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CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
METHOD:PUBLISH
X-WR-CALNAME:ST. MARY AND ST. MENA
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for ST. MARY AND ST. MENA
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BEGIN:VTIMEZONE
TZID:UTC
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TZOFFSETFROM:+0000
TZOFFSETTO:+0000
TZNAME:UTC
DTSTART:20210101T000000
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220819T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220819T170000
DTSTAMP:20260612T054310
CREATED:20220504T071117Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T071117Z
UID:11530-1660896000-1660928400@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-Transfiguration  Commemorations
DESCRIPTION:
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/transfiguration-commemorations/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220818T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220818T170000
DTSTAMP:20260612T054310
CREATED:20220504T071030Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T071030Z
UID:11527-1660809600-1660842000@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-REIGN OF THE RIGHTEOUS EMPEROR CONSTANTINE\, THE GREAT
DESCRIPTION:August 18\, 2022 – Mesra 12\, 1738 \nOn this day also\, is the commemoration of the enthronement of the Righteous Emperor Constantine the Great\, over the city of Rome. When he reigned over Byzantium\, succeeding his father Constantius Chlorus in the year 306 A.D.\, he abolished the injustice throughout the kingdom. His fairness and fame spread throughout the Empire. The nobles of Rome asked him to come and save them from the injustice of Maximianus. He sorrowed for their misfortune\, and he pondered in what way he could deliver them. The sign of the cross appeared to him\, to which he adhered. Constantine went and fought against Maximianus and defeated him. While Maximianus was retreating\, crossing the bridge over the Tiber River\, the bridge broke and he perished\, drowning along with his soldiers. That was in the seventh year of the reign of Emperor Constantine. When Emperor Constantine entered Rome\, all its nobles and people welcomed him in a grand festival\, and with great joy. They celebrated his victory for seven successive days. The poets of Rome and its orators praised the Honorable Cross\, describing it as the savior of their city and the supporter of their Emperor. The account of the appearance of the Cross to Emperor Constantine and his victory over Maximianus is written under the commemoration of the departure of this righteous Emperor\, which is on the twenty-eighth day of the month of Baramhat. Glory be to our God forever. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/reign-of-the-righteous-emperor-constantine-the-great-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220818T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220818T170000
DTSTAMP:20260612T054310
CREATED:20220504T070856Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T070856Z
UID:11521-1660809600-1660842000@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-COMMEMORATION OF THE HONORABLE ARCHANGEL MICHAEL
DESCRIPTION:August 18\, 2022 – Mesra 12\, 1738 \nOn this day\, the church celebrates the commemoration of the honorable Archangel Michael. With his supplications God brings the water of the Nile up to its measure and blesses the fruits of the earth. May his intercession be with us. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/commemoration-of-the-honorable-archangel-michael-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220817T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220817T170000
DTSTAMP:20260612T054310
CREATED:20220504T070815Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T070815Z
UID:11518-1660723200-1660755600@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-DEPARTURE OF ST. MOISIS\, BISHOP OF OUSEEM
DESCRIPTION:August 17\, 2022 – Mesra 11\, 1738 \nOn this day\, the holy father Anba Moisis (Moses)\, Bishop of Ouseem\, departed. He was pure and chaste from a young age. He learned the church subjects\, and was ordained a deacon. Then he went to the desert of Scetis and became a monk\, under the direction of a righteous man. Anba Moisis served him for eighteen years\, devoting himself to praying and fasting\, and was adorned with humility and love. As the report of his virtues noised throughout\, he was ordained a bishop for Ouseem after Anba Gamoul. He pursued a good\, virtuous life\, increased in righteousness\, and he shepherded the flock of Christ with the best of care. He was ascetic and did not own anything all his life. He suffered\, along with Pope Michael\, 46th Patriarch of Alexandria\, many tribulations. God wrought many signs and miracles on his hands. Often\, Anba Moisis foretold incidents before their occurrences. For example\, once he told Anba Tadros\, Bishop of Misr\, that the King would not return to his kingdom\, and it was so. When he completed his strife and was in a good old age\, he had a short illness. When he knew the time of his departure\, he called his congregation\, blessed them\, commended them\, and asked them to pray for him. They all wept and asked him to remember them before Christ. He stretched out his hand\, prayed\, bid them farewell and departed in peace. He remained in his chair for more than twenty years. May his prayers be with us and Glory be to our God forever. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/departure-of-st-moisis-bishop-of-ouseem-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220816T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220816T170000
DTSTAMP:20260612T054310
CREATED:20220504T070725Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T070725Z
UID:11514-1660636800-1660669200@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-MARTYRDOM OF ST. PIGEBS (BEKHEBS)
DESCRIPTION:August 16\, 2022 – Mesra 10\, 1738 \nOn this day also\, St. Pigebs (Bekhebs) was martyred. He was from the city of Ashmoun-Tanah. He was a soldier under the command of prince Antiochus. When the prince knew that he was Christian\, he had him brought along with Anba Klog\, the bishop\, Anba Nehro\, who was from Tersa and Anba Phillip\, and asked them about their faith. They confessed that they were Christian. He tortured them severely. Later on he bound St. Pigebs and sent him with others to the Baramon. They spent many days in the ship without eating or drinking. When they arrived to the Baramon\, they tortured St. Pigebs severely\, and finally they hacked his body in pieces with a cleaver\, thus he received the crown of martyrdom. A believing man from the Baramon came and took St. Pigebs body and sent it to his hometown Ashmoun-Tanah. Ninety-five others received the crown of martyrdom along with the Saint. May their prayers be with us and Glory be to God forever. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/martyrdom-of-st-pigebs-bekhebs-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220816T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220816T170000
DTSTAMP:20260612T054310
CREATED:20220504T070651Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T070651Z
UID:11512-1660636800-1660669200@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-MARTYRDOM OF ST. MATRA
DESCRIPTION:August 16\, 2022 – Mesra 10\, 1738 \nOn this day\, St. Matra was martyred during the papacy of Pope Demetrius\, the twelfth patriarch of Alexandria\, and in the days of Emperor Decius. When this Saint heard the imperial Edict read ordering the worship of idols\, he went and took the arm of the statue of the idol Apollo\, which was made of pure gold. He cut it in pieces\, and gave them to the poor. When they searched for the idol’s arm\, and could not find it\, they seized many because of it. St. Matra came forward and told them\, I am he who took it. They tortured him much\, and then cast him into the fire\, but the angel of the Lord saved him from it. Then they cut off his hands and his feet and crucified him on a tree\, head downwards. A blind man came and took some of the blood that was dripping from the Saint’s mouth and smeared his eyes with it\, and he regained his sight. Afterwards\, the Saint was beheaded\, and he received the crown of martyrdom. May his intercession be with us. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/martyrdom-of-st-matra-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220815T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220815T170000
DTSTAMP:20260612T054310
