate the Natures, after they had become One, and likewise they excommunicated those who mingle them after they were separated. And on the day following the Council which Abrutarius had gathered together, they found Abrutarius killed in his house, and his companions said that it was one of the disciples of our father Abba Dioscoros who had killed him. And he said unto them, “We are brethren. Perhaps it is one of the companions of ‘Awtaki (Eutyches) who hath killed him, or perhaps thieves killed him in order to carry off his money.” And this was true, for the Council did not assemble on account of us, nor because of us; but we agree in the excommunication of ‘Awtaki (Eutyches). And the companions of Abrutarius sent a letter to the king wherein they said, “Behold, the people have treated the government with insolence, and have behaved contemptuously towards the emperor, and have killed the archbishop whom the emperor appointed.” And whilst they were gathered together because of this thing, behold our brethren assembled and appointed Abba Timothy archbishop over them. And those wicked men sent another royal official, one ‘Abrotari, to the emperor, saying, “Behold they have killed Abrutarius and have appointed over them an archbishop without the emperor’s command.” And the emperor was exceedingly angry because of these two letters, and Satan entered into him, and he sent many soldiers, and they slew of our brethren three thousand Orthodox Christians, small and great, slaves and free men, and he exiled Abba Timothy to the island of Gagra, where he lived for seven years. And if [they say] that one of the servants of Abba Dioscoros killed Abrutarius, as Satan taught them, they speak falsehood. Was it meet that they should kill three thousand men instead of one man, especially as they did not kill any one of the wicked Arian heretics, who killed bishops and priests? But let everyone know that this took place through the operation of Satan. And after this shameful slaughter, the emperor knew that our brethren did not kill Abrutarius, and that they did not know who did kill him. And the emperor sent and brought back Timothy from the island, and he paid him great honor, and set him upon the throne of his office in the city of Alexandria. And he sat in the days of Leo for twenty-two years. Salutation to those who died by violence.

And on this day also Saint Damianus became a martyr. They tortured this saint in the city of Antioch with every kind of cruel torture. When the governor was tired of torturing him, he commanded [the soldiers] to cut off his head, and they cut off his head, and the saint received the crown of martyrdom in the kingdom of the heavens. Salutation to Damianus the martyr, the workman of Jesus. Salutation to Mary the daughter of Abraham. Salutation to Abraham, the Friend of God. Glory be to God Who is glorified in His Saints. Amen.

Nehasse 24 (August 30)

