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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220730T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220730T170000
DTSTAMP:20260612T194343
CREATED:20220504T061625Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T061625Z
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SUMMARY:-MARTYRDOM OF ST. MARINA\, OF ANTIOCH
DESCRIPTION:July 30\, 2022 – Epep 23\, 1738 \nOn this day also\, is the commemoration of the martyrdom of the blessed St. Marina\, who overcame the Devil. She was one of the daughters of the nobles of Antioch. Her parents were pagan. When her mother died\, her father sent her to a nanny to raise her\, who was a Christian. She taught Marina the Faith of Christ. When Marina reached the age of fifteen years\, her father died. One day she heard her nurse talking about the biography of the martyrs and what glory they receive in the Kingdom of Heaven. She longed to become a martyr in the Name of the Lord Christ. One day St. Marina went out of her house with her maiden servants\, and on her way she passed by Lopharius Ebrotus\, the governor\, who admired her much when he saw her. He ordered her brought to him. When the soldiers came to her\, she told them that she was Christian. In turn\, when they told the governor this\, he was distressed for he liked her\, and he had her brought to him by force. He offered her the worship of the idols and asked her to forsake God\, but she refused. Then he asked her\, What is your name? and from where are you? She told him\, I am Christian. I believe in the Lord Christ\, and my name is Marina. He tried to persuade her by many promises and promised to marry her\, but she did not heed him. When she cursed and insulted him\, he ordered her body scraped with iron combs\, then rubbed with vinegar\, salt and lime\, which they did. Nevertheless\, she endured with patience. They cast her in prison\, thinking that she was about to die. Immediately the angel of the Lord came\, and healed all her wounds. While she was standing up praying\, and her hands were extended in the form of a cross\, a huge and terrifying serpent came forth. When she saw it she was frightened and her whole body trembled. The serpent swallowed her up\, and her soul almost departed from her. She made the sign of the cross and prayed while she was in the belly of the serpent. It split open and fell on the ground dead. St. Marina went out unharmed. \nThe next morning\, the governor ordered her brought to him. When he saw that she was well\, he marvelled much\, and told her\, Marina\, your sorcery has become evident today\, so listen to me. Worship the gods and much good would be for you\, and I will give you all that I have promised you. She looked to him and to the dumb idols with contempt and said\, I worship the Lord Jesus Christ\, the Son of the Living God\, the God of heavens and earth\, and whatever you wish to do with me\, do\, for I will not heed you. The governor ordered her hanged on the wheel\, the squeezing wheel\, and squeezed very tightly. They did so\, then cast her in prison. The angel of the Lord came to her\, and healed her. Then the Devil appeared to her and said\, O Marina\, if you obey the governor that would be for your good for he is merciless\, and he wishes to erase your name from the face of the earth. She realized that he was the Devil. Straightway she caught the hair of his head\, and she took an iron rod and started to beat him\, saying\, Stop it O Satan. Then she bound him with the sign of the cross\, not to depart from before her until he told her all about what he does to the human race. When she pressed him\, he told her\, I am the one who makes adultery\, stealing\, blasphemy\, and earthly desires\, good and desirable to the human. And if I do not overcome him\, I steer sleep and laziness against him\, so he will not pray and ask for the forgiveness of his sins. The Saint straightway expelled him. \nWhen the governor saw her he marvelled much\, then he ordered to uncover her body\, and to fill a large cauldron with melted lead\, and to immerse her in it. When they did so\, she asked the Lord to make this a baptism for her. The Lord sent his angel in the form of a dove. She immersed while saying\, In the Name of the Father\, and the Son\, and the Holy Spirit\, one God Amen. A voice from heaven called her and said\, O Marina you have been baptized in the baptismal water. She rejoiced exceedingly\, and those who were present heard what had happened to the saint. Many of them believed\, and the governor ordered to cut off their necks\, and afterwards ordered to cut off St. Marina’s holy head. The executioner took her and went outside the city\, then told her\, My lady Marina\, I see the angel of the Lord and with him a crown of bright light. She said\, I ask you to tarry on me until I have prayed. She extended her arms and prayed fervently\, then told the executioner\, Do what you have been ordered to do. She bowed her neck to the executioner who told her\, I could not do so. The saint told him\, If you do not do so\, you would not have a share in the Kingdom of God. When he heard what she said\, he took the sword and cut her neck off then he cut his neck also while he was saying\, I believe in the God of St. Marina. He fell down beside her and he received the crown of martyrdom in the Kingdom of Heaven. The Lord had manifested from her body many signs and healing miracles. Her body is presently located in the church of the Lady the Virgin Mary in Haret El-Roum. May her prayers and intercession be with us and Glory be to God forever. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/martyrdom-of-st-marina-of-antioch-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220730T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220730T170000