CREATED:20220504T070614Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T070614Z
UID:11507-1660550400-1660582800@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-MARTYRDOM OF ST. ARI\, THE PRIEST OF SHATANOUF
DESCRIPTION:August 15\, 2022 – Mesra 9\, 1738 \nOn this day\, St. Ari (Ori)\, the priest of Shatanouf\, was martyred. He was exceedingly merciful\, pure in soul and body\, to the extent that he was worthy to foretell future things by the Divine Inspiration. When the governor of Nakios\, heard about him\, he had the Saint brought before him and ordered the Saint to offer incense to the idols. When St. Ari refused\, the governor tortured him much\, then sent him to Alexandria\, where he was also severely tormented with excruciating tortures. Then they cast him in prison\, where God wrought many miracles on his hands. His news spread and many came to him from everywhere. When the governor heard this\, he ordered him beheaded. Thus he received the crown of martyrdom. May his prayers be with us and Glory be to God forever. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/martyrdom-of-st-ari-the-priest-of-shatanouf-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220814T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220814T170000
DTSTAMP:20260612T054310
CREATED:20220504T070539Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T070539Z
UID:11505-1660464000-1660496400@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-CONFESSION OF ST. PETER\, THE APOSTLE\, THAT CHRIST IS THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD
DESCRIPTION:August 14\, 2022 – Mesra 8\, 1738 \nOn this day also\, the church celebrates the confession of St. Peter\, the Apostle\, that Christ is the Son of the living God. When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi\, He asked His disciples saying\, Who do men say that I\, the Son of Man\, am? So they said\, Some say John the Baptist\, some Elijah and others Jeremiah\, or one of the prophets. He said to them\, But who do you say that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said\, You are the Christ\, the Son of the living God. Jesus answered and said to him\, Blessed are you\, Simon Bar-Jonah\, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you\, but my Father who is in heaven\, and I also say to you that you are Peter and on this rock\, I will build My church\, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven\, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in Heaven\, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in Heaven. Then He commanded his disciples that they should tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ. (Matthew 16:13-20) May the Glory be to our God forever. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/confession-of-st-peter-the-apostle-that-christ-is-the-son-of-the-living-god-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220814T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220814T170000
DTSTAMP:20260612T054310
CREATED:20220504T070414Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T070414Z
UID:11497-1660464000-1660496400@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-MARTYRDOM OF THE SAINTS LAZARUS\, SALOMI\, HIS WIFE AND THEIR CHILDREN
DESCRIPTION:August 14\, 2022 – Mesra 8\, 1738 \nOn this day\, the nine saints: Lazarus the Elder\, his wife Salomi\, and their children; Abeem (Animo)\, Antonius\, Hosea\, Lazarus\, Aniana\, Semuna\, and Marcolus\, were martyred. Lazarus was one of the teachers of the Jewish Law. His father was one of the Seventy Elders who translated the Torah by the order of Ptolemy\, King of Egypt. This just man taught his children the Law of Moses. When Antiochus\, King of Rome\, reigned over the Syrian land\, he besieged Jerusalem and afflicted the Jewish nation with cruelty. He compelled them to break the Law of their fathers and to eat what was forbidden them such as pork meat and the like. Many of them feared his might and obeyed him. Nevertheless\, these righteous persisted on keeping the Law\, which had been given to them by God. Antiochus tortured them severely\, by flogging them\, crucifying\, burning\, and plowing their bodies with metal combs. The righteous woman Salomi\, encouraged them until they had fulfilled their martyrdom. Then\, she also cast herself in the fire without waiting for them to throw her into it. Thus\, they received the crown of martyrdom. May their prayers be with us. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/martyrdom-of-the-saints-lazarus-salomi-his-wife-and-their-children-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220813T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220813T170000
DTSTAMP:20260612T054310
CREATED:20220504T070318Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T070318Z
UID:11493-1660377600-1660410000@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-DEPARTURE OF ST. TIMOTHY II (TIMOTHEOS)\, THE 26TH POPE OF ALEXANDRIA
DESCRIPTION:August 13\, 2022 – Mesra 7\, 1738 \nOn this day also\, of the year 193 A.M. (July 31\, 477 A.D.) St. Timothy II\, the twenty-sixth Pope of the See of St. Mark\, departed. This father was chosen for the Patriarchate after the departure of the striving father Pope Dioscorus on the third of Babah\, 172 A.M. (October 1\, 455 A.D.). He suffered many hardships for the sake of preserving the Orthodox faith. Emperor Leo\, the Great\, banished him to the island of Gagra (Gangra)\, in Paphlognia (Pavlagonia)\, where he was detained for seven years until he was returned by Emperor Leo\, the Less\, with great honor. He spent the rest of his days in establishing the faithful in the Orthodox faith. He departed in peace after he spent twenty-one years and ten months on the throne of St. Mark. May his blessings be with us and Glory be to God forever. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/departure-of-st-timothy-ii-timotheos-the-26th-pope-of-alexandria-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220813T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220813T170000
DTSTAMP:20260612T054310
CREATED:20220504T070237Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T070237Z
UID:11489-1660377600-1660410000@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-ANNUNCIATION OF ST. JOACHIM WITH THE BIRTH OF THE VIRGIN MARY
DESCRIPTION:August 13\, 2022 – Mesra 7\, 1738 \nOn this day\, God sent His honorable angel Gabriel to announce to St. Joachim of the birth of the Virgin\, the mother of the incarnated God. This righteous man and his wife St. Anna (Hannah) were stricken in years and had no children for Anna was barren. The children of Israel used to insult him because he had not begotten a son. Because of this\, these two saints were sad\, and prayed continually\, and entreated God by day and by night. They vowed that the child they would beget would be made a steward for the temple. While St. Joachim was praying over the mountain\, he fell into a deep sleep and Gabriel\, the angel of the Lord\, appeared to him and announced to him that his wife Anna would conceive and bear a child\, that would delight his eyes and please his heart; and likewise all the world would rejoice and be glad. When he woke from his sleep\, he came to his house\, and told his wife about the vision\, which she believed. Anna conceived forthwith\, and brought forth our Lady\, the Virgin Mary\, and St. Anna became more honorable than all the women of the world. May her intercession be with us. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/annunciation-of-st-joachim-with-the-birth-of-the-virgin-mary-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220812T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220812T170000
DTSTAMP:20260612T054310
CREATED:20220504T070134Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T070134Z
UID:11485-1660291200-1660323600@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-MARTYRDOM OF ST. JULIETTA
DESCRIPTION:August 12\, 2022 – Mesra 6\, 1738 \nOn this day\, St. Julietta was martyred. She was born in the city of Caesaria\, in Cappadocia\, to rich Christian parents. She inherited great wealth from them. An oppressor defrauded her from her wealth by bribing false witnesses against her. When that evil man knew that she wished to inform against him\, and expose his lies and extortion\, he informed the governor of Cappadocia that she was Christian. She said within herself that the temporal wealth of this world is nothing to make her lose herself for\, but if she gain the eternal life to come\, no one would be able to take it from her. When she came before the governor\, she confessed the name of Christ. The governor cast her in fire\, and she delivered up her pure spirit in the hands of the Lord. She received instead of her temporal possessions\, the eternal life and St. Basil the Great praised her immensely. May her prayers be with us and Glory be to God forever. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/martyrdom-of-st-julietta-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220811T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220811T170000
