MKE - Nov

***St. Mark the Apostle

(Madeeha in Coptic Reader)

Ⲁⲝⲓⲟⲥ ⲁⲝⲓⲟⲥ ⲁⲝⲓⲟⲥ: Ⲁⲃⲃⲁ Ⲙⲁⲣⲕⲟⲥ Ⲡⲓⲁ̀ⲡⲟⲥⲧⲟⲗⲟⲥ

***St. Mina

(Madeeha in Coptic Reader)

Ⲁⲝⲓⲟⲥ ⲁⲝⲓⲟⲥ ⲁⲝⲓⲟⲥ: Ⲡⲓⲁⲅⲓⲟⲥ Ⲁⲃⲃⲁ Ⲙⲏⲛⲁ

(Madeeha in Coptic Reader)

Ⲁⲝⲓⲟⲥ ⲁⲝⲓⲟⲥ ⲁⲝⲓⲟⲥ: Ⲁⲝⲓⲟⲥ Ⲫⲓⲗⲟⲡⲁⲧⲏⲣ Ⲙⲉⲣⲕⲟⲩⲣⲓⲟⲥ

***St. George of Alexandria (Hatoor 7)

On Hatoor 7, St. George of Alexandria, was martyred. He was the nephew of Armanius the Governor of Alexandria. This saint, his father was a merchant in the city of Alexandria and had no son. It happened that he travelled to the city of Lydda in Palestine and attended the feast of the consecration of the Church of St. George the martyr. He prayed to God, interceding with His great saint that he might have a son. God answered his prayers, and gave him a son, and he named him George. He raised and reared him with Christian education. When his parents died, his uncle the governor Armanius kept him until he was 25 years old. His uncle had only one daughter. One day she went with some of her friends for an outing. While they were walking nearby a monastery outside the city, she heard its monks praising and singing sweet hymns. She was touched by what she had heard and asked her cousin George about it. He replied that those monks had forsaken the world to worship God and he guided her to the Christian faith. He explained to her about judgment, eternal punishment and the share of the righteous of felicity. When she returned to her father, she told him that she had believed in the Lord Christ. He tried to reason with her, to dissuade her, and to lure her with great promises, and then he threatened her. When she did not hearken to his words, he ordered her beheaded, thus she received the crown of martyrdom. Later on, the Governor knew that George, his nephew, was responsible for convincing her with the Christian faith. He tortured him severely. Then he sent him to Ansena where its governor also tortured him and finally beheaded him, thus he received the crown of martyrdom. Samuel, a deacon was present there, took his holy body and carried it to the city of Manf, El-Giza province. When the wife of his uncle Armanius knew that, she sent for the body and placed it with the body of her martyred daughter in Alexandria. May the blessing of their prayers be with us all. Amen.