On this day died the head of the monks and father of all the world, Abuna Takla Haimanot. The birthplace of this saint was Zarare, in the country of Showa. His father’s name was Saga Ze’ab, and his mother’s name was Egzi’E Haraya. His father belonged to the family of priests who illumined Ethiopia with their Faith; his wife was barren, and they used to pray to God to give them a son. And whilst they were living thus, Satan made Matalome governor of Damot, and he laid waste the whole of the districts of Showa, up to the border of ‘Amhara. And all the nobles, one after the other, gave him their women, and the beautiful women whom he found during his raid he made his concubines. And in those days he came to the city of Selalesh and killed all the Christians, and Saga Ze'ab fled in fear, and fell into a pool of water, which became like a tent. And Egzi’E Haraya the soldiers seized and carried off, and they brought her to Matalome. And when he saw her beauty he rejoiced exceedingly, and he adorned her with apparel of fine linen. Then he returned to his country, and his nobles gathered together in order to make ready for the feast of his marriage with her; and when Egzi’E Haraya heard this she made prayer to God that He would deliver her from this unclean union. And straightway Michael the archangel came and he took her up upon his wings, and brought her into the church at the time of the third hour, and as Saga Ze'ab was going out of the church he saw her standing dressed in ornamental apparel. And he said, “Who is this woman?” And when he asked her he knew that she was his wife; and she told him everything which had happened to her from the beginning to the end. One night Michael, the angel of God, appeared unto them, and told them that they should produce a son whose righteousness should be heard of in all the ends of the earth, and that the heavens and the earth would not be sufficient [to contain] one of his excellences. And after a few days this saint was conceived, on the twenty-fourth day of the month of Megabit, and he was born on the twenty-fourth day of the month of Tahsas; and there was joy in the house of his father and mother. On the day when they gave him Christian baptism they called him “Zara Yohannes.” On the third day after he was born, he cried out, saying, “One is the Holy Father, One is the Holy Son, One is the Holy Spirit.” And he grew in the Holy Spirit, and in wisdom, and he worked signs and wonders, thus: When anything which was used for food was wanting in his father’s house, he would touch, with a smile, a little flour, and fill all the house therewith, and he did the same with olive oil, and honey, and fat, and wine; and he would fill the house so full that everyone who saw it, and heard of it, marveled. And when he was seven years old his father taught him the Psalms of David, and all the Books of the Church. And then he took him to the Bishop, Abba Cyril, who made him a deacon and prophesied concerning him, saying, “This boy shall become a chosen vessel of God,” and having received the office of deacon [he departed] to his own country. When he was a young man, he used to traverse the desert hunting wild beasts, and [one day] at noon, our Lord appeared unto him, sitting upon the wings of Michael, and said unto him, “O My beloved, henceforward thou shalt not be a hunter of wild beasts, but thou shalt catch many souls in [thy] net. And thy name shall be ‘Takla Haimanot,’ for I have chosen thee from thy mother’s womb, and I have sanctified thee like Jeremiah the prophet, and John the Baptist. And behold, I have given thee power to heal the sick, and to drive out unclean spirits in all the world”; and having said these words He disappeared, and the saint returned to his abode. And after a few days his father and his mother died, and he gave all his goods to the poor and needy, and he left all the house open, and took his staff and went forth by night, saying, “What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and destroy his soul?” And then he took the rank of priest, and began to preach the Faith in all the country of Showa; and he baptized seventy thousand people in his own country. And he destroyed all the shrines of idols, and cut down the trees thereof, so that the devils, who used to dwell in them, might take to flight. And after three years a voice cried unto him from heaven, saying, “O Takla Haimanot, rise up and go to the land of Damot, that thou mayest receive for me much spoil.” And as he was journeying along the road of ‘Enarte’at, he met some men, who were magicians and diviners, and their king, and they were performing acts of divination. During the violent quarrel which he had with them, they beat him with a thick iron rod, until the bones showed through his skin, and he died; but God gave him strength to endure, and He raised him up sound and unharmed. And he remained thus for four mornings, and after he had prayed the earth swallowed up the magicians and their beasts. Passing on from that place he arrived at the country of Damot, and he destroyed the diviners. And when Motalame, the governor, heard of him, he commanded his soldiers to bring him to him, bound with strong fetters, and he said unto him, “Why dost thou destroy my country?” And having said this to him, he commanded the soldiers to kill him, and to cast him down a precipice several times. And God gave him strength to endure, and He raised him up unharmed. And having performed signs and wonders before the governor and destroyed the soothsayers, he made the governor to believe on Christ, for he raised up before him many dead persons. Now those who were baptized with him, on that day, were in number twelve thousand and ninety-nine souls. And when the wherewithal for the administration of the Holy Mysteries was lacking Michael brought down to him [some oil of] Meron from heaven, and he said unto him, “Consecrate the Tabernacle with this, and administer the Holy Mysteries to the people”; and he did as Michael told him. And our father continued to teach the king the Books of the Prophets and Apostles. And when he had lived in Damot for twelve years, a voice cried to him from heaven on Easter Day, and our Lord gave him the promise that He would give the kingdom of heaven unto all those who called upon his name and celebrated his commemoration, and that he would deliver them from all tribulation and sorrow. And the voice also said unto him, “Go thou to the country of ‘Anhare, to Abba Betselote Mikael,” and when he had arrived there he lived with him for ten years; and he served by day with his disciples, and during the night he made innumerable bowings to the ground. And he worked the flour mill, and drew water, and cut wood for the fire ceaselessly. And besides this, he wrought many miracles, raising the dead, and healing sick folk without number. And then God said unto him, “O My beloved Takla Haimanot, go thou to the place (or, shrine) of Stephen, the first to martyrs, which is called Hayk, and there thou shalt find a holy man whose name is Iyesus Moa, and he will give thee the order of monkhood.” And he rose up and departed, and came to the sea- coast, and passed over the sea as if he were on dry land, without wetting his feet. When he came to the holy man, he welcomed him, and gave him the apparel of the monk, [that is to say,] the tunic and the head cloth only; and he dwelt there for ten years working signs and wonders, and each [night] he made seven thousand bowings. And then God said unto him, “O My beloved Takla Haimanot, go thou to the land of Tegre, and go up the mountain which is called Damo, and thou shalt find there a holy man whose name is ‘Yohanni,’ and take thou from him the cap and cloak, and dwell there until I tell thee.” And he dwelt there fighting the fight, having received the cap and the cloak, for twelve years. And God appeared unto him and said unto him, “Get thee out of this mountain, and travel about through the deserts of Tegre and visit the monasteries and houses of the monks.” And he went down from that high mountain, being exhausted by the toil thereof, and he traveled through the deserts of Tegre. And having finished this he went down to Jerusalem, Michael, the angel, guiding him, and when he came to the Red Sea he passed over it, according to his wont, without wetting his feet. Having crossed the sea he came to Jerusalem, and he went round and visited all the holy places. And he returned to the land of Tegre and talked and mixed with all the saints; and he went down to Jerusalem a second and a third time, and wished to dwell there. And the Holy Spirit said unto him, “Go back to the land of Muladek, for that is thy lot.” And going back he visited Abba Yohanni of Debra Damo. Thence he went down and traveled on towards Bur, and he found Medhaninne ‘Egzi’E, in a place the name of which is Gwonaguena, and that saint gave him the garb of the monkhood, and prophesied to him that he should become the father of all the monks of Tegre, and the son of Abba Samuel of Waldebba, and of all the teachers who were in Tegre. And when our father Takla Haimanot had gone out from Tegre, he went to the place of Hayk and gave to Iyesus Moa the cap and the cloak. Thence having gone out and passed through all the deserts, he came to the land of Showa, and he dwelt in the desert of Geda for many days. And then he departed to the land of Gerarya, and he made a cell among the rocks and he went out neither by day nor by night. And his disciples were in number seventeen, and many came to him, both men and women, and they became monks and widows, and they lived in one house; but no man had knowledge of any woman, because Satan was fettered by prayer. And then he built in his cell a kind of wall to lean against, and he fixed therein sharp points, behind him, on his right hand, and on his left, so that they could pierce his body. And having stood in the cell too long, the thigh bone of one of his legs broke, and then he stood up on one foot for seven years. And our Lord Jesus Christ came unto him, with our Lady Mary, and with the prophets and apostles, and the righteous, and the martyrs, and Michael and Gabriel, and He said unto him, “O My beloved, thou dost resemble Me in My suffering, and I will make thee My equal in My kingdom. And behold, thy weakness in this world is ended, and it hath been accepted by Me. Come, that henceforth thou mayest inherit everlasting life”; and then He gave him the promise concerning those who should call upon his name, and celebrate his commemoration. And then the saint became slightly sick of the plague, and he died at a good old age, his days being ninety-nine years and eight months. And they wrapped him in cloths with reverence and praise, and buried him in his rock. Salutation to Takla Haimanot.

And on this day also died the holy father, the fighter and conqueror, the soldier and apostle of Christ, Thomas, Bishop of the city of Mar’as, the confessor. The tongues of men are incapable of describing the glory and righteousness of this saint. Beings of flesh are incapable of understanding his excellences and virtues. Originally this saint was an ascetic, and a fighter of the spiritual fight. He fasted and prayed frequently, and kept vigil by night and by day, and he gave alms in abundance to the poor and needy. And God chose him and made him Bishop of the city of Mar’as, and he protected his flock like the Apostles. And when Diocletian the wicked was reigning, one of his governors came to the city of Mar’as to torture the Christians. And he sent some wicked soldiers to this holy father, and they seized him and brought him to him, and they beat him, as they dragged him over the ground, and he arrived in the presence of the governor with his blood dropping on the ground. And the governor said unto him, “Deny Christ and worship the gods.” And the saint answered and said unto him, “I will not worship filthy stones, I will worship only my Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God. Cursed art thou, and thy filthy idols, and cursed are those who worship them.” And the governor was wroth with Saint Thomas, and he tortured him very severely, and he beat him very cruelly, and he hung him up, and boiled pitch and poured it into his mouth and nostrils, and he tortured him for many days. Now the hearts of those deniers of Christ were like unto stones, and they did not want the saint to die quickly, so they prolonged his torture in order to frighten the multitude, and make them to deny Christ; but they were vanquished, and whilst they were weary of torturing him, he was strong in rebuking them. And they cast him into a dark place and forgot him, and he dwelt in that one place for twelve years. And each year the wicked men came to him, and tortured him, and cut off one of his limbs. And in this place they cut off his ears, and his nose, and his lips, and his hands, and his feet, and they pulled out his front teeth and his grinders, and his whole body was as black as ink. And they forgot him in that dark prison house until at length those members of his flock, who knew him, thought that he was dead, and they used to perform services of commemoration for him every year. And when they shut him up in prison, a certain believing woman saw him, and she used to come to him by night secretly, and throw in food to him through a little window. And he lived in this way until the righteous Emperor Constantine reigned, and revealed the True Faith of Christ. And he commanded his officers to release all the confessors who were shut up in prison throughout all his dominions. And that believing woman went into their houses and told the priests about Saint Thomas, and what had happened to him, and how they had shut him up in prison for two and twenty years, and she guided them to the place where he was. And they came to him, and took him out of the prison house, and they carried him on their heads, singing as they went, until they brought him into the church and set him on the throne before the sanctuary. And all the Christians came and received a blessing from him, and they kissed [the places of] his eyelids, which had been cut off. And when the Emperor Constantine assembled the General Council of the Three Hundred and Eighteen holy Bishops in the city of Nicea, this father was present with them; and the Emperor Constantine embraced them, and received a blessing from them. And when one made known unto him the fight of this holy father, he drew nigh unto him, and bowed low before him, and he kissed all the places whereupon his limbs had been cut off, and he stroked his face and eyes. And after they had disputed with Arius, the apostate, and vanquished him, and had excommunicated him and cursed him, and driven him out, even as the Holy Spirit taught them, and they had proclaimed with their tongues the True Faith, and drawn up the Law and the Judicial Regulations and the Canons, this holy father Abba Thomas departed to the seat of his office. And he assembled the priests and all his flock, and he proclaimed to them the True Faith, and he explained unto them what they found difficult, and he made them to understand it, and he commanded them to keep it and to wax strong therein. And after this he lived a few days, and having pleased God he died in peace; and all the days of his office were forty years. And he departed to God bearing a crown of victory, and inherited everlasting life. Salutation to Thomas.