DTSTAMP:20260612T054310
CREATED:20220504T070058Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T070058Z
UID:11481-1660204800-1660237200@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-DEPARTURE OF ST. JOHN THE SOLDIER
DESCRIPTION:August 11\, 2022 – Mesra 5\, 1738 \nOn this day\, the devout St. John the Soldier\, departed. He was born to pious Christian parents. When he grew up\, he joined the army of the Infidel Emperor Julian. Julian had sent him with other soldiers to afflict the Christians where ever they went. He pretended that he was in agreement with his fellow soldiers in their persecution of the Christians but in fact he was defending them. He treated the Christians well\, fulfilling their needs. He also used to fast\, and pray continually and give alms. He lived a life like unto the lives of the righteous\, until he departed in peace. God manifested many miracles from his grave. May his blessing be with us and Glory be to God forever. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/departure-of-st-john-the-soldier-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220810T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220810T170000
DTSTAMP:20260612T054310
CREATED:20220504T070013Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T070013Z
UID:11478-1660118400-1660150800@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-CONSECRATION OF THE CHURCH OF THE GREAT ST.ANTHONY (ANTONIOS)
DESCRIPTION:August 10\, 2022 – Mesra 4\, 1738 \nOn this day also\, was the consecration of the Church of the great St. Anthony (Antonios). May his blessing be with us and Glory be to God forever. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/consecration-of-the-church-of-the-great-st-anthony-antonios-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220810T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220810T170000
DTSTAMP:20260612T054310
CREATED:20220504T065938Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T065938Z
UID:11475-1660118400-1660150800@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-DEPARTURE OF HEZEKIAH THE KING
DESCRIPTION:August 10\, 2022 – Mesra 4\, 1738 \nOn this day\, the righteous King Hezekiah son of Ahaz the King\, departed. He was of the seed of David\, of the tribe of Judah. There was no king appointed over the children of Israel\, like this righteous man\, after David. The other kings worshipped the idols and built altars for them. After becoming King\, Hezekiah destroyed the idols\, and demolished their altars\, therefore God rewarded him for more than what he had done. In the fourteenth year of his kingdom\, Sennacherib\, King of Persia\, came and besieged Jerusalem. He was a great and very powerful king\, and all the other kings in his time were afraid of him. Hezekiah also feared him\, and sent him large sums of money\, but Sennacherib was not satisfied with them. Instead\, he threatened and intimidated Hezekiah\, and he reviled\, with his unclean tongue\, God\, the Glorious and Most High\, saying\, Do not be deceived by your God that you are depending on him saying\, ‘Do not deliver Jerusalem to the hands of King of Persia.’ Then Hezekiah wept\, rent his garments\, and he put on hair sackcloth\, and went into the House of the Lord and prayed saying\, O LORD God of Israel\, the One who dwells between the cherubim\, You are God\, You alone\, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. Incline Your ear\, O LORD\, and hear; open Your eyes\, O LORD\, and see; and hear the words of Sennacherib\, which he has sent to reproach the living God. Truly\, LORD\, the kings of Assyria have laid waste the nations and their lands\, and have cast their gods into the fire; for they were not gods\, but the work of men’s hands; wood and stone. \nTherefore they have destroyed them. Now therefore\, O LORD our God\, I pray\, save us from his hand\, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You are the LORD God\, You alone. (2 Kings 19:15-19) Then King Hezekiah sent a letter to Isaiah the Prophet to inform him about what Sennacherib had said and asked him to pray for him. Isaiah answered and told him that God would strengthen his heart and God will do to Sennacherib an action\, the like of which has never been heard of in all the earth. That night\, the angel of the Lord went forth\, and slew one hundred eighty-five thousand in the camp of the Assyrians; and when they arose early in the morning\, behold\, these were all dead bodies. The rest were conquered and returned to their countries. When Sennacherib went to worship in the house of his gods\, his sons slew him with the sword and killed him. (2 Kings 19:35-37) Thus Hezekiah escaped his hands and glorified God. In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death. And Isaiah the Prophet\, the son of Amoz\, went to him and said to him\, Thus says the LORD: ‘Set your house in order\, for you shall die\, and not live.’ Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall\, and prayed to the LORD. Then it happened\, before Isaiah had gone out into the middle court\, that the word of the LORD came to him\, saying\, Return and tell Hezekiah … I will add to your days fifteen years … Hezekiah said to Isaiah\, What is the sign that the LORD will heal me … Then Isaiah said\, This is the sign to you from the LORD\, … the shadow of the sun will be brought ten degrees backward … (2 Kings 20:1-11) All the kings feared him and they brought tribute to him\, because they knew that God was with him. King Hezekiah reigned for twenty-nine years and all the days of his life were fifty-four years when he departed in peace. His prayer which he uttered through the Holy Spirit when he was healed of his sickness is written in the book of Isaiah (38:10-20). May his prayers be with us. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/departure-of-hezekiah-the-king-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220809T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220809T170000
DTSTAMP:20260612T054310
CREATED:20220504T065737Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T065737Z
UID:11473-1660032000-1660064400@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-DEPARTURE OF POPE ABRIAMUS (PRIMUS)\, THE FIFTH PATRIARCH OF ALEXANDRIA
DESCRIPTION:August 9\, 2022 – Mesra 3\, 1738 \nOn this day also\, in the year 116 A.D.\, Pope Aprimos (Primus)\, Fifth Patriarch of Alexandria\, departed. He was baptized by St. Mark the Apostle. He was one of the three who were ordained priests by St. Mark the Apostle\, along with Bishop Anianus\, the Second Patriarch. Pope Aprimos was ascetic\, pious\, and filled with good deeds. He was ordained to the apostolic chair on the 22nd of Baounah (June 16th\, 106 A.D.). During his papacy\, the church was in peace and tranquility. May his prayers be with us and Glory be to God forever. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/departure-of-pope-abriamus-primus-the-fifth-patriarch-of-alexandria-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220809T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220809T170000
DTSTAMP:20260612T054310
CREATED:20220504T065647Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T065647Z
UID:11470-1660032000-1660064400@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-RELOCATION OF THE BODY OF ST. SIMON (SIMEON) THE STYLITE TO THE CITY OF ANTIOCH