DTSTAMP:20260612T194343
CREATED:20220504T061542Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T061542Z
UID:11415-1659168000-1659200400@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-MARTYRDOM OF ST. LONGINUS THE SOLDIER
DESCRIPTION:July 30\, 2022 – Epep 23\, 1738 \nOn this day\, St. Longinus the Soldier\, was martyred. He was Greek by nationality\, from one of the countries of Cappadocia. When Tiberius Caesar reigned\, and appointed Pilate governor of the land of Judah\, Longinus was one of the soldiers that accompanied him. When the time arrived that Our Lord wished to save the creation\, Longinus was one of the soldiers that were in charge of crucifying the Lord of Glory. It happened that after the Lord had delivered up His soul\, Longinus pierced His side with a spear\, and blood and water flowed from His Side. Longinus marvelled exceedingly when he saw this\, and his amazement increased when he saw that the sun became dark\, the curtain of the Temple was rent\, the rocks were split\, and that the dead rose up from the tombs. He believed and realized all the miracles which Our Lord performed from His Birth to His Crucifixion. When the righteous Joseph took the body of the Savior\, shrouded Him\, and laid it in the sepulcher\, this Saint was standing there with the guards when they sealed the tomb. When Our Lord rose from the sealed tomb\, Longinus was perplexed\, and he asked God to explain to him this mystery. Our Lord sent to him the Apostle Peter\, who told him everything which had been prophesied concerning the Redeemer. He believed\, abandoned the military service\, went back to his country\, and preached the Name of Christ. When Pilate heard about this\, he wrote to Tiberius about him\, who ordered his head cut off\, and thus he received the crown of martyrdom. May his prayers be with us. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/martyrdom-of-st-longinus-the-soldier-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220729T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220729T170000
DTSTAMP:20260612T194343
CREATED:20220504T061442Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T061442Z
UID:11410-1659081600-1659114000@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-COMMEMORATION OF THE MARTYRDOM OF ST. LEONTIUS OF TRIPOLI (LAWENDIUS)
DESCRIPTION:July 29\, 2022 – Epep 22\, 1738 \nAlso on this day\, St. Leontius of Tripoli (Lawendius)\, was martyred. He was born in Tripoli to Christian parents. He was handsome\, perfect in his conduct\, and gentle in his relationships. He read continuously the Holy Scriptures\, especially the book of Psalms until he memorized it. When he enlisted in the army\, he preached to his fellow soldiers\, and demonstrated to them the corruption of idol worshipping. He advised them to refrain from its worship\, some of them followed his advice while others were enticed by the devil and informed the commander that Leontius despised the idols\, and was preaching that Christ was the true God. The commander brought him to investigate the matter. The Saint answered the commander with the saying of St. Paul: Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation\, or distress\, or persecution\, or famine\, or nakedness\, or peril or sword? (Romans 8:35) The commander became enraged\, and he threw the saint in prison. The next day\, he brought him back\, and asked him\, With what power do you dare to disobey the Emperor\, and to drive the people away from worshipping the gods? The Saint answered\, Truly I desire that all people come to the obedience of Christ. You too will inherit the Eternal Kingdom\, if you abandon your error\, and worship Christ. The commander ordered him to be beaten until his blood poured out on the ground\, while the saint was praising God and glorifying His name. One of the soldiers sympathized with him\, and came close to him\, saying\, I greatly sympathize with you\, therefore I want you to sacrifice to the gods\, so you will be pardoned. The Saint cried out at him saying\, Go away from me Satan. The commander increased his torture until he delivered up his pure spirit while he was in prison. A rich believing woman came\, gave money to the soldiers and to the prison guard\, and took the body. She wrapped it in a golden shroud\, and put him in a coffin inside her home\, until the end of the time of persecution. May his prayers be with us and Glory be to God forever. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/commemoration-of-the-martyrdom-of-st-leontius-of-tripoli-lawendius-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220729T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220729T170000
DTSTAMP:20260612T194343
CREATED:20220504T061341Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T061341Z
UID:11407-1659081600-1659114000@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-COMMEMORATION OF THE MARTYRDOM OF ST. MACARIUS\, THE SON OF BASILIDES (WASILIDES) THE MINISTER