And on this day also nine (or, ninety) thousand martyrs of the company of Saint Thomas were crowned. Glory be to God Who is glorified in His Saints. Amen.

On this day also died Saint Antilarius. This holy man was an officer of the tax-gatherers, and he had no mercy on anyone. One day certain poor folk were sitting in the sun, and they began to mention the names of the charitable and the avaricious, and they mentioned the name of Antilarius as that of a man who had never bestowed any alms on any one of them. And one of the poor said, “What will ye give me if I succeed in drawing a gift from him?” And they promised to give him something. And the needy man went to Antilarius and begged for alms from him, and Antilarius wanted to throw a stone at him in great wrath, but as he had no stone he threw at him the piece of bread-crust, which was left, in his hand. And taking this the beggar went to his companions, and told them that he had received alms from Antilarius. And Antilarius had a dream, and in it he saw himself at the Judgment, and certain black men were disputing concerning him, and there were other men there who were white; now their faces were austere, and they said, “We cannot find attributed to him any alms except the piece of bread-crust”; and when the speaker cast the bread into the scales it balanced exactly all his sins. When he awoke from his sleep he distributed all his possessions among the poor and he departed to Jerusalem where he sold himself for three dinars, and [he gave away] in alms the price of his sale, and he lived and served like a slave. And when the slaves of his lord caused him sorrow, a shining man appeared unto him, and said unto him, “Sorrow not, for I have received the price of thy sale, and behold it is here in my hand.” When certain men who had come from his city revealed what he had done, he fled secretly and came to the gates of the city, the keeper of which was deaf and dumb. When Antilarius said unto him, “Open the gates to me,” there went forth from his mouth something which was like unto fire, and the ears of the gate- keeper were opened, and he spoke with his mouth, and he opened the gates to Antilarius who went forth into the desert and died there. When the people missed him, the gatekeeper told them all that had happened, and they marveled at his holiness and at his admirable behavior.

And on this day also died Abba John of Debra Tsege. This holy man by means of excessive fasting, and prayers, and vigil made his body emaciated, and he became like a dried clod of earth. One day when certain men poured over him a cupful of water, because of the excessive dryness of his skin he left only unabsorbed a very small portion of it. Glory be to God Who is glorified in His Saints. Amen.

Nehasse 25 (August 31)

On this day Saint Andrianus, and four and twenty other men who were with him, were martyred. This Saint Andrianus was one of the imperial officers, and was captain of the young men, and whilst Maximianus was torturing the Christians, because they refused to worship idols, Saint Andrianus saw their boldness of heart and patience under suffering, and he said unto the saints, “What do ye expect to get that ye endure such sufferings?” And the holy martyrs said unto him, “Our mouths are unable to describe the hoped-for things which await us,” and they told him in the words of the Law and the Prophets about Christ. When Andrianus heard this he went to the officers and scribes, and said unto them, “I am a Christian. Write down my name with the names of the fighters.” And when they told the Emperor Maximianus this, he called him and said unto him, “Hast thou gone made, O Andrianus? Dost thou wish to be destroyed for nothing?” And Andrianus said unto him, “I am not mad now, but I have turned aside from my former madness.” When the emperor heard this he commanded the soldiers to cast him into prison with the holy martyrs; and one of his slaves told his wife Antolia, and when she heard it she departed to the prison, rejoicing to be associated with him. And she kissed the fetters of the four and twenty saints, and she besought them to encourage her husband to endure every trial. And to him she said, “O my lord, let not this infidel lead thee astray. Thy beauty, thy grace, thy gold and thy silver are all vanity; follow Christ so that thou mayest find with Him the kingdom which never passeth away”; and having said this she went to her house. And when Andrianus knew that they were going to bring him to the torture, he went straightway to bid her farewell, and when she heard him arrive, she thought that he had escaped from the prison, and she shut the door against him, and reviled him from the inside of her house, saying, “Yesterday I called thee ‘martyr’ and to-day thou hast denied Christ!” And when Andrianus saw [the strength] of her Faith, he marveled exceedingly, and said unto her, “Open to me, O my sister, for I have come to bid thee farewell.” When she heard this she opened the door to him; and then he took her into the prison, telling her everything. And when Antolia had come into the prison she saluted the saints, and washed their wounds. And the overseer commanded his men to bring the saints out of prison, and when he saw that they were exhausted by their torturing, he set Andrianus in front of them, and said unto him, “Sacrifice to the gods”; and when Andrianus reviled him the governor commanded them to beat him with sticks. When Antolia heard this she entreated the saints to pray for him. And the governor also commanded the soldiers to beat him on his belly, until his bowels gushed out. Now at that time Andrianus was eight and twenty years old. And then they took him into the prison with the holy martyrs, and Antolia came and wiped away the blood from Andrianus and the saints, and she embraced him, saying, “Rejoice, for thy name is written in the heavens.” And then the governor commanded the soldiers to bring a blacksmith’s hammer and to break the thighs of the saints therewith. And Antolia placed first of all the hands and the feet of Andrianus under the hammer, and the soldiers smote, and broke off his hands and his feet, and smashed his bones, and at length he delivered up his soul. Similarly they smashed the thighs of all the saints, and cast their bodies into the fire, which did them no harm. And then the believers took their bodies to another city, and they hid them until the days of persecution were passed. And Antolia took the portions of the hands of Andrianus which had been cut off, and laid them by her pillow. And then the governor of the city wished to marry her, and as soon as she heard about it she fled by boat, taking the fragments of the hands of Andrianus with her. And she came to the place where the bodies of the saints were, and she asked them to receive her with them, and God accepted her petition, and she died whilst she was sleeping, and was buried with the saints. Salutation to Andrianus.