DESCRIPTION:August 9\, 2022 – Mesra 3\, 1738 \nOn this day\, St. Simeon (Simon) the Stylite\, departed. He was from Syria and he had shepherded his father’s flocks since he was young. He regularly attended the church. The Grace of God moved him and he came to one of the monasteries\, where he stayed and worshiped God in great asceticism. He exerted himself with much fasting and excessive thirst. Then he tied a rope around his loins until it pierced his flesh\, and a repulsive smell came out of him. When the other monks were offended by his smell\, he left the monastery and came to a pit where he dwelt for a short time. The abbot of the monastery saw in a vision\, as someone was telling him\, Why did you send away My servant Simon? Seek him\, and bring him back\, as if the voice was rebuking them for his dismissal from the monastery. The abbot informed the brethren of this vision and they became troubled and they began to look for St.Simeon until they found him in the pit\, without food or water. They confessed to him their transgression\, asked for his forgiveness\, and brought him back to the monastery. When they started to exalt him\, he felt that he was unworthy\, so he left the monastery secretly\, and came to a certain rock\, where he lived for sixty days without sleeping. Afterwards\, the Angel of the Lord came to him\, comforted him\, and told him that God had called him for the salvation of many souls. Then he dwelt over a pillar\, thirty cubits in height\, for fifteen years. He performed many signs and great wonders\, and preached to all those who came to him. \nHis father sought him\, but did not find him and he died without seeing him. His mother\, after a long time\, found out about him\, so she came to him where he was staying on that pillar. There she wept greatly\, then she slept under that pillar. The Saint asked the Lord Christ to have mercy on her. His mother died while she was sleeping\, and they buried her under the pillar. Satan became envious of the saint for all his good deeds\, and moved against him. He smote him in one of his legs with ulcerations which forced him to use the other leg for many years\, until the diseased leg rotted\, and worms dropped from it under the pillar. A chief of a band of thieves came to him and slept under his pillar. The Saint prayed to Christ on his behalf\, and he stayed for a few days\, and died. The Saint asked Christ to supply him with water\, and a spring of water sprang up at the foot of the pillar. Then he moved to a taller pillar\, where he stayed on top for thirty years. After he completed forty-eight years in worshipping\, he departed to the Lord. He preached many people\, taught them\, and brought many back to the knowledge of Christ. When the patriarch of Antioch heard about his departure from this world\, he came to him and took his body to Antioch in great veneration. May his prayers be with us. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/relocation-of-the-body-of-st-simon-simeon-the-stylite-to-the-city-of-antioch-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220808T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220808T170000
DTSTAMP:20260612T054310
CREATED:20220504T065607Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T065607Z
UID:11468-1659945600-1659978000@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-DEPARTURE OF ST. PA
DESCRIPTION:August 8\, 2022 – Mesra 2\, 1738 \n\nOn this day\, St. Pa’esa\, departed. She was born in Menouf\, to pious and rich parents. When her parents died\, she turned her house into a shelter for the poor and the sojourner. She accepted everyone that came to her fulfilling their every need until she ran out of money. Evil people gathered around her\, and turned her mind to the ungodly way. She turned her home into a house of prostitution. When this news reached the elders of Shiheet\, they sorrowed for her with great sorrow. The elders called upon St. John\, the Short\, and asked him to go to her\, as an act of mercy\, and to aid her in saving her soul\, in turn for the good that she had done for them. The saint obeyed the elders and asked them to support him with their prayers. When St. John came to where she lived\, he asked her maid to announce his presence. When the maid informed her\, Pa’esa adorned herself\, and called him in. As he was walking\, he was saying\, Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death\, I fear no evil. For thou art with me. (Ps. 23:4) When he sat down\, he looked to her and said\, Why did you belittle the Lord Christ\, and do this evil deed? She trembled\, and her heart was melting from the words of the Saint who bent his head and started weeping. She asked him\, Why do you weep? He answered\, Because I see the devils playing on your face\, and therefore I weep for you. She asked him\, Is there any repentance for me? He replied\, Yes\, but not in this place. She said to him\, Take me wherever you wish. Then he took her to one of the convents close by the wilderness of Shiheet. On their way it became dark. St. John told her to sleep in one place\, while he slept far away from her. When he stood up to pray the midnight prayer\, he saw a pillar of light coming down from heaven to earth\, and the angels of God were carrying the Soul of Pa’esa. When he approached her\, he found that she had departed. Then he knelt down and prayed fervently\, with tears\, asking God to reveal to him concerning her fate. He heard a voice saying\, Her repentance was accepted in the moment that she repented. After the saint had buried her\, he returned to the Elders and told them what had happened. They all glorified the Lord who accepts the repentants and forgive their sins. May her prayers be with us and Glory be to God forever. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/departure-of-st-pa-2/
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DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220807T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220807T170000
DTSTAMP:20260612T054310
CREATED:20220504T065514Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T065514Z
UID:11465-1659859200-1659891600@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-DEPARTURE OF ST. KYRILLOS V (CYRIL)\, THE 112TH POPE OF ALEXANDRIA
DESCRIPTION:August 7\, 2022 – Mesra 1\, 1738 \nOn this day also\, of the year 1643 A.M. (August 7\, 1927 A.D.) the righteous and honorable father Pope Kyrillos V\, 112th Pope of Alexandria\, departed. This father was born in the city of Tezment\, governorate of Beni-Swaif in 1831 A.D. His pious parents named him John\, brought him up well\, and raised him up in the Christian morals. He had a strong desire to study the Holy Bible and the biography of the saints. When he was 12 years old\, in 1843 A.D.\, he was ordained a deacon and carried the deaconate duties ardently. Because he was inclined at a young age to the life of asceticism\, and solitary life\, he left the world\, and went to St.Mary’s monastery (Known by El-Sourian) in Wadi El-Natrun. There he became a disciple to the spiritual elder\, the hegumen\, Fr. Girgis El-Far\, the father of confession of the monks. When John’s father discovered where he was\, he came to the monastery and brought him back\, but because of his love for the ascetic life\, he did not stay long. He returned to the wilderness\, and became a monk at El-Baramous monastery in the year 1850 A.D. He excelled in his monastic duties and became known for his asceticism\, purity\, and gentleness\, and became a good paragon to the other monks. He was ordained a priest in 1851 A.D.\, then promoted to Hegumen (Archpriest) in 1852 A.D. \nThe number of monks in the monastery then was small and its income was very little. This Father worked hard in transcribing and selling books to churches. The income was used to buy the necessities of the monks\, such as food and clothing. His virtues of knowledge\, righteousness\, and gentleness became well known. He was ordained a Patriarch\, in the 23rd of Babah\, 1591 A.M. (November 1st\, 1874 A.D.) in a venerable celebration. He directed his attention to building churches\, renovating monasteries\, being merciful to the poor\, and caring for the affairs of the monks. In 1892 A.D.