DESCRIPTION:July 29\, 2022 – Epep 22\, 1738 \n\nOn this day\, the great St. Macarius\, the son of Basilidis the Chancellor\, was martyred. When the messengers reviewed the order of Emperor Diocletian\, which dictates the worship of idols\, with Macarius\, he did not heed them. When the Emperor knew that\, he sent Macarius to the governor of Alexandria. He bid farewell to his mother\, and asked her to care for the poor and the needy\, then he went with the envoy. The Lord Christ appeared to him in a vision\, encouraged him\, and told him what would happen to him. When he arrived to the city of Alexandria\, he stood before Armanius the governor\, who deceitfully treated him well because he knew that he was the son of Basilidis the Chancellor. When Macarius did not change his counsel\, the governor tortured him with all kinds of torture. While he was being tortured\, his soul was taken up to heaven and he saw the habitations of the saints. Afterwards\, the governor sent him to Nikios where he was tortured again. They cut off his tongue and arms and placed hot nails in his sides. God wrought many miracles on his hands. Among these was a procession\, in which a dead man passed by him. The saint asked the Lord Christ to reveal His glory\, and the man rose from the dead instantly. The man told the people around him of what he saw in Hades\, and that Christ is the Lord of all. Many believed\, and they were beheaded and received the crown of martyrdom. It happened that Arianus the governor of Antinoe (Ansena) was present in Alexandria\, who took the saint with him on his way back to Ansena. When he arrived in Shatanouf (Setnuf\, Pshati)\, the ship stopped and they could not move it again. The governor ordered the soldiers to disembark the saint\, where they cut-off his head. Thus\, he finished his strife and received the crown of martyrdom. When the righteous emperor Constantine reigned\, he sent the commander Eulogius with an order to open the churches\, renovate the fallen ones\, and to destroy the pagan temples. The Saint appeared to him in a vision and told him about the place of his body. He went to the place and brought out the body\, built a church after his name\, and placed the body in it. God performed many miracles through the body of St. Macarius. May his prayers be with us. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/commemoration-of-the-martyrdom-of-st-macarius-the-son-of-basilides-wasilides-the-minister-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220728T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220728T170000
DTSTAMP:20260612T194343
CREATED:20220504T061144Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T061144Z
UID:11400-1658995200-1659027600@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-DEPARTURE OF ST. SISINNIOS (SOSENIUS)\, THE EUNICH
DESCRIPTION:July 28\, 2022 – Epep 21\, 1738 \nOn this day also\, St. Sisinnios (Sosenius)\, the Eunich\, departed. He was one of the men in the palace of Emperor Theodosius. He was full of grace and wisdom\, and his compassion was great. When the third Ecumenical Council convened in Ephesus to judge Nestorius\, this saint ministered to St. Cyril (Kyrillos) the Great\, and the rest of the holy members of the council. He fell ill and St. Cyril prayed to God for his sake\, and St. Sisinnios was healed from his sickness. He gave all his money to the poor and the needy\, then departed in peace. St. Cyril prayed over him\, and arranged an annual commemoration for him on this day. May his prayers be with us and Glory be to God forever. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/departure-of-st-sisinnios-sosenius-the-eunich-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220728T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220728T170000
DTSTAMP:20260612T194343
CREATED:20220504T061021Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T061021Z
UID:11393-1658995200-1659027600@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-COMMEMORATION OF THE LADY\, THE VIRGIN MARY
DESCRIPTION:July 28\, 2022 – Epep 21\, 1738 \nOn this day\, the church celebrates the commemoration of the Virgin Lady\, St. Mary\, the mother of the Savior of the world\, the great shelter\, and the inexhaustible treasure. May her intercession be for us all. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/commemoration-of-the-lady-the-virgin-mary-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220727T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220727T170000
DTSTAMP:20260612T194343
CREATED:20220504T060945Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T060945Z
UID:11389-1658908800-1658941200@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-MARTYRDOM OF ST.THEODORE OF SHOTEP
DESCRIPTION:July 27\, 2022 – Epep 20\, 1738 \n\nOn this day\, of the year 220 A.D.\, St. Theodore of Shotep was martyred. His father’s name was John and he was from the city of Shotep in Upper Egypt. He went with his regiment to the city of Antioch\, where he married the daughter of a pagan noble man\, and begot by her this St. Theodore. When his mother wanted to present him to the house of idols to be educated there\, his father refused. She became angry\, drove him away\, and the child remained with his mother. His father John prayed ceaselessly\, and entreated God to guide his son Theodore to the path of salvation. The child grew up\, and learned philosophy\, wisdom\, and literature. The Lord Christ illuminated his heart\, and Theodore went to a righteous bishop who baptized him. When his mother heard of this she was sorrowed greatly\, but the Saint did not mind her. \nHe joined the army and advanced in the ranks until he became one of the great generals during the reign of Emperor Lucianus. The people of the city of Eukhitos worshipped a great serpent\, and offered to him a human sacrifice every year. While St. Theodore was passing through this district\, he saw a woman crying bitterly. He asked her about the reason for her crying. She answered him saying\, I am a widow and they have taken my two sons to offer them as a sacrifice to the serpent\, although I am Christian. He said to himself\, They have wronged this woman\, but God shall avenge her. He came down