And on this day also died the holy father Abba Bisaryon (Bessarion) the Great. The parents of this saint were faithful Christians and God-fearing people. When this father grew up he wished to put on the garb of the monastic life, that is to say, the garb of the angels, and to devote himself to God. And he went forth from this world, and renounced it, and he departed to Saint Abba Anthony, and became his disciple and ministered unto him for many years. And after this he went to Abba Macarius, and ministered unto the holy elders who were monks. and then he wandered about in the desert of Scete; he never lodged in a place which had a roof, and he possessed absolutely nothing. He had neither a whole garment nor a bed, but only rags of coarse hairy sackcloth, which he girded about his loins, and he used to go round to the cells and caves of the monks, and sit down by the side of the doors thereof weeping. And when there went out to him someone who knew him [not], and said unto him, “O my father, what maketh thee weep?” [the saint would reply,] “My riches have all been destroyed, and I have escaped from death. My family has fallen from honor into disgrace.” He who did not understand what his words meant would console him, and say unto him, “God shall restore to thee thy riches which have been destroyed,” and give him some bread; and the saint would take it and go and give it to others. But those who understood what his words meant would know that what he was referring to was the spoliation of the virtues of the children of man by Satan. His purity, and virginity, and sincerity resembled those of the angels. And the fathers have described the fights which he fought in his spiritual battles when he lived among them; thus for forty days he never lay down on the ground at all to sleep, and on many occasions, during his spiritual fights, he often fasted for forty days at a time. And he continued to fight the spiritual fight for seven and forty years. And many great miracles were made manifest through him and of these the holy elders and monks speak. Saint Dulas and Saint John relate a story concerning him, and say that they went with him to the shore of the Red Sea, and that they were suffering exceedingly from thirst. And when he knew that they were thirsty he prayed to God and made the bitter water sweet, and they drank thereof. And on another occasion he came to the river Takazze, [wishing] to cross over, and that as he found no ferry he prayed, and [then] walked on his feet on the surface of the water to the other side. And one day they brought to Scete a man who had a devil that the holy elders might heal him by their prayers. And the fathers discussed the matter among themselves and said, “If we acquaint the holy elder Abba Bisaryon (Bessarion) with the story of the man in whom is a devil he will not heal [him], for he fleeth from [worldly] honor and [the praise] of men.” And the fathers made a plan, and they caused the man in whom was a devil to lie down in the church, on the place where Abba Bisaryon (Bessarion) used to stand up to pray. And when the saint came into the church and found the man there asleep, he woke him up and seized him by his hands, and said unto him, “Rise up,” and the man rose up straightway, sound in heart and healed of his disease. And those who saw him marveled exceedingly, and they glorified God for the grace which is given unto those who fear him. And this father performed very many miracles besides this, and he pleased God and died in peace. Salutation to Abba Bisaryon (Bessarion).

And on this day also are commemorated Elianus the martyr, and his sister Eudoxia. Salutation to the company of priests of the brotherhood of Andrianus. Glory be to God Who is glorified in His Saints. Amen.

Nehasse 26 (September 1)

On this day Saint Moyses and his sister Sara became martyrs. The parents of these saints were righteous folk, and they were exceedingly rich. After the death of their parents Saint Moyses wanted to give his sister in marriage, and to hand over to her all the possession which their father had left them, and to go and become a monk. And his sister answered and said unto him, “If thou wouldst first of all marry thyself, thou canst then get me married.” And he said, “I have committed many sins, and I want to become a monk to blot out my sins, I cannot think about marriage, but only about the salvation of my soul.” And she answered and said unto him, “O my brother, how canst thou cast me into the net of this transitory world, and think of the saving of thine own soul only?” and he said unto her, “If thou wishest for the ascetic life, thou thyself knowest”; and she answered and said unto him, “What thou doest for thyself, I likewise will do for myself, for we both are of one nature, and are from the same father, and the same mother.” And when he saw the strength of her will he rose up forthwith and gave all his goods to the poor and needy, and then he brought his sister to a convent for virgins, which was outside Alexandria. And he entered a monastery and he devoted himself to the ascetic life, and fought a great spiritual fight, and his sister did likewise; and the two remained for ten years without meeting. And in the days of the kingdom of Severianus, the infidel, and under the rule of Abba Demetrius, Archbishop in the city of Alexandria, that wicked emperor afflicted the Christian people, and there were very many martyrs in his days, [among them] being many heads of monasteries. And Saint Moyses rose up, and sent a letter to his sister Sara, to greet her and to inform her that he wished to become a martyr; and when she heard she rose up straightway and asked the abbess to release her, so that she might go and become a martyr; and the abbess prayed over her and embraced her and let her go. And Sara embraced the virgins, and she departed to her brother, and found him on the road wishing to go into the city of Alexandria. And the two of them came into the city of Alexandria, and confessed our Lord Jesus Christ before the governor; and he tortured them severely, and afterwards the soldiers cut off their heads with the sword, and they received crowns of martyrdom in the kingdom of the heavens. Salutation to you Sara and Moyses.

And on this day also are commemorated Abba Ammon, and Elias, the martyr, and his sister Eudoxia, and Abuna Jacob.

And on this day also Agabus the soldier and Thekla the nun became holy martyrs. These saints fought the fight in the days of Lulianus the governor, one of whose officers tortured them very severely, and then cast them to the lions; and they received crowns of martyrdom in the kingdom of heaven. And our fathers have commanded us that the people shall celebrate on this day a festival in commemoration of the woman Sara, the wife of Abraham, whose womb was honorable, and whose breasts blessed. When the King of Gerara wished to seize Sara in his ignorance, God rebuked him, and told him that he was not to touch this woman, and he restored her to Abraham, together with much money. And again, at the time when God lodged in her house, and told Abraham about the birth of Isaac, she laughed inside the tent, saying, “Can such a thing still happen to me? I have become old, and my lord is old.” And God said unto Abraham, “Wherefore did Sarah laugh? Is there anything too hard for God?” And then when Isaac was born, and she saw him playing with Ishmael, the son of Hagar, jealousy seized her, and she forced Abraham to cast him out with his mother. And although it was hard to Abraham, God commanded him to fulfill her wish, and he did so knowing that from his seed Christ, the Savior of the world, should appear. And Paul called her the “free woman,” and likened her to the Church. And then she died at a good old age, and Abraham buried her in the grave which he bought from the children of ‘Emor, the Hittite. Salutation to the womb of Sara Glory be to God Who is glorified in His Saints. Amen.