\, he chose to be exiled\, rather than to squander the properties of the monasteries. Anba Youanis\, Metropolitan of El-Behara\, Menoufia\, and then the deputy of the See of St. Mark\, was also exiled with him. Afterwards\, both returned from their exile with much respect and honor. During his papacy the church was adorned by knowledgeable and holy men: among them was the great father\, the man of purity\, meekness\, and charity\, Anba Abraam\, Bishop of El-Fayoum. This bishop’s virtues had spread vastly\, and his almsgiving to the poor had reached a point where he did not save any money. All the donations he received from the benevolent\, he gave to the poor and needy. He also performed many wonders such as healing the sick and casting out evil spirits. \nAnother was the well learned\, great theologian and skillful orator\, the Hegumen (Archpriest) Philotheos Ibrahim El-Tantawy\, rector of the great St. Mark Church. Also\, the well learned father the honorable and the ascetic monk the Hegumen Fr. Abdel Messih Saleeb El-Baramousy\, who was well educated in Coptic\, Ethiopian\, Greek\, and Syrian languages. He also knew some French and English. He was characterized with immeasurable patience in research and examining religious books. In return\, he left valuable publications which speak of his prominence. Pope Kyrillos appointed the late Habib Girgis\, who was the dean of the theological seminary\, to be his deacon. He dedicated his life to the seminary and its improvement. Mr. Girgis assisted the Pope in expanding its buildings in Mahmasha. Pope Kyrillos often visited the seminary and blessed its students. This deacon was a skillful speaker. He accompanied the Pope in his pastoral visits to Upper Egypt and Sudan. He translated many religious books from foreign languages to Arabic and published El-Karma periodical\, to spread the facts of the faith in a positive way. He published many books\, among them were: The Seven Sacraments of the Church\, The Consoler of the Faithful\, The Mystery of Piety\, and many others. He taught and nurtured many generations of clerical men who flourished in the church and filled it with their sermons and religious publications. The Pope gave the utmost of his efforts to lift his flock to the highest spiritual level\, as he was prudent in printing the church books. He departed in peace\, after spending fifty-two years\, nine months and six days on the Patriarchal chair. May his prayers be with us and Glory be to God forever. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/departure-of-st-kyrillos-v-cyril-the-112th-pope-of-alexandria-2/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220807T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220807T170000
DTSTAMP:20260612T054310
CREATED:20220504T065418Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T065418Z
UID:11463-1659859200-1659891600@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-MARTYRDOM OF ST. APOLI\, SON OF JUSTUS
DESCRIPTION:August 7\, 2022 – Mesra 1\, 1738 \nOn this day\, St. Apoli (Aboli)\, son of Justus\, son of Emperor Nomarius\, was martyred. This Saint was the crown prince of the Roman empire. He was away in war\, and when he returned to Antioch\, he found Diocletian had already established the pagan worship of idols. Although Apoli was capable of killing him and taking the empire over from him\, he preferred the heavenly everlasting kingdom. St. Apoli came forward\, and confessed Christ before Diocletian. In the beginning\, Diocletian handled him gently\, but when he failed to attract him to the worship of the idols\, he banished him along with his father\, Justus\, and his mother\, Theoclia to the city of Alexandria. He wrote to Armanius\, its governor\, to persuade them to offer sacrifice to the gods\, and if they refuse\, to separate them from each other. Armanius\, knowing their royal positions\, sent Justus (the father) to Ansena (Antinoe)\, his wife to the city of Sa\, and Apoli\, their son\, to Basta. He also left to each of them one of their servants to minister unto them. When Apoli arrived in the city of Basta\, he confessed Christ before its governor who tortured him severely. He beat him\, burned him\, and dismembered him. When the governor saw that many became Christians because of what they saw from the steadfastness of the Saint to the tortures\, and that the Lord was healing him from his wounds\, he ordered to cut off his holy head\, and thus received the crown of martyrdom. May his prayers be with us. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/martyrdom-of-st-apoli-son-of-justus/
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DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220807T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220807T170000
DTSTAMP:20260612T054310
CREATED:20220504T065308Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T065338Z
UID:11461-1659859200-1659891600@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-St. Mary's Fast  Commemorations
DESCRIPTION:
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/st-marys-fast-commemorations/
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DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220806T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220806T170000
DTSTAMP:20260612T054310
CREATED:20220504T064952Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T065235Z
UID:11459-1659772800-1659805200@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-MARTYRDOM OF SAINTS MERCURIUS AND EPHRAEM
DESCRIPTION:August 6\, 2022 – Epep 30\, 1738 \nOn this day\, the two honorable Sts. Mercurius and Ephraem (Ephraim) were martyred. These saints were loving brethren in the spirit\, and kinsmen in the flesh\, and they were born in the city of Akhmim. They became monks in one of the monasteries of Upper Egypt\, and they remained their for twenty year. Satan\, the enemy of good\, brought tribulation upon the Orthodox Church\, and the followers of Arius entered the churches to offer the sacrifices upon the altars of the Orthodox. These two saints rose up and came to the church and cast aside the bread and wine which the Arians had laid on the alter and said\, He who has not been baptized in the Name of the Holy Trinity is only fit to offer up an offering on the altar of idols. The Arians seized the saints and beat them very severely\, until they delivered their souls into the hand of the Lord and they received the crown of martyrdom. May their prayers be with us\, and Glory be to God forever. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/martyrdom-of-saints-mercurius-and-ephraem-2/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220805T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220805T170000
DTSTAMP:20260612T054310
CREATED:20220504T064851Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T064851Z
UID:11457-1659686400-1659718800@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-MARTYRDOM OF ST. QUARSHENOUFA (WARSHENOFIUS)
DESCRIPTION:August 5\, 2022 – Epep 29\, 1738 \nOn this day also\, St. Ouarshenoufa (Warshenofius) was martyred. He was well learned\, righteous\, and pious. When they asked him to become a bishop\, he fled to the city of Tahmoun (Galgamoun\, or Dalgamoun)\, and spent the night there with two God loving\, Christian brothers. The Angel of the Lord appeared to him\, and told him to go to the governor\, and confess Christ before him. When he woke up\, he told the two brothers about the vision. They all agreed to go together to go to the governor. They came to the governor\, confessed the Name of Christ before him\, and he tortured them severely. Then he took them with him to Sanhour where he continued to torture them. Then he took them to the city of Sa\, gathered all the confessors and read to them the edict of the emperor to worship the idols. St. Ouarshenoufa jumped and took the emperor’s edict and tore it to pieces. The governor was enraged and ordered him to be thrown in a fiery furnace and thus he received the crown of martyrdom. May his prayers be with us\, and Glory be to God forever. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/martyrdom-of-st-quarshenoufa-warshenofius-2/
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DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220805T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220805T170000
DTSTAMP:20260612T054310
CREATED:20220504T064808Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T064808Z
UID:11455-1659686400-1659718800@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-COMMEMORATION OF THE TRANSLOCATION OF THE RELICS OF ST. ANDREW\, THE APOSTLE
DESCRIPTION:August 5\, 2022 – Epep 29\, 1738 \nOn this day\, the church commemorates the relocation of the relics of St. Andrew the apostle from Syria to Constantinople\, at the order of the righteous emperor Constantine. He built for his name a beautiful altar and consecrated it on this day. May his prayers be with us. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/commemoration-of-the-translocation-of-the-relics-of-st-andrew-the-apostle-2/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220804T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220804T170000
DTSTAMP:20260612T054310
CREATED:20220504T064716Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T064716Z
UID:11453-1659600000-1659632400@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-DEPARTURE OF ST. MARY MAGDALENE