Ⲁⲝⲓⲟⲥ ⲁⲝⲓⲟⲥ ⲁⲝⲓⲟⲥ: Ⲅⲉⲱⲣⲅⲓⲟⲥ ⲡⲓⲣⲉⲙⲁⲗⲉⲝⲁⲛⲇⲣⲓⲁⲥ

***Sts. Cosmas & Damian (Hatoor 22)

On Hatoor 22, year 22 of the martyrs (306 A.D.), saints Cosmas and Damian, their brothers, Anthimus, Leontius (Londius) and Euprepius (Abrabius) and their mother Theodata, were martyred. They were from one of the countries of Arabia in Asia Minor. Their mother feared God and was compassionate and merciful towards the poor. She became a widow, while her children were still young. She raised them and instilled in them the fear of God. Cosmas and Damian studied medicine, the art of healing. As for their three brothers, they went to the wilderness for seclusion and worship. Cosmas and Damian used their healing profession as a means to attract the pagans to the Christian faith. They accepted no payment for their services, and were known for their hate of silver. They depended more on prayers in healing the sick, than medicine. When Diocletian renounced the faith and ordered the worship of idols, Lysias, the Prefect, summoned the two saints and found out that they had three brothers. He in turn summoned the brothers and their mother. He ordered them to raise incense before the idols but they did not heed to his orders. He at first promised them precious gifts but when he realized their steadfast in the faith he tortured them. He threw them in hot boiling water, and then squeezed them through the wheel (Hinbazeen) which crushed their bones. They shackled them with heavy chains and threw them into the sea. The Lord sent His angel who broke the chains and stood them up on the sea shore saving them from drowning. The people watching were amazed and many of the soldiers and people believed because of this miracle. Lysias, the Prefect, became very furious and was stricken with a serious illness which forced him to bring the two saints and entreated them to forgive him. They prayed for him and God healed him because of their prayers. The people thought that he will release them but shortly after he refuted the work of God in his healing. He ordered to crucify the two older brothers and to be stoned. As of the rest of the brothers, they bound, stoned, and threw arrows at them. The stones and arrows were driven back to strike the soldiers. The Prefect ordered to release them and be cast in a fiery furnace. When their mother heard this sentence she encouraged and confirmed them in the faith. The Prefect became enraged and ordered her beheaded, so she received the crown of martyrdom. Her body remained on the ground and no one dared to bury it. St. Cosmas screamed at those present saying, "Men of this city, is there not one merciful person among you who will cover the body of this poor old widow and bury her?" Straightaway, the courageous officer, Victor, the son of Romanus, came forward, took the body, shrouded, and buried it. When the governor heard what St. Victor had done, he ordered him be exiled to the land of Egypt, where he was tortured and was martyred in the name of the Lord Christ. When Lysias realized his failure before these saints, he ordered them beheaded. They took them to the place of execution, and they were calm, praising God, and full of joy. Finally they were beheaded and received the crowns of martyrdom. Some of the faithful came forward, carried the bodies and buried them. After the end of the era of persecution, many churches were built in the name of these saints and God made manifest many signs and wonders therein. May the blessing of their prayers be with us all. Amen

Ⲁⲝⲓⲟⲥ ⲁⲝⲓⲟⲥ ⲁⲝⲓⲟⲥ: Ⲕⲟⲥⲙⲁ ⲛⲉⲙ Ⲇⲁⲙⲓⲁⲛⲟⲥ Ⲛⲓⲙⲁⲣⲧⲩⲣⲟⲥ

***Martyrdom of St. Ammonius, Bishop of Esna (Kiahk 14)

On Kiahk 14 of year 20 of the martyrs (304 A.D.) the great saint Abba Ammonius, Bishop of the city of (Latopolis) Esna, was martyred. Since his young age he was well mannered and was adorned with many virtues. Pope Peter, the Seal of Martyrs, ordained him a bishop over the city of Esna. Because of his strong desire for a solitary life, he built a monastery at the foot of the western mountain beside a spring of water. He prepared a cave where he stayed all week then went down to the city on Saturday to pray with the people the Sunday Liturgy. He exhorted and taught them. He also spent Monday with them to settle their disputes and take care of their needs. Then he returned to his cave to continue his worship and asceticism. Arianus the governor of Ansena went to Upper Egypt, to persecute the Christians, and order them to worship the idols. The angel of the Lord appeared to Anba Ammonius in his cave and told him; "The Lord had accepted your prayers on behalf of your people and had prepared the crowns for them. Arise, go down and confirm them in the faith of the Lord Christ." The saint arose and went down immediately and gathered the people. He informed them of what the angel had told him and encouraged them with his spiritual words. They all shouted out saying, "Our father, we are ready to withstand any suffering in the Name of the Lord Christ, even unto death." That took place on the feast of St. Isaac, whom the monastery in the mountain was after his name. He took his people up to the Aghathon Mount, which means the mount of goodness, to celebrate the feast there. Arianus departed from Armunt and entered Esna and wandered in its streets which were empty. When he knew that the Bishop and his congregation went up the Aghathon Mount to pray he went to the place executing all the Christians he met on his way. He slew all the congregation praying on the mountain then seized Anba Ammonius and took him with him to Aswan then to Ansena. He delivered him to Harcus the captain of the soldiers who severely torture him. When he saw his steadfastness in the faith, the Governor ordered to burn him alive. The Saint asked for a respite to pray. After he finished praying they threw him into the fire where he delivered his pure soul. When the fire was extinguished the believers took his pure body out which was untouched and unharmed by the fire. They shrouded the body and buried him in the city of Ansena. During the reign of Emperor Constantine they built a church for Anba Ammonius in mount Esna, and went to Ansena to relocate the body to his church. They could not move it from his place and they heard a voice from the body saying, "This is the place that God chose for me." They recognized that it was the will of God so they left him and went back glorifying God in His saints. May the blessing of his prayers be with us all. Amen.