Nehasse 27 (September 2)

On this day Abba Benjamin and Eudoxia became martyrs. The parents of these saints were believing folk of the city of Sabersir, and they showed affection to pilgrims and strangers, and they preserved their purity, and devoted themselves to God, and fought the spiritual fight. And they brought up their two children very carefully, and in the manner which befitted the followers of Christ; and when the children were grown up, this Saint Benjamin wanted to shed his blood for the Name of Christ. And he went to the governor of the city of Setuf and confessed the Lord Jesus Christ before him; and the governor tortured him severely, and shut him up in prison. And when his parents and sister heard about him they came to him, and when they saw him under torture they wept and were exceedingly sorry for him. And he comforted them and said unto them, “The life of this world is as nothing, and the days thereof pass quickly, but life everlasting hath neither end nor finish.” And when his sister heard this beautiful teaching from him, she said unto him, “O my brother, as God liveth, from this time onward I will never leave thee, and whatsoever death thou shalt die I myself will die that same death with thee”; and forthwith she confessed our Lord Jesus Christ before the governor. And the governor seized her, and commanded the soldiers to set her with her brother in a dark place, and they did as he commanded; and the saints remained in that dark place for twenty days without food and drink. And after this the soldiers took them out, and hung heavy stones about their necks, and cast them into the river (?). And the angel of God came down, and untied those stones from their necks, and they kept their strength in the river (?) until they arrived at the port of a village the name of which was Batra. And a certain virgin found them and brought them up from the river, and they went and stood before the governor, and cursed him, and his idols; and the governor tortured them severely for many days. And when the governor was weary of their tortures, he commanded the soldiers to cut off their heads with the sword, and the saints received crowns of martyrdom in the kingdom of heaven, and inherited everlasting life. And a holy church was built in their city of Sabersir, and they laid their bodies therein, and from them there appeared many miracles, and great healings for the sick. Salutation to Benjamin and Eudoxia.

And on this day also is commemorated Samuel the prophet, and how God called him in the days of Eli the priest, and how God made him a prophet to the children of Israel. Salutation to Samuel, who sealed David.

And on this day also are commemorated Victor (?), the Alexandrian, and his mother Sara.

And on this day also is celebrated the festival of Suri’el, the fourth archangel, who remembered the twelve sons of Jacob. Glory be to God Who is glorified in His Saints. Amen.

Nehasse 28 (September 3)

On this day we have received as an inheritance from the early fathers and doctors of the Church, who were strong in the grace of the Holy Spirit, an order to celebrate the festival of our holy fathers, the patriarchs, our fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. As concerning our father Abraham, the head of the fathers, who among the children of men hath the ability to describe the virtues and righteousness of this man, who became the father of many nations? He believed on God, blessed be His Name! and was obedient unto Him. And he had confidence in the promise of God until he died, and he never doubted in the smallest degree any of the promises of God. At the beginning the angel of God appeared unto him in a vision by night when he was on the island, and said unto him, “Get thee out from thy city, and from thy father’s house, and come unto the land which I will show thee, that is to say the land of Karan (Harran), that thou mayest dwell therein”; and he came to the land of Karan (Harran), which country God showed him. And when his parents died God removed him again to the land of Palestine, and He promised him that he should inherit it; and he had confidence in God’s promise until he died, and his heart remained unshaken and free from doubt. Moreover, he knew, and believed, that God would give that land to his seed after him. And after that God appeared unto him at midday in the form of a man, as he thought, and with Him were two angels, and Abraham thought they were like unto all the other men who used to pass along the road every day. And he made a meal for them, and God gave him the promise concerning Isaac his son, one year before he got him. Now, at that time the days of Abraham were one hundred years, and his wife Sarah was far advanced in her days. And Abraham believed God, and doubted not, and when he got Isaac, God commanded him to circumcise him on the eighth day, on which day he circumcised his son. And having believed, according to his confidence, there came to him the seed which God promised him. And God said unto him, “Offer up as a sacrifice to Me thy son Isaac, on the mountain which I will show thee, and that place was Golgotha, where the body of our father Adam was buried,” and he neither doubted nor hesitated at the word of God. And he took Isaac and laid him on the altar, and he knew that God was able to take Isaac away, and yet that Isaac should be to him a seed. And having completed the sacrifice of Isaac in his mind, though not in deed, God showed Abraham’s righteousness and virtues to all succeeding generations. And then the angel of God called to him, and told him not to stretch out his hands over the young man, and do him no harm whatsoever. And God said unto him, “Behold, it is manifest that thou lovest Me, for thou hast not spared thy beloved son for My sake. Therefore I will bless thee with blessing, and I will multiply thee in great number, and I will make thy seed like the stars of heaven, and like the sand of the sea-shore.” And it was even so, and God revealed Abraham’s work from that time and for ever, and the report of him and his name were heard in all the ends of the earth. And it is evident why he was called the “Father of Christ” in the flesh, for He appeared from his seed ... And the spiritual fighting of this father, and his virtues, and his righteousness, and his mercy, and his gifts, which were many, were very great. He did not eat every day, but only when travelers came to him and sat at his table, and it is evident from this that he sat with God and His angels before he knew Him, though afterwards he knew them. And tribulation and great sorrow came upon him in his days, for he was separated from his father, and from his kinsfolk, and he was a wonderer on the earth. And when he arrived in the land of Egypt, he was afraid of the infidels in the days of Pharaoh, King of Egypt. And when Pharaoh, King of Egypt, heard the report of Sarah, he called Abraham and asked him, saying, “Who is this woman who is with thee?” And Abraham said, “She is my sister,” and Pharaoh took her from him. And that night a terrifying angel appeared unto Pharaoh, and wanted to kill him, and he commanded Pharaoh to send back Sarah to her husband, and said that if he would not do so he would destroy him. And when the morning was come Pharaoh called Abraham and said unto him, “Why didst thou say unto me ‘This woman is my sister.’ She is thy wife”; and he gave her back to him, with gifts, and much money, and Hagar her handmaiden also. And when Abraham arrived at the age of one hundred and forty-five years, he departed to God, Whom he loved, and he inherited the Garden of Delight and everlasting life. And he left a memorial for good behind him unto the end of the world. Salutation to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