from his horse\, and turned his face towards the East and prayed\, then drew near the serpent. The people of the city were watching him from the tops of the walls of the city. The serpent was fourteen cubits long\, but God gave him power over it\, and he speared it with his spear and killed it\, and delivered the sons of the widow. \nAfter this\, Theodore came to Egypt to search for his father\, and he stayed with him until he died\, and then returned to Antioch. He found that the Emperor had apostatized the faith and started to persecute the Christians. He came before him and confessed the Lord Christ. The Emperor ordered him beaten with rods\, burned\, and cast into the fire. He delivered up his soul and received the crown of martyrdom. A Christian woman took his body – it was said that she was his mother – after she gave much money to the soldiers and hid his body until the end of the time of persecution. Churches were built in his name in many cities. May his prayers be with us and Glory be to God forever. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/martyrdom-of-st-theodore-of-shotep-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220726T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220726T170000
DTSTAMP:20260612T194343
CREATED:20220504T060904Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T060904Z
UID:11385-1658822400-1658854800@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-DEPARTURE OF POPE YOUANIS X\, THE 85TH PATRIARCH OF ALEXANDRIA
DESCRIPTION:July 26\, 2022 – Epep 19\, 1738 \nOn this day also\, of the year 1085 A.M. (July 13th\, 1369 A.D.) Pope Youanis X\, 85th Patriarch of Alexandria\, departed. He was known by El-Mo’ataman the Syrian\, and he was from Damascus\, Syria. He was a righteous and knowledgeable man. He was enthroned on the twelfth of Bashans\, 1079 A.M. (May 7th\, 1363 A.D.). He remained on the throne for six years\, two months\, and seven days. He departed in peace and was buried in Old Cairo beside Simon the shoe maker. May his prayers be with us and Glory be to God forever. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/departure-of-pope-youanis-x-the-85th-patriarch-of-alexandria-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220726T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220726T170000
DTSTAMP:20260612T194343
CREATED:20220504T060824Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T060824Z
UID:11380-1658822400-1658854800@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-MARTYRDOM OF ST. PANTALEEMON\, THE PHYSICIAN
DESCRIPTION:July 26\, 2022 – Epep 19\, 1738 \nThis day also marks the martyrdom of the honorable St. Pantaleemon\, the Physician. This saint was born in the city of Ta’madan. His father\, whose name was Astochius (Asturius)\, was pagan\, and his mother\, whose name was Unala (Ulana)\, was Christian. They taught him the medical profession. \nA priest lived near their house\, and every time Pantaleemon passed by him\, and the priest saw his stature\, his comeliness\, his knowledge\, and his wisdom\, he was sorrowful for him for he was away from God. The priest entreated God in his prayers\, to guide Pantaleemon to the way of salvation. Having repeated his petition to God for Pantaleemon’s sake\, the Lord told him in a vision that he would believe through him. The priest rejoiced\, and started to speak to him whenever he passed before him\, until a friendship grew between them. The priest started to explain to him the corruptness of idol worshipping and the nobility of the Faith of the Lord Christ and the noble life of its followers. He also told him about those who believe in Christ\, and the signs and wonders wrought by their hands. \nWhen Pantaleemon\, the Physician\, heard that\, he rejoiced and desired to perform these signs to perfect his medical profession. One day\, he was passing through the market-place of the city\, and he saw a man\, whom a serpent had bitten\, lying on the ground and the serpent was standing up before him. He said to himself\, ‘I will put to test the words of my teacher\, the priest\, who told me\, ‘If you believe in the Lord Christ\, you shall work miracles in His Name.” He drew near that man\, and prayed a long prayer\, asking the Lord Christ to manifest His Power in healing that man\, and in killing that serpent\, so that it might not harm anyone else. When he finished his prayer\, the man rose up alive\, and the serpent fell down dead. Pantaleemon’s faith increased; he went to the priest\, who baptized him\, and he went on practicing medicine. \nOne day a blind man came to Pantaleemon that he might heal him\, but his father sent him away. The Saint asked him\, ‘ Who was asking for me?’ His father replied\, ‘It was a blind man\, and you can not heal him.’ The Saint told him\, ‘You shall see the glory of God.’ He called the blind man back\, and asked him\, ‘If you can see will you believe in the God Who shall heal your eyes?’ The man said\, ‘Yes\, I will believe.’ The Saint prayed over him a long and a profound prayer\, and then he laid his hand upon the eyes of the blind man\, and said\, ‘In the Name of the Lord Christ receive your sight.’ Straightway\, he received his sight and believed in the Lord Christ. When his father saw that\, he also believed. The saint brought them to the priest who baptized them. \nWhen his father departed\, the Saint set his slaves free and gave all his money to the poor. He treated the sick freely\, and asked them to believe in Christ. The other physicians were jealous of him\, and they laid accusation against him\, the priest and many others who had believed\, before the Emperor. He brought them and threatened to torture them if they did not deny the Lord Christ. When they did not yield to his threats\, he tortured them severely then cut off their heads. The Emperor exaggerated in torturing St. Pantaleemon\, he cast him to the lions which did not harm him\, and the Lord strengthened and healed him. Finally\, the Emperor ordered to cut off his head and he received the crown of martyrdom. May his prayers be with us. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/martyrdom-of-st-pantaleemon-the-physician-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220726T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220726T170000