Ⲁⲝⲓⲟⲥ ⲁⲝⲓⲟⲥ ⲁⲝⲓⲟⲥ: Ⲁⲃⲃⲁ Ⲁⲙⲟⲛⲓⲟⲥ ⲡⲓⲉⲡⲓⲥⲕⲟⲡⲟⲥ

***Martyrdom of St. Bestavros, the New Martyr (Kiahk 3)

On Kiahk 3 of the year 1229 of the martyrs (1512 A.D.) St. Bestavros (Saleeb - the new martyr) was martyred. This saint was born in the city of Ebshadat which was nearby the city of Hor, district of Mallawy, and was called Saleeb. He learned the church subjects, and when he became a young man he desired to live a life of virginity. Nevertheless, his parents wed him against his will to one of his relatives. He found that his wife had the same inclination to the life of celibacy so they agreed to live together under one roof in complete virginity. Saint Saleeb (Bestavros) spent most of his times with the monks in the nearby monastery listening to their advices, persevering on praying interceding by the Virgin to aid him in his spiritual struggle. One day a group of wicked men falsified many untrue accusations against him that he blasphemed against the Islamic faith. However, he openly declared his faith in the Lord Christ so they imprisoned him. The wife of the jailer saw him from the prison’s window praying all night long. She also saw a luminous woman appeared before him and said; "Be patient for you shall receive the crown of martyrdom and the Archangel Michael will support you." The ruler of the area, later on, sent him to Cairo shackled with chains. He was on the boat for few days without food or drink persevering in praying and the Virgin St. Mary appeared to strengthen him. When he arrived to Cairo they brought him before the King Al-Ashraf Qansuh al-Ghury and the saint confessed the Lord Christ again before him. He was enraged and sent him to the judge to pass a sentence against him. When the judge realized his insistence on courageously confessing the Lord Christ, he sentenced to put him to death and delegated that to one of the Mameluke princes. They made a wooden cross and nailed St. Bestavros (Saleeb) on it then raised him crucified on the back of a camel and paraded him around the streets of Cairo. He rejoiced for he was counted worthy to suffer shame for the name of Christ. Later on they took him off the camel and promised to release him if he forsook his confession of the Lord Christ. However the saint shouted saying; "I will die a Christian on the name of our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ." The prince ordered to behead him thus he received the crown of martyrdom. His body remained for three days in the middle of a fire they prepared however his body did not burn. Some of the believers came and took his pure body and brought it to the papal residence. Pope Youannes (John) XIII received him with great veneration in the antiquated church of the Virgin Mary in Haret Zuwaila in old Cairo and kept it there. During the papacy of Pope Shenouda III, the 117th patriarch, he permitted the bishop of Mallawy, Anba Demetrius to relocate a part of the relics of St. Bestavros to the church of the Virgin St. Mary in the city of Ebshadat and that was on the 15th of Paone, 1703 A.M. (1987 A.D.). May the blessing of his prayers be with us all. Amen.

Ⲁⲝⲓⲟⲥ ⲁⲝⲓⲟⲥ ⲁⲝⲓⲟⲥ: Ⲡⲓⲥⲧⲁⲩⲣⲟⲥ ⲙⲃⲉⲣⲓ ⲙⲙⲁⲣⲧⲩⲣⲟⲥ

***Martyrs of the Botroseya Church

Ⲁⲝⲓⲟⲥ ⲁⲝⲓⲟⲥ ⲁⲝⲓⲟⲥ: Ⲛⲓⲙⲁⲣⲧⲩⲣⲟⲥ ⲛⲧⲉ Ⲡⲟⲧⲣⲟⲥⲓⲁ

***St. Abba Athanasius the Apostolic

(Madeeha in Coptic Reader)