And on this day also our fathers and doctors of the Church have commanded us to celebrate the festival of the departure of Abba Isaac, the son of Abraham, the patriarch. This righteous man was produced through the proclamation of God and His angels, by Abraham his father, and Sarah his mother. And he finished his fight, and the work of righteousness, and he was subject to God, the Most High, and to his father Abraham, and it pleased his father to offer him up as a sacrifice to God, but God redeemed him by a goat. We know not whether we are to wonder more at the willingness of his father Abraham to slay him, the child of promise, whom God gave him by Sarah when he was far advanced in years (now God said unto Abraham, “There shall be unto thee seed,” and yet he spared not Isaac, through natural affection, because of his love for God, the Most High), or whether we are to wonder (and we know not which is more wonderful) at the subjection of this father Isaac, and his consenting to his father Abraham, even to his slaying him and burning him in the fire. Now Isaac was a child, for the Book of the Law saith that his father made him carry the wood to a place afar off, to the top of a mountain, but the Book of the Chronicle of Days saith that at that time the days of Isaac were seven and thirty years. And this father Isaac submitted to his father Abraham, and he stretched out his neck to the slaughtering knife, and the voice of the angel of God came and said unto him, “Stretch not out thy hand upon him, and do nothing evil to him.” And as his father Abraham was called the “Sacrificer” of his son in his mind, even so was this father Isaac called the “Sacrifice” in his mind. And great tribulation and much sorrow came upon him in his days, and he was a stranger to his country. And Abimelech took his wife from him, and when God was wroth with him because of it, he gave her back to him, together with much money and gifts. And this father was exceedingly simple in disposition, for the Book of the Law saith that when the shepherds quarreled together about a well of water, this father left them, and went and dug other wells. And he begot two sons, Esau and Jacob, and he loved Esau because of his strength and might. And when he was far advanced in days, and his eyes were feeble, he called his son Esau and said unto him, “I have become old, O my son, go and hunt the wild animals of the desert, so that I may eat, and my soul shall bless thee.” And Esau took his weapons, and went out into the desert. And Rebecca called Jacob and said unto him, “O my son, rise up and kill one of thy goats quickly and take it to thy father so that he may eat and bless thee before he dieth.” And Jacob said unto her, “I am afraid lest he shall know that I am Jacob, and lest he be angry with me, for though I want to receive [his] blessing, a curse may come upon me instead of a blessing.” And she answered and said unto him, “Let thy curse be upon me, O my son.” And this took place through her by the command of God. And Jacob did as his mother commanded him, and he offered [food] to his father, and he ate and blessed him. And this father Abba Isaac arrived at the age of one hundred and eighty years, and he died in peace, and was buried in the grave of his father Abraham, which he bought from the sons of ‘Emor and in which Sarah was buried. Salutation to Isaac.

And on this day also our fathers, the doctors of the Church, have commanded us to celebrate the festival of the departure of Jacob the patriarch whom God called “Israel.” This [righteous man] followed the examples of his fathers Abraham and Isaac in [the practice of] mercy, and in giving alms, and in sincerity and humility. And his brother Esau hated him because he forestalled him, and bought from him his rights as the firstborn with a meal of lentils; now Esau was the firstborn, and Jacob acted craftily towards him, and received the blessing from his father Isaac. And when Esau threatened to kill Jacob, his father Isaac advised him to go to the father of his mother’s brother, and he went there, and he was betrothed to the daughter of his mother’s brother, and he tended his flocks for seven years, and he married her. And then he was betrothed to the second daughter of his mother’s brother, and he served him for seven years, and also married her. And his mother’s brother gave him a portion of his flocks, and it came to pass that when he said unto Jacob, “Let thy wages be the sheep which are all of one color,” the ewes brought forth only lambs which were all one color. And when he said to Jacob, “Let thy wages be the sheep which are spotted all over; thus his wages were doubled, and he had many possessions. And he returned to the land of his father, and he begot twelve sons. And he saw the vision of a ladder on the earth which reached to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. And when he woke up he said, “This is the house of God, and the door of heaven”; and that place became the Sanctuary in the city of Jerusalem wherein was to be buried the body of our Lord Jesus Christ. And then he saw a second vision, and it seemed as if God were contending with him, and He caused his hip to be benumbed and He called him “Israel”; and because of this the Jews do not eat the muscles of the hip. And in his days came great tribulation and much sorrow. First of all [his sons] sold his son Joseph as a slave to the Egyptians. And their father asked them, saying, “Where is your brother Joseph?” And they said unto him, “The wild beasts have devoured him”; and because of his excessive weeping Jacob’s eyes became blind. And after this there came a great famine in those days, and they found nothing to eat, and at length Jacob sent his sons into the land of Egypt to buy grain. And they came to Joseph their brother, who had become steward to the King of Egypt, and he knew that they were his brothers, but they did not know that he was their brother Joseph. And Joseph made a pretence to them, and said unto them, “Depart and invite your father Jacob to come hither,” and they invited Jacob, and he came to the land of Egypt and dwelt there for seventeen years. And when the time of his death had drawn nigh, he called his twelve sons, and blessed them, and he gave Judah sovereignty and made it known that Christ should appear from him, and he blessed him with many words, saying, “The scepter of sovereignty shall not come to an end in Judah, and the rule shall not depart from before his hand until He, to Whom sovereignty belongeth, shall come, Him for Whom the nations wait.” And after he had blessed him, Joseph brought to him his two sons Ephraim and Manasseh, so that he might bless them, and he made the sign over their heads, and he laid his right hand upon the head of the younger, and his left hand on the head of the elder, and he made his hand [to take] the form of the Cross, indicating that the firstborn should be abased at the appearance of the Cross. And he reached the age of one hundred and forty-six years, and he died with the hands of Joseph resting on his eyes. And Jacob commanded him to bury him in the grave of his fathers, and Joseph mourned for him with a great mourning, and the Egyptians with him. And then he carried him on the chariots of Pharaoh, and with him were the great nobles of the chariots of Pharaoh, and with him were the great nobles of the Egyptians, and they brought him to the land of Canaan and buried him with his fathers. Salutation to Jacob.

And on this day Abba Barsebu (Barsoba), and ten monks who were his disciples, and the captain of the royal horses, became martyrs by the hand of the King of Persia, and eight hundred companions of Isidore. Salutation to Abba Barsebu. Glory be to God Who is glorified in His Saints. Amen.

Nehasse 29 (September 4)

On this day is celebrated the festival of commemoration of the Birth of our Lord, and God and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, in the flesh, from our holy Lady, the Virgin Mary, for the salvation of the whole world. Salutation to Thy Birth.

And on this day also Saint Athanasius the bishop became a martyr, and with him two servants, Garsomes and Theodotus. Certain men reported to the king that Saint Athanasius had baptized the daughter of ‘Antonitos the general, and the king seized him, and Athanasius confessed before him that he was a Christian; and the king tortured him greatly, but not only would he not deny Christ, but he increased his Faith in Him. Then the king commanded the soldiers to cut off his head with the sword, and he likewise tortured the two servants Garsimos and Theodotus severely, and he beat them and crucified them. And then the soldiers cut off the heads of all three of them with the sword, and the saints received crowns of martyrdom in the kingdom of the heavens. And the believers gave much money to the soldiers, and the guards who were keeping the bodies, and they took away the bodies of the saints and wrapped them up in rich cloths, and laid them in coffins, and many signs and miracles appeared through them. Salutation to Athanasius.