DESCRIPTION:August 4\, 2022 – Epep 28\, 1738 \nOn this day\, St. Mary Magdalene\, departed. The Lord Christ cast seven demons out of her\, she followed Him\, and she served Him during His passion\, crucifixion\, death\, and burial. She came early with the other Mary to the sepulcher\, and saw the stone had been rolled back and the angel was sitting on it. When they became frightened the angel told them\, Do not be afraid\, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not her; for He is risen. (Matthew 28:1-7) The savior appeared to her and told her\, Go to my brethren\, and say to the\, I ascend to my Father\, and your Father; and to my God\, and your God. (John 20-17) She came and told the disciples about the resurrection of the Lord\, and after the ascension of the Lord\, she remained ministering to the disciples. She received the gifts of the Spirit of Comfort\, fulfilling the prophesy of Joel the prophet which said\, And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy\, your old men shall dream dreams\, your young men shall see visions. (Joel 2:28) This saint preached with the disciples\, and brought back many women to the Faith of Christ. The apostles ordained her a deaconess\, to teach the women\, and to assist in their baptism. She received many insults and humiliation from the Jews\, and she departed in peace while she was still ministering unto the disciples. May her prayers be with us and Glory be to God forever. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/departure-of-st-mary-magdalene-2/
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DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220803T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220803T170000
DTSTAMP:20260612T054310
CREATED:20220504T064626Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T064626Z
UID:11450-1659513600-1659546000@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-MARTYRDOM OF ST. APAMON (ABBA AMOUN)
DESCRIPTION:August 3\, 2022 – Epep 27\, 1738 \nOn this day also\, St. Apamon (Abba Amoun)\, who was from the city of Tarnut\, was martyred. This saint came to Upper Egypt\, and he saw the tortures which were being inflicted by the infidels upon the holy martyrs. He went to Arianus\, the governor of Ansena (Antinoe)\, and confessed the Lord Christ before him. Arianus tortured him severely\, by beating him\, combing him by iron combs\, and drove sharp long nails through his body. The Lord Christ strengthened and healed him. Then\, arianus sent him to Alexandria. The angel of the Lord appeared to him\, encouraged\, and strengthened him. There he was tortured much and many were martyred because of him. Among them was a virgin\, whose name was Theophila\, she came and stood up before the governor\, confessed the Lord Christ\, and admonished him for his worship of the idols. He cast her in the fire but the Lord saved her\, and finally they cut off her head as they cut also the head of St. Apamon. May there prayers be with us and Glory be to God forever. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/martyrdom-of-st-apamon-abba-amoun-2/
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DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220803T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220803T170000
DTSTAMP:20260612T054310
CREATED:20220504T064551Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T064551Z
UID:11448-1659513600-1659546000@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-CONSECRATION OF THE CHURCH OF ST. ABBA FAM
DESCRIPTION:August 3\, 2022 – Epep 27\, 1738 \nOn this day\, was the consecration of the church of St. Abba Fam. May his intercession be with us. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/consecration-of-the-church-of-st-abba-fam-2/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220802T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220802T170000
DTSTAMP:20260612T054310
CREATED:20220504T064407Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T064407Z
UID:11446-1659427200-1659459600@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-DEPARTURE OF ST. TIMOTHY\, THE 22ND POPE OF ALEXANDRIA
DESCRIPTION:August 2\, 2022 – Epep 26\, 1738 \nOn this day also\, of the year 101 A.M. (July 20th\, 385 A.D.)\, St. Timothy\, 22nd Pope of Alexandria\, departed. This saint was enthroned in the seventeenth of Baramhat\, 95 A.M. (March 14th\, 379 A.D.). He shepherded the flock of Christ with the best of care\, and guarded them from the Arian wolves. In the sixth year of his papacy\, Emperor Theodosius the Great reigned\, who ordered the assembly of the Ecumenical Council at Constantinople to judge Macedonius the enemy of the Holy Spirit. This Pope presided over this council\, and he disputed with Macedonius\, Sabilius\, and Apolinarius and refuted their erroneous council as it is mentioned in the first day of Amshir. This saint took great care concerning the buildings of the churches in Alexandria and elsewhere. He was knowledgeable and eloquent\, and he left many sayings refuting the heresy of the Arians. He remained on the Chair for six years\, four months and six days\, then departed in peace. May his prayers be with us and Glory be to God forever. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/departure-of-st-timothy-the-22nd-pope-of-alexandria-2/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220802T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220802T170000
DTSTAMP:20260612T054310
CREATED:20220504T064328Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T064328Z
UID:11444-1659427200-1659459600@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-DEPARTURE OF THE UPRIGHT ST. JOSEPH\, THE CARPENTER
DESCRIPTION:August 2\, 2022 – Epep 26\, 1738 \n\nOn this day\, the righteous man St. Joseph\, the carpenter\, who was worthy to be called the father of Christ in the flesh\, departed at a good old age. The Holy Gospel bore witness that he was a righteous man\, and God chose him to be betrothed to the all-pure\, our lady\, the Virgin St. Mary. When he finished his course\, his strife\, his toil in the journey together with the Lord and the Virgin Lady from Bethlehem to the land of Egypt\, and the tribulations that befell him from the Jews\, he departed in peace. When the time came for him to depart from this world\, to the world of the living\, the Lord Christ was present at his departure\, and laid His hand upon his eyes. He extended his arms\, and delivered up his soul\, and was buried in the tomb of his father Jacob. All the days of his life were one hundred and eleven years; forty years before his marriage\, fifty-two years married\, and nineteen years a widow. His departure was in the sixteenth year of the advent of the Lord Christ. May his prayers be with us. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/departure-of-the-upright-st-joseph-the-carpenter-2/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220801T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220801T170000
DTSTAMP:20260612T054310
CREATED:20220504T064252Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T064252Z
UID:11442-1659340800-1659373200@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-DEPARTURE OF ST. PALAMON\, THE FATHER OF THE MONKS
DESCRIPTION:August 1\, 2022 – Epep 25\, 1738 \nOn this day also\, of the year 316 A.M.\, the saint Anba Palamon the anchorite\, departed. He was an anchorite in the Eastern Mount in a town called El-Kasre and El-Sayad\, district of Nagaa-Hammady\, governorate of Quena. The Devil was weary of tempting this father\, and failed to overcome him. The Devil took every chance to direct his snares against him. One day\, the man of God Anba Palamon rose up\, took the work of his hand\, and walked toward the countryside of Egypt. While he was walking in his way\, he was weeping for his sins. The enemy of the good led him astray in the mountain\, for seven days\, until he was close to death from hunger and thirst\, for it was summer. Finally\, he collapsed\, fell on the ground\, wishing to die. God\, the lover of mankind\, wished not to leave His servant Anba Palamon fall prey to the devil\, so He ordered the devil to leave him. When the old man realized that\, he cried saying\, O Lord Jesus Christ help me. Instantly he heard a voice saying to him\, Do not be afraid\, for the enemy can not overcome you. Rise and walk a short distance to the south. You shall find a righteous old monk whose name is Talasoun. Tell him about all that the devil has brought on you\, and the grievous sin that he tempted you with in your young age. He will pray on your behalf so that your sins will be forgiven. The blessed Anba Palamon rose up\, carried the works of his hands\, and walked in the mount reciting Psalm fifty four\, Save me\, O God\, by Your name\, And vindicate me by Your strength. Hear my prayer\, O God; Give ear to the words