Ⲁⲝⲓⲟⲥ ⲁⲝⲓⲟⲥ ⲁⲝⲓⲟⲥ: Ⲁⲃⲃⲁ Ⲁ̀ⲑⲁⲛⲁⲥⲓⲟⲥ ⲡⲓⲁ̀ⲡⲟⲥⲧⲟⲗⲓⲕⲟⲥ

***Departure of Pope Zacharias (64th) (Hatoor 17)

On Hatoor 17 of the year 748 of the martyrs (1032 A.D.), the saintly Pope Zacharias, the 64th patriarch of Alexandria, departed. This father was born in Alexandria and was disciplined with Christian morals and because of his piety they ordained him a priest. He followed a good conduct in his life, so everyone loved him. When Pope Phillotheous, the 63rd Pope, departed, the bishops and the lay-leaders (Archons) assembled and unanimously agreed to elect him a patriarch. He was consecrated on the 20th of Tobe, year 720 of the martyrs (1004 A.D.). Abba Zacharias, suffered many tribulations. As an example, El-Hakem (Be-Amr-Allah) imprisoned him for three month then he cast him to the lions, which did not harm him as with Daniel the prophet. He threatened him often with death. Finally, because of the mediation of one of the princes, he released him. Abba Zacharias went to the desert of Scete, to the monastery of St. Macarius where he stayed for nine years. During these years the Christians suffered many hardships. They slew many of them, plundered their homes and several churches were destroyed. El-Hakem Be-Amr-Allah allowed some of the monks to build a monastery outside the city of Cairo. They built a monastery after the name of the martyr St. Mercurius Abu-Saifain (of the two swords). This is the monastery that is known now by the monastery of Anba Barsome the "Naked" (El-Erian) in Ma-asaret Helwan. El-Khalifa visited this monastery often for he had a cordial relation with the monks. The monks took the chance of his presence in the monastery and solicited a pardon from him for the return of Pope Zacharias. Abba Zacharias lived 12 years, after his return from the desert, during which he renovated churches, restored those that were destroyed and in serving his people. He remained in the papacy for 28 years and departed to the Lord in peace. The blessing of his prayers be with us all. Amen.

Ⲁⲝⲓⲟⲥ ⲁⲝⲓⲟⲥ ⲁⲝⲓⲟⲥ: Ⲡⲉⲛⲓⲱⲧ ⲉⲑⲟⲩⲁⲃ ⲁⲃⲃⲁ Ⲍⲁⲭⲁⲣⲓⲁⲥ

***St. John the Short

- On Baba 20 of the year 125 of the martyrs (409 A.D.) the great saint, Anba John (Yoannis) Colobos (the Short, the Little, the Dwarf), departed. He was born in the year 339 A.D. in the city of Thebes (Luxor). His parents were righteous and God-fearing, rich in faith and good deeds. When he was 18 years old, the grace of God moved him to go to the wilderness of Scete (the Natroun Valley) longing to the monastic life. There he came upon a tried and holy old man whose name was Anba Pemwah (Amoi). John knelt before Anba Pemwah and asked him to allow him to stay with him. The old man answered, trying him, "My son, you cannot stay with us for this is a very hard desert and those who dwell in it eat from the work of their hands, besides observing many fasts, prayers, and sleeping on the floor and many other forms of asceticism.” He enumerated for him the difficulties of monasticism but Yoannis was firm in his intention and told him, "Do not send me away, for God's sake, because I came to be in your obedience and prayers. If you accept me, I believe that God will make your heart well-pleased with me and God will help me with your prayers." Abba Pemwah asked the Lord Christ to reveal to him the reality of this young man. The angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, "Accept this brother, for he shall become a chosen vessel." Anba Pemwah accepted him, shaved the hair of his head, and dressed him with the monastic garb. Saint John started his monastic life with great asceticism and splendid works. One day Anba Pemwah wanted to test St. John, so he expelled him out from his cell saying, "I cannot live with you." Anba John stayed out by the door of St. Pemwah’s cell for seven days. Every day Anba Pemwah went out and smote him with a palm branch and Anba John bowed down, in extreme humility, before him saying, "I have sinned O my father." On the seventh day, the old man went out to go to the church and he saw an angel with a crown placing it on the head of Anba John. Since that day, Anba Pemwah loved him and accepted to live with him. One day Anba Pemwah wanted to test his obedience, so he gave him a piece of dry wood (walking-stick) and said to him, "Take this wood, plant and water it." St. John obeyed and went on watering it daily though the source of water was very far. After three years, that piece of wood sprouted out and grew into a fruitful tree. Anba Pemwah took some of that fruit and went around to the elder monks saying, "Take, and eat from the fruit of obedience." This tree still exists in its place in his monastery. Abba Pemwah fell sick for 12 years during which Anba John served him diligently. When Abba Pemwah was about to depart, he held the hand of Anba John (Yoannis) and handed him to the elder fathers saying, "Take and keep him, for he is an angel, not a man." He commanded Anba John to stay in the place where he had planted the tree of obedience then Anba Pemwah departed in peace. Anba John dwelt beside the tree where he established a large monastery. It happened when Pope Theophilus was ordaining Anba John, Hegumen and abbot, a voice from heaven was heard saying, "Axios, Axios, Axios” (That is to say he is worthy). When this saint consecrated the offering, he was able to know those who were worthy to partake of it and those who were not worthy. Anba John was an extremely humble person. Later on, the Berbers attacked the desert of Scete in the year 407 A.D., so Anba John (Yoannis) left the wilderness. He went to Mt. Qulzum , in the eastern wilderness near by the city of Suez, and dwelt in a cave there. God arranged for him a man of faith to serve him. He brought to him all his needs once a week. When he completed his good endeavor, he departed in peace in his cave in Mt. Qulzum. Later on his disciples relocated his body to the wilderness of Shiheet. The Lord wrought many miracles through his holy body. His body is located at present time in a reliquary in the shrine of the three saints Abba Macarii in the monastery of Anba Macarius the Great in the wilderness of Shiheet. The blessing of his prayers be with us all and glory be to our God for ever. Amen.