And on this day also Saint Irenaeus, the Bishop of Sorem, became a martyr. They seized this saint at the first hour of the night, and brought him into the governor’s house, and the governor said unto him, “Sacrifice to the gods.” And Irenaeus said unto him, “I will not offer sacrifice, for I am a fearer of God and I am His servant.” And the governor commanded the soldiers to drown him in the river, and when he had come to the ferry, he stripped off his apparel, and prayed to God to receive his soul, and to protect his people in Sorem, and to give peace to the churches. And then he said, “I believe in Thee, O my Lord Jesus Christ, and I make supplication to Thee as I suffer,” and straightway they cast him into the river. Salutation to Irenaeus.

And on this day also is commemorated the translation of the body of Abba John the Short to the desert of Scete; this took place after his death in Debra Kuelzem, which is the desert of Saint Abba Anthony. And this happened in the days of Abba John, the forty-eighth Archbishop of the city of Alexandria, who went to the desert of Scete, and the holy monks said unto him, “We wish the body of Abba John the Short to be in the church of Abba Macarius, that we may bow down before it.” And straightway the grace of God moved him, and he wrote a letter [and sent it] by the hands of a certain abbot, whose name was Cosmas, and with him was an elder of the country of Clysma. And when they arrived they were unable [to do anything], for at that time his body was in the charge of Chalcedonian Melchites, who were dwelling in that place. And the abbot, and those who were with him, learned and made certain where that place was, and they returned and found certain men who were Orthodox believers dwelling in that city, and they told them the matter concerning which they had come. And after a few days a governor, who was one of the elders of the city, was appointed over Clysma, and he was a friend of Abba Michael, Bishop of the city of Clysma. And the archbishop wrote a letter to the bishop about the body of Saint Abba John, and he commanded him to make plans, and to help his messengers, the elder monks, so that they might be able to remove the body of the saint from the hands of the heretics. And the bishop rejoiced with a great joy, and told the scribe of the governor, his friend, and the scribe told the governor about the letter of the elder monks. And the scribe said, “How can we find an excuse for introducing the monks into the cave of the place?” And the governor said, “Let the monks put on over their own apparel Arab garments, and let them come with us to that place”; and they did so. And the governor departed having with him many people, and horsemen, and Arabs, and the elder monks from the desert of Scete, and they came to Clysma. And the governor spoke unto the Malachite bishop who dwelt in that place, [saying,] “Send out all our men from the church, and let not one of them be left therein, for I wish to go into the church, and to remain there the whole night”; and the heretic did as the governor commanded. And the elder monks made ready their beasts outside the city, and they came by night and took away the body of Abba John, and they departed and came to Mesr (Cairo), and hence they traveled to the desert of Scete. And the monks of the monastery of Abba Macarius went out and met them with crosses, and Gospels, and instruments of music, and incense, and songs, and hymns. And they brought Abba John to Saint Abba Macarius, and all the monks were blessed by him; and they sprinkled many perfumes over him, and they celebrated the Offering. And at the time when the Gospel was being read a miracle which was most marvelous was made manifest; the whole of the church was lighted up with heavenly light, and was filled with the odor of very sweet perfume, the like of which never was. And there was great joy. And the saint remained in the monastery of Abba Macarius for six days, and after this they took him and carried him to the church, and his sons the monks received him as the Hebrews received our Redeemer, and they cried out before him, saying, “Blessed is he who cometh in the Name of God.” And they laid him in his place, and signs and wonders took place through him. And after the death of this Saint Abba John, Abba Mark the archbishop, who lived after him, went up to the desert of Scete, and he entered the church of Saint Abba John, and bowed low before him; and with him were bishops, and many of the elders of the city of Alexandria, and of all the country of Egypt. And he uncovered the body of the saint and found it moist and hairy, and he was blessed by it and wept with a bitter weeping. And when Abba Mark uncovered John’s body, there was a loud clap of thunder in the church, and all the men fell in a state of terror and fear. And the archbishop replaced the sackcloth covering over him, and then wrapped him in fine linen. And they carried away the saint, singing praises and a spiritual song, saying, “O thou who wast a swift cloud, and didst bear rain, thou didst go to the country of Babylon, to the Three Children, and didst return to the city of Alexandria in the might of the Holy Spirit, which was with thee. And thou didst also go to Clysma, and didst overthrow the houses of idols, and didst preach the True Faith, and didst heal the sick, and didst cast out devils, and didst return to thine inheritance; thou art a habitation of blessing, and a traveler to the kingdom of heaven.” And the translation of the body of Abba John the Short took place in the five hundred and twentieth year of the Holy Martyrs (A.D. 804). Salutation to the translation of thy body, O John the Short. Glory be to God Who is glorified in His Saints. Amen.

Nehasse 30 (September 5)

On this day died the great prophet Malachi. This righteous man was the completion of the Twelve Minor Prophets, and he was one of the Twelve. And he prophesied at the time of the return of the people from captivity in Babylon to Jerusalem. And he rebuked the children of Israel because of their transgression against God and His Law, and also because of their vile offerings, which they offered unto Him, for they did not give the tithe of their goods, nor their first fruits, as God commanded them. And God spoke unto them, by the tongue of this prophet, the reproach of God, and He said unto them, “Do mercy, give alms to the poor, and testify ye to Me by giving tithe and first-fruits. I will open to you the doors of heaven, and will bring down unto you blessings, so that at length ye shall say, ‘It sufficeth us, it sufficeth us,’ . . . [And I will rebuke] the caterpillar, and the worm, and the wire-worm, and the moth, so that they may not devour the fruits of your land.” And he prophesied concerning the coming of John the Baptist, before our Redeemer, and concerning the coming of Elias before him, and also concerning the end of the world. And he prophesied concerning the habit of boasting among the Jews, and revealed to them that there were [other] people on the earth, and priests and righteous men who offered up incense and sacrifices to God, which were accepted. And having pleased God by his strife, and ended the days of his prophecy, he departed to God Whom he loved.

And on this day also is celebrated the commemoration of Abba Moses, Bishop of the city of Farma. Salutation to Moses, pillar of the city of Farma.