of my mouth. For strangers have risen up against me\, And oppressors have sought after my life; They have not set God before them. Behold\, God is my helper; The Lord is with those who uphold my life. He will repay my enemies for their evil. Cut them off in Your truth. I will freely sacrifice to You; I will praise Your name\, O LORD\, for it is good. For He has delivered me out of all trouble; And my eye has seen its desire upon my enemies. He also recited Psalms 68\, Let God arise\, Let His enemies be scattered; Let those also who hate Him flee before Him. As smoke is driven away\, So drive them away; As wax melts before the fire\, So let the wicked perish at the presence of God. But let the righteous be glad; Let them rejoice before God; Yes\, let them rejoice exceedingly. He did not cease praying until God guided him to the place of Anba Talasoun. \nWhen Anba Talasoun saw him\, he rejoiced exceedingly\, greeted him\, held his hand and pulled him up the rock where he lived. They prayed\, then sat down talking about the greatness of God. Anba Talasoun asked Anba Palamon about how he found his way to come to visit him in this wilderness. Then Anba Palamon started crying and kneeled\, saying\, Please forgive me O my beloved holy father. Anba Talasoun said\, The Lord Jesus Christ forgives to all of us all our transgressions. Anba Palamon replied saying\, I am ashamed to tell you\, O my holy father\, about the enormous sin that befell me by the Devil without knowing. Anba Talasoun told him\, It is written ‘Confess your faults one to another\, and pray one for another\, that you may be healed.’ When Anba Palamon saw that the blessed Anba Talasoun was comforting and encouraging him\, he started to tell him\, While I was living in the monastery\, I asked God to forgive me my sins. I also read in the holy books of the fathers which are inspired by the Spirit of God\, that solitary life brings forth the fear of God\, and God despises mockery and laughing for no reason. So I decided to live a solitary life in my small home\, to not talk to anyone\, and never to laugh\, but to cry on my sins by day and night. The Devil often fought against me. He tried to please my heart with laughter but I did not heed him\, and I never cursed. I fought for a long time through these tribulations\, steadfast in the salvation of our Lord Christ until the enemy was wrath with me. One day I took the work of my hands\, walked in the mount to go to sell it and buy a little of bread. After I was at a considerable distance from my abode\, the Devil captivated me\, and right away I lost my mind. He removed the Name of God from my mouth and I was no longer reciting the Divine sayings. The mount changed entirely before me\, the sandy earth became black. When I looked before me I saw a new city\, had splendid buildings\, magnificent houses\, rich palaces\, and the city had shining armored gat which was fortified as a city of a king\, surrounded by trees and gardens. When I saw it\, I wondered about this city and its great distinction. \nWhen I inclined to enter the city thinking that its people might buy from me the work of my hands. As I came close to the walls of the city\, I found a turning water wheel (sakieh)\, and I saw a sorrowful woman. Her face was very gloomy. Her clothes were torn and her veil covered her eyes for the sake of decency. She was standing beside the well\, running the water wheel and watering the vines. When she saw me\, she sat down\, covered her head and said\, ‘Bless me O my holy father.’ In hast she put down the baskets before me then said\, ‘Sit down and rest O my beloved father for you had become tired from what you have carried.’ She sat me down beside running water\, she took water in her hands\, poured it on my feet\, and washed them as someone taking blessings. She acted as a woman of a rich man. I asked her\, ‘O faithful woman\, tell me\, if I enter this city with the work of my hands would I find one who would buy it from me?’ She said\, ‘Yes\, they would buy it from you. Nevertheless\, leave it and I will buy it from you\, and I will give you all that you need. For I was married to a rich man who died recently and left me much money and herds of cattle. I pick the fruits of these enormous vines\, and I do not have anyone to oversee it. I wish to have a man like you\, to whom I can hand all my possessions\, to handle the way he sees fit. So if you accept\, O my holy father\, to come and oversee my house and to take charge of all my possessions\, I will take you as a husband.’ I replied\, ‘If the monk gets married\, shame and disgrace follow him.’ Then the woman told me\, ‘If you do not take me as a wife\, be an overseer for my possessions. You supervise it during the day\, for I own fields\, cattle\, barns\, vineyards\, slaves and maiden servants\, and when the night falls you shall fulfill your prayers.’ Then she rose up\, and took me to her house. She prepared a table of different kinds of foods and placed it before me. \nAfterwards\, she went to her room\, and put on expensive and extravagant clothes\, then came and embraced me. I was surprised and I held fast to the power of God almighty\, and crossed myself with the sign of the cross. All that I saw immediately vanished as the smoke before the winds\, and nothing of what this woman did remained. Instantly\, I realized that all of this was the doing of the Devil who wished to make me fall in sin. I cried bitterly\, and regretted much what I had done. The Lord had compassion on me with His tender mercy\, and sent me His angel who comforted me\, and promised the forgiveness of my sins and told me\, ‘Go to the saint Anba Talasoun who is nearby you\, and confess to him your sins. Tell him that you have come to him so that the Lord may forgive your sins through his prayers.’ The saint Anba Talasoun prayed saying\, O my son may the Lord forgive you and myself. Subsequently\, a table came down from heaven\, they ate\, then Anba Palamon returned to his place of worship in peace. This Saint received the gift of healing from God. The beasts were friendly to him\, he fed them by his hands\, and they licked his feet. He lived naked\, so God lengthened his hair until it covered his whole body. He fasted the whole week\, only ate on Saturday and Sunday. He ate a half loaf of bread that God sent him with the raven. Often he ate from the vegetation of the mount. He was merciful\, compassionate\, and tender like His creator. When the night fell\, he went down from his place of worship\, to visit the prisoners\, orphans\, widowers\, those in trouble\, and the sojourners\, as his strength allowed him\, to help them from the price of the works of his hands. St. Palamon was fervent in his asceticism and worship. He persevered\, all the days of his life\, in the daily and nightly prayers\, and watching all night in ascetic worships. St. Pachomius\, the father of the monastic cenobite\, was the disciple of this saint. \nWhen St. Pachomius rejected paganism and adopted Christianity\, he wished to live a life of asceticism and worship\, so the priest of his hometown directed him to go to the great hermit Anba Palamon. Pachomius handed the care for the poor and the needy in his town to another elder monk\, and went to Anba Palamon. When he arrived\, he knocked the door of his cell. The old man looked from an aperture and asked him\, Who are you O brother? and what do you want? Pachomius answered hastily\, I\, O blessed father\, looking for the Christ the God Whom you do worship\, and I beg your fatherhood to accept me and to make me a monk. Abba Palamon told him\, O my son\, monasticism is not an unrestricted labor\, and the man does not come into it as he pleases\, for many had adopted it not knowing its hardships\, and when they adopted it they could not endure it\, and you have heard about it without knowing its contention. Pachomius replied\, Do not turn my request\, and my desire\, and do not put off the flame of my zeal. Accept me\, be patient with me\, and examine me\, and afterward do whatever you see fit with me. The old man told him\, Go\, O my son test your self alone for a period of time\, then come back to me for I am willing to labor with you as much as my weakness allows so you might know your own self. The monastic piety needs toughness and asceticism\, and I will teach you first its extent. Then you go and examine your self if you could endure the matter or not. My intent in that\, God knows\, is for the sake of your teaching and discipline and not for any other reason. When we\, O my beloved son\, knew the vanity and trickery of this world\, we came to this distant place\, and carried on our shoulders the cross of our Christ\, not the wooden rod\, but the overcoming of the flesh\, subduing its lusts\, and wasting its power. We spent the night praying and glorifying God. Often we vigil from sun set till the morning praying and working much with our hands\, making either ropes\, braid palm fibers\, weave palm leaves or hair to resist sleep and to have what our bodies need and to feed the poor as the apostle said\, ‘remember the needy.’ We entirely do not know the eating of oil\, cooked food or drinking liquors. We fast till the evening of the summer days\, and two days at a time during the winter then we break the fast by eating only bread and salt. We keep away the boredom by remembering death\, and how close it is. We refute every pride and exaltation and guard ourselves from evil thoughts by humility and piety. By this ascetic strive that is accomplished by the grace of God\, we offer our souls a living sacrifice\, acceptable to God\, not only once but many times. For according to the strive and how much we exert ourselves in it\, we realize spiritual gifts\, remembering the saying of the Lord\, Those overcame themselves\, seize the Kingdom of Heaven. \nWhen Pachomius heard from Abba Palamon these sayings that he never heard before\, he was more assured by the spirit\, and was encouraged on facing the hardships and endure the pains. He replied saying\, I am confident in the Lord Christ first\, and by the support of your prayers second\, I would be able to fulfill all the precepts\, and persevere with you till death. Pachomius then kneeled before him and kissed his hand. The old man preached him and instructed him about the importance of mortifying the flesh\, the humility and contrition of the heart. He told him\, If you kept what I told you\, did not go back\, or vacillate between two opinions\, we will rejoice with you. Then he told him\, Do you think my son that by all what I mentioned to you from asceticism\, praying\, watching and fasting we ask for the glory of men\, no my son\, it is not like that. We lead you to the works of salvation so we would be blameless\, for it is written every apparent thing is light\, and we must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of heaven. Now go back to your abode so you might examine your self and test her for few days for what you are asking is not an easy task. Pachomius answered him saying\, I have examined myself in every thing\, and I hope with the Grace of God and your holy prayers\, that your heart would be pleased toward me. The old man answered\, Well. Anba Palamon accepted him with joy\, then left him for ten days testing him in prayer\, watching and fasting. Three month later and after he tested his patience\, endurance\, strife and will\, he prayed over him\, clipped off his hair\, and put on him the garb of the monks (El-Eskeem) in year 304 A.D. They persevered together on asceticism and prayer as they worked in their spare times in weaving hair and knitting clothes to gain their bare necessities\, and what they spared they gave to the needy. Whenever they were vigilance and the sleep overcame them\, they went out their cells and moved sand from one place to another to exhaust their bodies and remove the sleep away from them. The old man went on preaching the young man and encouraging him saying\, Be courageous O Pachomius\, let your devotion to God always be flamed with the fire of love\, and be before Him\, in fear\, humility\, and persevering in praying and kneeling without boredom. Be watchful lest the tempter examine you and grief you. \nIt came in the biography of St. Pachomius in a manuscript in the monastery of El-Baramous the following: One day someone knocked on the door of Sts. Palamon and Pachomius to visit them\, and he spent the night with them. The pride and self-reliance had overcome that person. While they were talking about the words of God and before them was fire\, for it was winter\, the guest told them\, Whoever of you has strong faith in God\, let him rise up\, stand on this blazing embers\, and recite the prayer which the Lord had taught to His disciples. When the old man St. Palamon heard that\, he admonished him saying\, Cursed is the defiled devil who planted this thought in your heart. so stop talking. The guest did not head to the words of the old man and said\, I\, I would. He rose up and stood on the blazing coal while saying the Lord’s prayer slowly. Then he stepped out the fire which did not touch his body with any harm\, and went to his abode with arrogance. Pachomius told Anba Palamon\, God knows that I marveled about this brother who stood on the amber and his feet did not burn. The old man replied saying\, Do not be amazed for there is no doubt that this from the work of the Devil. The Lord had allowed his feet not to be burned as it is written to the crooked\, God sends crooked ways. Believe me O my son\, if you know the torment that is prepared for him\, you will be weeping for his wretchedness. The Devil came to this man in the form of a woman and enticed him to allow her to enter his cell. Because of the pride and the blindness of his perception\, he did not realize the danger that surrounded him. The lust filled his heart toward her\, and immediately the devil struck and threw him on the ground and he remained as a dead man for a day. When he regained his conscious and his faculties\, he went to Abba Palamon weeping and remorseful for what he had done. He asked for their help and prayers for the devil had captivated him by his own free will. While he was talking to them\, the old man and his disciple were weeping\, the evil spirit suddenly came over him. He went to the mountain\, and he lost his mind. He was astray for a period of time\, then he threw himself in a fire which burned him. When the old man knew that\, he was grieved. His disciple asked him\, How God allowed this to happen to him after he confessed and asked for repentance with tears and remorse. The Abba answered\, God with His foreknowledge knew that the repentance of this brother was not sincere\, so He allowed him to reap what he did. \nWhile St. Pachomius was still staying with his teacher Anba Palamon\, one day he was wondering in the wilderness\, and he came to the village of Tabanseen. When he was praying\, the angel of the Lord appeared and told him\, O Pachomius\, with the order of the Lord\, build a monastery in the spot that your are standing on\, hence many will come to you seeking monasticism. He returned to the old man Anba Palamon and told him what the angel had told him\, and his intention of fulfilling the Will of God. Anba Palamon was sad for the departure of his disciple and said\, How could you leave me after seven years you spent with me in obedience and submission and I am an old man. I see that it is easier on me to accompany you than you leaving me. They moved south until they came to Tabanseen\, and started to build a monastery. That was in the year 311 A.D.\, and Pachomius was thirty years old. When they finished building the monastery\, Anba Palamon told his disciple Pachomius\, My beloved son I long to return to my cell and the place of my solitude. I had known that God had appointed you to establish this monastery\, which will grow and be filled with God pleasing monks. You shall receive power and long suffering to manage them. As of my self\, I have became old\, weak\, and the time of my departure had drew near. So I see that my solitary life is best for me. Nevertheless\, I ask from your kindness that you do not deprive me from seeing you from now and then. I shall come to visit you as the few days left for me allow. They were separated after they prayed with each other\, and they visited each other. In one of the visits of Anba Palamon\, he became ill and departed to the Lord that he served and loved since his young age. Anba Pachomius took the blessings of his teacher\, shrouded and buried him. Many wonders and miracles have been attributed to this saint. An ancient church in his name is located in the town of El-Kasre and El-Sayad in a monastery named after him which had other churches in the name of the Virgin St. Mary\, the Archangel Michael\, St. Mercurius Abu-Saifain\, and St. Demianah. A great festival celebration is celebrated annually in his feast day. May his prayers be with us and Glory be to God forever. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/departure-of-st-palamon-the-father-of-the-monks-2/
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