Ⲁⲝⲓⲟⲥ ⲁⲝⲓⲟⲥ ⲁⲝⲓⲟⲥ: Ⲁⲃⲃⲁ Ⲓⲱⲁⲛⲛⲏⲥ Ⲡⲓⲕⲟⲗⲟⲃⲟⲥ

***Abba Matthew the Potter

On Kiahk 7 the great saint Anba Mettaos El-Fakhoury , the abbot of the monastery of Asfoun Mount which is nearby Esna, departed. Because of his great humility he called himself (Matthew the Poor) . This saint was born to Christian parents and his father was a pottery maker. They reared him up in a true Christian upbringing. Since his young age he frequently visited the monasteries and learned the spiritual life from the monks. He longed for the monastic life so he went to one of the monasteries of St. Pachomius which was nearby Esna. He asked Fr. Marcus, the abbot of the monastery to accept him under his guidance. He accepted him and shortly after, he dressed him with the monastic vestments. The monk Mettaos (Matthew) started his monastic life with austere ascetic struggles and he loved prayers and solitary life. He dug for himself a cave in the mountain nearby the monastery and lived there in seclusion worshipping and praying. After the departure of Fr. Marcus, the monks chose Fr. Mettaos to be the abbot and the head of the monastery. When he took over this responsibility, he performed his duties with excellence and did a great deal of improvements in the monastery. After his departure, the monastery was called after his name and his body was buried therein. The famous historian El-Makresy, had mentioned this monastery by saying; “In the Asfoun mount, a big monastery inhabited by monks known for their knowledge, and skills. It is one of the monasteries of Upper Egypt that was about to be ruined after being well inhabited by many monks and had many great buildings.” Beside the great monastic and architectural growth that Fr. Mettaos under took in his monastery, God granted him many gifts as healing the sick, casting out devils, raising the dead and for telling the future. His fane spread to all surrounding cities. He reach a level of holiness that the wild beasts ate their food from his hands and were tamed in his presence. When he completed his pure endeavor departed in peace. His body, still present in a beautiful marble tomb located in a small private room beside the entrance of the monastery old fort. May the blessing of his prayer be with us all. Amen.

Ⲁⲝⲓⲟⲥ ⲁⲝⲓⲟⲥ ⲁⲝⲓⲟⲥ: Ⲁⲃⲃⲁ Ⲙⲁⲧⲑⲉⲟⲥ Ⲡⲓⲕⲉⲣⲁⲙⲉⲩⲥ

***St. Simeon the Shoemaker

(Madeeha in Coptic Reader)

Ⲁⲝⲓⲟⲥ ⲁⲝⲓⲟⲥ ⲁⲝⲓⲟⲥ: Ⲡⲓⲅⲓⲟⲥ ⲁⲃⲃⲁ Ⲥⲩⲙⲉⲱⲛ

***Zacchaeus the Chief tax-collector

Luke 19:1-10
A reading from Gospel according to our teacher St. Luke the Evangelist:

Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, “He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.”

Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.”

And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

Glory be to God forever.

Ⲁⲝⲓⲟⲥ ⲁⲝⲓⲟⲥ ⲁⲝⲓⲟⲥ: Ⲍⲁⲕⲭⲉⲟⲥ ⲡⲓⲁⲣⲭⲏⲧⲉⲗⲱⲛⲏⲥ