And on this day also Andrew performed a miracle when our Lord appeared unto him in the form of the captain of a ship, and taught him the craft of a spirit ship. And Andrew said unto our Lord, “Take me up into Thy ship, but we have no money [to pay] the ship’s fare. Our Lord commanded us not to carry gold and silver in our wallet.” And our Lord said unto Andrew, “If it be thus, come up into My ship”; and Andrew and his disciples went up into the ship. And the Lord commanded one of the angels to bring three bread-cakes, and he did so, and our Lord Jesus commanded Andrew, saying, “Rise up and eat ye bread so that thou mayest be able to support the journey by sea”; and Andrew marveled. And he said, “God give thee the bread of life in the kingdom of the heavens.” And the disciples of Andrew could neither speak nor eat food through fear of the waves of the sea, and they were not used to travel by sea. And our Lord Jesus Christ said unto Andrew, “Tell thy disciples to go back to the shore, for they appear to be timid, and if thou wilt not [do this], teach them with pleasant words [not] to be afraid--if thou art a disciple of God--for behold, the ship is far from land”; and [then] the Lord Jesus departed, and sailed the ship. And Andrew taught his disciples, and encouraged them, and prayed in his heart, and having prayed they fell into a heavy sleep; and Andrew rejoiced because of this. Then Andrew turned to our Lord, and said unto Him, “Verily thou art a master-sailor! Fourteen [times] have I traveled by sea, and I never saw any man sail a ship as Thou dost.” And our Lord Jesus answered and said unto him, “When we sail on the sea we often suffer tribulation, but since thou art a disciple of our Lord Jesus Christ, the sea recognizeth thee, and doth not make its waves to rise up against thee.” And Andrew cried out with a loud voice, saying, “I bless Thee, O my Lord Jesus Christ, that I have spoken to a man who praiseth Thee.” And our Lord Jesus answered and said unto Andrew, “Tell me, O disciple of God, why do the Jews [not] believe that Jesus is the Son of God, for,” He continued, “we have heard that He hath performed many miracles.” And Andrew said unto Him, “Yea, my brother, He revealed unto us that He was God, and He performed miracles innumerable; He opened the eyes of the blind, He made the lame to walk, He made the deaf to hear, He raised the dead, He cleansed the lepers, He turned water into wine, and He took five bread-cakes and two fishes, and having commanded the multitudes to sit down upon the grass, He brake them, and of what was left over they gathered up many baskets full; yet, in spite of this, [the Jews] have not believed.” And our Lord Jesus said unto him, “Doth He do this in public or in private?” And Andrew said unto Him, “Some things He doeth publicly, and some privately; but it seemeth to me that Thou art trying me.” And the Lord Jesus said unto him, “Far be it from Me so to do! Tell Me, O my brother, that My soul may rejoice.” And Andrew said unto Him, “O my son, may God fulfill for Thee every good work. But now hearken to a miracle, which the Lord performed when we, the Twelve Disciples, were with Him, and likewise many of the chief priests, and many of the people. We came unto the synagogue, and our Lord saw two images, one on the right of the house, and one on the left thereof. And our Lord said, ‘Do ye see that there are similitude of the Cherubim and Seraphim in the heavens, which have been made by a man on earth?’ And He turned to one image, and said unto it, ‘Unto thee, I speak, O similitude of heavenly beings which was made by an artificer. . .come down from thy place, and revile the chief priests, and declare whether I be God or man.’ And straightway the image leaped down, and spoke like a man, and said, ‘O ye foolish Jews, whose blindness is not enough for yourselves, but who wish to make others blind, why do you say that He Who is God is a man? This is He Who hath fashioned man in the beginning, and who gave him His own breath to breathe. This is He Who made Abraham and Who brought back Jacob to his native land. This is He who giveth blessing unto those who call upon Him, and Who prepareth punishment for those who do [not] submit to Him. Verily I say unto you that ye have denied God, and have changed the Law. Behold, therefore, your synagogue shall be destroyed, and shall become a church in the Name of the Only Son of God.’ And having said these words and others like unto them the image held its peace. And we answered the chief priests and said unto them, ‘Behold, the image hath spoken unto you and reviled you.’ And the chief priests and the Jews said unto us, ‘this hath been done by magic. The image spoke of Abraham, but where could it have found Abraham, for it is many days since Abraham died.’ And the Lord Jesus turned to the image and said unto it, ‘they do not believe that I have spoken to Abraham. Go and say this to Abraham, “Thus saith He Who formed man at the creation, and Who made thee His friend: Rise up, thou and Isaac and Jacob thy sons, and come forth! Come ye and rebuke the chief priests and make them to know that ye know Me.”’ And when the image heard these words it rose up, now we were all looking on, and it went to the land of Canaan, to the grave of Abraham, and it stood up outside the tomb, and cried out as our Lord had told it [to do]. And straightway the Twelve Fathers came out from the tomb, and said unto the image, ‘Unto which of us wast thou sent?’ And the image answered and said unto them, ‘I was sent to the three fathers of the people; as for you get ye back until the time of the Resurrection’; and when they heard this they re- entered their tombs. And the three fathers went with the image to the chief priests and the Jews, and they chided them, and told them that He was the Son of God. And then the Lord Jesus said unto the fathers, ‘Depart ye to your places and sleep.’ And again He turned to the image and said unto it, ‘Return to thy place,’ and it went back to its place, and became as it was before. And although the chief priests saw this they did not believe. Now there are very many other things which our Lord did, O my brother, and if I were to begin to narrate them to thee I should never come to the end of the telling.” And our Lord Jesus answered and said unto him, “I am able to complete the telling, and every hidden word, and every word of the Faith. For the wise few words suffice, but if I were to tell them to the fool, his soul would not believe [them] until he died.” And then when the ship was approaching the coast and was nigh to arrive they held their peace. Now whilst our Lord Jesus was talking to Andrew, He pretended to be sleepy, and He lay down and slept; and Andrew seeing Him lie down lay down himself and slept. And our Lord Jesus commanded the angels to take up and carry away Andrew and his disciples, and they went and laid them down outside the city where they wished [to be]. And when the day came, and Andrew woke up and opened his eyes, and saw the gates of the city, and knew that he was on land, he was greatly frightened; and he woke up his disciples, and said unto them, “What did our Lord do unto us at sea? We did not recognize Him, for He turned His face into that of a man; it was He Who appeared unto us when He was giving us counsel.” And they said unto him, “Whilst we were asleep we saw our Lord sitting upon the throne of His glory, and all His angels were surrounding Him. And we saw Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the saints, and David playing upon his harp and [other] instruments of music; and we saw the Twelve Apostles standing before our Lord, and there were twelve angels before Him, and many other angels behind Him. And we heard the Lord saying unto the angels, ‘Hearken unto the Apostles in everything which they shall say unto you.’” And when Andrew heard this, he rejoiced greatly that his disciples were held to be worthy to see this wonderful thing. And then he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and cried out with a loud voice, saying, “O my Lord Jesus Christ, I knew that Thou wast not far from Thy servants. Forgive me, O my Lord, because that when I was talking to Thee on the ship it seemed to me that Thou wast a man whom I could instruct.” And our Lord Jesus appeared unto Andrew a second time, and He said unto him, “I am He Who appeared unto thee on the ship in the form of the captain of the ship, and I steered thee over the sea. Fear not, neither be dismayed, for I will be with thee.” And having said these words He went up into heaven in great glory, and Andrew departed on his way. Salutation to Andrew. Glory be to God Who is glorified in His Saints. Amen.