DTSTAMP:20260612T194343
CREATED:20220504T060700Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T060700Z
UID:11375-1658822400-1658854800@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-MARTYRDOM OF SAINTS BIDABA\, BISHOP OF QIFT\, ANBA ANDREW\, AND ANBA CHRISTODOULAS
DESCRIPTION:July 26\, 2022 – Epep 19\, 1738 \n\nOn this day\, of the year 284 A.M.\, whichp is the first year of the martyrs\, the great saint Anba Bidaba\, and his companion\, the priest Andrew\, his nephew\, and St. Christodoulas\, were martyred. Anba Bidaba\, who was known by El-Gawhary\, was bishop of the city of Qift\, in Upper Egypt\, during the days of the governor Arianus\, and the reign of Emperor Diocletian. \nThis great saint was born in the city of Armant to Christian parents who raised him since his young age in a Christian manner. His mother’s sister had a son\, called him Andrew and raised him in a Christian way. Andrew and his cousin Bidaba liked each other and decided to forsake the world. They eagerly read the Bible and religious books\, they widened their comprehension and they became the authority of their times in piety and godliness. When Bidaba was ten years old he had memorized most of the religious books and spiritual teachings. They fasted two days at a time without food or water and when they ate\, they only ate bread and salt\, accompanied by fervent prayers day and night. \nOne day while they were thinking about the vanity of this world\, they decided to leave their families and live lives of seclusion in a deserted place. They went to the Eastern mount where they found Anba Eisak. This saint comforted and strengthened them to endure the hardships to receive the Eternal Life. Anba Eisak blessed them and commanded them to go to another place where they could live a life of solitude and spend all their time in worship. Then he told Anba Bidaba\, ‘O\, my son you shall shepherd the flock of Christ\, many toils\, tribulations and great persecutions will befall you.’ He told Andrew\, ‘You also shall receive a crown\, after your strife\, that has been prepared for you.’ \nThey left Anba Eisak and went to the western side and built for themselves a cell. They had full knowledge and excellent skills in transcribing the holy books. They did that for little money to support their life and donated whatever was left to the poor and the needy. The bishop of this district came\, once he heard about them\, and ordained Anba Bidaba a priest and Andrew a deacon. They went to a church in one of the nearby cities once every forty days to celebrate the Divine Liturgy. One day they went to the church\, and found the bishop there so Anba Bidaba stood in reverence and respect for the bishop. The bishop was sitting on his chair looking at St. Bidaba\, and he was amazed to see the face of the Saint shining as the moon\, and light emanating from him and on his head was a crown of gold decorated with precious stones. The bishop asked them to bring this saint and his companion Andrew. When they came to see him\, he asked them to stay with him\, but Anba Bidaba refused\, preferring to live in the barren desert than live under the care of the bishop. Nevertheless\, St. Andrew accepted to stay under the care of the bishop. Anba Bidaba returned to his cell weeping and saying\, ‘I ask you O my Lord Christ to consecrate that place for Thy self that Your Name might be mentioned in it for ever.’ Then he left that place and went to another area further away. A few days later the bishop sent a messenger to the cell seeking the Saint but he did not find him. The bishop built a church in the name of this saint in that place and consecrated it on the thirteenth day of the month of Kiahk. As for St. Bidaba\, he went to the church taking a different way to pray. Many signs and miracles were wrought by his hands\, and he increased in grace and blessing. \nWhen his fame spread\, and his name was acclaimed\, many came to him and he healed their spiritual and physical sicknesses. The people asked the bishop Anba Tadros saying\, ‘We ask you O our father to bring for us Anba Bidaba to be blessed by him and to stay among us for a period of time.’ The bishop did as they asked. \nWhen Anba Bidaba came to the city of Bahgourah\, district of Nagaa-Hammady\, there was a man\, whose name was John\, who had only one daughter\, who was attractive. His neighbors were furious against him\, and used sorcery against her\, for they asked her father to give her in marriage to one of their sons\, but he refused. But\, the Saint Anba Bidaba prayed for her\, and she became as normal as she had been\, and God nullified the witchcraft away from her. When her family saw their daughter healed by the hand of that saint\, they came and kneeled before him\, and kissed his hands thanking him for his act. The Saint told them\, ‘Thank God and praise Him\, for the grace that healed your daughter was not from me.’ They left him rejoicing. \nWhen it was Sunday and the people were gathered in the church\, they brought the Saint to the bishop who promoted him to Hegumen (Archpriest). He stayed with the bishop for nine days then went back to the mountain. Later on\, the bishop of Qift departed\, so the people of the area gathered and unanimously decided to nominate Abba Bidaba to be ordained in his place. They decided to go to Pope Peter the First (The seal of martyrs and the 17th Patriarch) to ordain him a bishop for them. The angel of the Lord appeared to the Pope in a vision and told him\, ‘Go to Upper Egypt and bring the Archpriest Bidaba and ordain him a bishop for the city of Qift\, for the Lord has chosen him.’ Early next morning the delegations of the believers came asking to ordain the honorable father Bidaba a bishop. The Pope sent four priests with a letter to the Saint. When they arrived\, he received the letter from them and read in it\, ‘It is written in the Holy Bible whoever hears from you\, heard from Me\, and whoever refuses you\, refused Me.’ St. Bidaba cried bitterly and said\, ‘Woe to me the poor sinner for the Devil wishes my perishing.’ Then he prayed saying\, ‘Let it be according to Your Will\, O Lord\, and not according to mine\, for You know that I am weak\, powerless\, and incapable of handling this position.’ \nThe messengers of the Pope embarked with him to the Pope. The Pope asked the people of the parish\, ‘Who do you chose to be a bishop over you.’ They unanimously answered saying\, ‘Abba Bidaba\, for he is worthy for this honorable ministry.’ The Pope ordained him a bishop for the diocese of Qift. While he was laying his hand over his head\, a voice from heaven said\, ‘Worthy\, worthy\, worthy O Bidaba to receive this position.’ He remained with the Pope for a few days\, during which he celebrated the Divine Liturgy. Whenever he placed his hand over the chalice to make the sign of the cross\, the wine changed to blood. The Pope was amazed and looked at the saint and said\, ‘Truly you are chosen from God.’ He asked the Pope to allow him to go to his parish. He embarked in a sailing boat\, which had a handicapped man\, that did not walk for twenty-two years. While he was getting aboard the boat the saint’s leg slipped and stepped over the leg of that handicapped man. The man’s legs were healed and he jumped up immediately praising God. All those in the ship praised God and asked the saint to remember them in his prayers and to bless them. \nMany miracles were wrought by his hands during his journey. When they arrived safely at their hometown\, the people of the parish went out with candles\, crosses\, censers\, olive branches and palm branches\, in their hands to receive him. They took him in a procession until they entered the church and he sat on his Episcopal Chair. He lived in asceticism\, as he had lived before\, praying continually day and night. His food was bread and salt and his dress was a cloth of hair. He performed many signs and wonders. \nWhen Emperor Diocletian incited persecution against the Christians\, governor Arianus came to upper Egypt\, and seized the Christians. He threw them in prisons\, and tortured them severely\, along his way until he arrived at Esna. When the saint Anba Bidaba knew of that\, he was kindled with a spiritual zeal and said\, ‘Is it right for me to remain here\, and my brothers\, the Christians facing unbearable tortures? No\, I must go there and die with them as a sacrifice of faith.’ He called the people and celebrated a pontifical Liturgy and after he administered to them the Holy Mysteries\, he preached to them saying\, ‘We must not be afraid to be martyred in the Name of the Lord Christ\, not be afraid of hot fire\, arrows or spears\, and swords drawn against our necks. As also you need to be merciful to the poor\, comfort the grieved\, be vigilant in your prayers and fasting for they are your aid by which you can overcome obstacles and cast out the devil that weaken your faith in the Lord Christ.’ The bishop preached and strengthened his people\, and after he made the sign of the holy cross over them\, blessed them and bid them farewell saying\, ‘I shall go to be martyred by the hand of Arianus the governor.’ The people cried and wept for his departure\, but he comforted and strengthened them. \nAfterwards\, he left them and went to the city of Esna\, accompanied by the blessed Fr. Andrew and Anba Christodoulas. The bishop Anba Bidaba looked at them and said\, ‘Where are you going?’ They replied\, ‘We are going with you to die for our love of Christ.’ The bishop looked at them and saw the grace of God had come down upon them and their faces shining like the moon. He strengthened and commanded them to be steadfast in their faith in Christ. He told them\, ‘On this night I saw in a vision an angel who had with him three crowns and I asked him to whom did these belong? He said one for you\, one for your cousin\, and one for Christodoulas\, so let us go to Esna.’ \nWhen they arrived at Esna\, they saw a multitude of Christians\, bishops\, priests\, deacons\, and believers\, being tortured. The governor brought them and ordered them to raise incense for the gods\, but they cried saying\, ‘We are Christians and we do not fear you\, O infidel governor. We do not worship these defiled gods that were made by human hands. Our God that we worship\, is in heaven\, the creator of everything with the Word of His might\, visible and invisible\, to Whom is the Glory\, Honor\, and Worship with His good Father and the Holy Spirit\, now and forever and unto the age of ages\, Amen.’ When the Governor heard their words and saw their steadfastness\, he ordered to cut their heads off with the sword. \nDuring that time\, Anba Bidaba was standing\, watching the Christians being tortured\, and he saw angels coming down from heaven\, and in their hands\, crowns of light for the heads of those who were martyred\, and raising them to the heaven with great honor and glory. The Bishop and his companions went forward and cried out saying\, ‘We are Christians\, and we believe in Jesus Christ the Lord of all creatures and the God of every power.’ The Governor asked them\, ‘From where are you?’ Then he asked the bishop about his name. The Bishop replied\, ‘I am the lowly Bidaba.’ The Governor said\, ‘I think you are the bishop of this land\, but I am amazed at how you could dare to say these words. Did you not dread my retaliation and fear my authority and majesty? Have you not seen the torture that has been prepared for those who confess that Name?’ The Saint answered courageously and said\, ‘Have you not heard the saying of the Book by the mouth of Lord Jesus Christ\, ‘Therefore whoever confesses Me before men\, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men\, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.’ (Mat. 10:32-33) Because of this promise\, we confess Our Lord Jesus Christ to the utter most breath.’ The Governor tried\, by promising him money and position once and then threatening him in other time\, to change his council and his faith in the Lord Christ\, and when he failed\, he ordered that the Saint be imprisoned in one of the prisons. \nWhen the saints in prison saw him\, they saluted him and said\, ‘Would you vanquish for us this governor\, for you have been given the victory from the Lord of hosts.’ While they were talking about the greatness and goodness of God\, the Archangel Michael appeared to the Bishop and said\, ‘Hail to you O honored one\, let your soul rejoice today for God has accepted all your toil\, asceticism\, and struggle for the sake of faith. You shall receive three crowns: the first\, for your worship and asceticism since your young age\, the second\, for shepherding the flock on the straight path\, and the third\, for your martyrdom. You shall be crowned with these crowns with glory and honor to receive the heavenly glories.’ The angel ascended\, and the Saint stood and prayed saying\, ‘Hear me O Father the Pantocrator\, may my petition rise before You\, and You smell it as a sweet incense that pleases You\, I ask You O father for Thy people and saints who do mercy for the poor\, and accept my soul in Your hands that I may receive the heavenly glories\, for to You is the Glory\, Honor\, and Worship with Your Good Father and the Holy Spirit\, forever. Amen.’ \nWhen he finished his petition he saw the Lord our Savior and around Him the angels coming to comfort him\, saying\, ‘My consolation O beloved Bidaba\, I am with you.’ Then the magnificent procession ascended to heaven. On the next morning\, the governor ordered all the prisoners brought to the place where the people of the city gathered. When they saw the saints they cried saying\, ‘We are Christians and we believe in one God\, the God of Anba Bidaba.’ The governor became enraged and brought the Saint and those who were with him and ordered their heads cut off. The blood flowed like streams. The skies were filled by the pure angels welcoming the spirits of those righteous saints. St. Bidaba\, St. Andrew\, and St. Christodoulas received the crown of eternal life. May their blessings be with us. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/martyrdom-of-saints-bidaba-bishop-of-qift-anba-andrew-and-anba-christodoulas-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220725T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220725T170000
DTSTAMP:20260612T194343
CREATED:20220504T060542Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T060542Z
UID:11371-1658736000-1658768400@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-MARTYRDOM OF ST. JAMES THE APOSTLE\, BISHOP OF JERUSALEM
DESCRIPTION:July 25\, 2022 – Epep 18\, 1738 \nOn this day\, St. James the Apostle\, Bishop of Jerusalem\, who was the son of Alphaeus\, was martyred. (Mat. 10:3) The Holy Bible mentioned his brothers\, Joses\, Simon\, and Judas\, the sons of Cleophas. (Mat. 13:55) The Greek word Cleophas means in the Syriac language Alphaeus. His mother\, the sister of the Virgin\, was also called Mary and was the wife of Cleophas. (John 19:25) When he grew up he was known as James the Just. For there was a drought in Palestine and he prayed to God\, Who sent the rain and watered the land\, as Josephus\, the Jewish historian\, testified. He was called James the Less\, to identify him from St. James the son of Zebedee\, and the brother of St. John the beloved. It was said that the Lord had appointed him bishop of Jerusalem when he appeared to him. After that He was seen by James\, then by all the apostles. (I Cor. 15:7) He was called the head of the church in Jerusalem for it was the mother church and from it the Good News had spread to the other churches. He wrote a liturgy\, with which the Armenians still pray. \nDuring his time and in the year 53 A.D. a Council of the Apostles and priests convened in Jerusalem and St. James presided over it. During this Council St. James said\, Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God\, but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols\, from sexual immorality\, from things strangled\, and from blood … (Acts 15:19-21) St. James preached and taught the Name of the Lord Christ\, brought many back to the faith\, and baptized them. God wrought by his hands many signs and wonders. One day\, many of the Jews came to him and asked him to tell them about the Lord Christ. They thought that he would tell them that Jesus was his brother. St. James went up to the pulpit\, and began to explain to them the Godhead of the Lord Christ\, His eternal existence\, and His equality with God the Father. When they heard this they were wrath with him\, they dragged him down\, and beat him severely. One of them beat the apostle on the head with an iron rod\, and he delivered up his soul instantly. It was said about this Saint\, that he never drank wine\, and never wore clothes\, but always wore a linen loin-cloth\, and that he kneeled so often during his worship and praying that his feet and knees became swollen\, and the skin of his knees became like that of the camels. May his prayers be with us and Glory be to God forever. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/martyrdom-of-st-james-the-apostle-bishop-of-jerusalem-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220724T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220724T170000
DTSTAMP:20260612T194343
CREATED:20220504T060500Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T060500Z
UID:11367-1658649600-1658682000@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-MARTYRDOM OF ST. EUPHEMIA
DESCRIPTION:July 24\, 2022 – Epep 17\, 1738 \nOn this day\, St. Euphemia\, was martyred. When Barsiros (Briskos)\, one of the deputies of Diocletian\, was passing down the road\, there were with him some of the saints with iron chains round their necks like dogs. This saint saw them and her heart waxed hot. She was sorry for them and she wept. Then\, she cursed the Emperor\, his idols\, and admonished the Governor saying\, O you whose heart is like a stone\, do you not have compassion on these holy men! or are you not afraid that their God might destroy you? The Governor became enraged and informed the Emperor about what she had done and said. The Emperor brought her and asked her about her belief. She confessed that she was Christian. He tortured her severely by beating and burning until she delivered up her pure soul in the hand of the Lord. May her prayers be with us and Glory be to God forever. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/martyrdom-of-st-euphemia-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220723T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220723T170000
DTSTAMP:20260612T194343
CREATED:20220504T060411Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T060411Z
UID:11364-1658563200-1658595600@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-RECOVERY OF THE HOLY RELICS OF ST. GEORGE\, THE GREAT MARTYR
DESCRIPTION:July 23\, 2022 – Epep 16\, 1738 \nOn this day also\, was the arrival of the holy relics of St. George\, the great martyr\, to his church in Old Cairo. A monk called Fr. Marcus\, who was the hegumen and Abbot of El-Qualamoun monastery\, used to visit the villages and the cities every year to visit the Christians. One night\, while he was visiting someone in one of the villages he used to visit\, he saw St. George (Gawargios) in a vision\, who told him\, Take my body from the woman that will be coming to you tomorrow\, and place it in my church that is in Old Cairo. On the next day\, a woman came to him and told him that she had a box that her father had brought before his death from the church of St. George in Palestine. This fulfilled the vision\, and he went with her and examined the box. Then\, he went to Pope Gabrial\, 88th Pope\, and told him about the vision and the box. Immediately the Pope rose up and took with him the priests and the deacons\, and went to where the box was. After they took the blessings of the holy relics and gave some money to the woman\, they carried the box in a venerable celebration. They brought it to the church of St. George in Old Cairo where many signs were manifested from it. May his prayers be with us and Glory be to God forever. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/recovery-of-the-holy-relics-of-st-george-the-great-martyr-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220723T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220723T170000
DTSTAMP:20260612T194343
CREATED:20220504T060310Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T060310Z
UID:11357-1658563200-1658595600@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-DEPARTURE OF ST. JOHN\, OF THE GOLDEN GOSPEL
DESCRIPTION:July 23\, 2022 – Epep 16\, 1738 \nOn this day\, St. John\, the owner of the Golden Gospel\, departed. This saint was born in the city of Rome. His father was a rich man whose name was Atrofius (Trabius). His father gave him a copy of the Gospel of St. John written in letters of gold and bound with a golden cover and from this he was generally known as John of the Golden Gospel. John rejoiced exceedingly with this gift. A monk\, who was on his way to Jerusalem\, came to visit his father’s house. John asked the monk to take him with him. The monk told him that he was going to Jerusalem and not to the monastery. He also told him that he was young and could not endure the rough life that the monks practiced. Nevertheless\, John was sincere in his intention\, so he embarked on a ship\, without telling anyone\, to the monastery of that monk. When the Abbot saw him\, he refused to accept him because of his young age\, and explained to him that the monastic life was difficult for one like him. John pleaded with him\, and when the Abbot saw his firm intention and strong conviction\, he accepted him. He shaved his head\, and arrayed him in the holy garb of the monastic life. John devoted himself to the ascetic life with many worships. The Abbot often advised him saying\, Have pity on yourself\, and do as the rest of the brethren. But John used to answer\, saying\, The power of God and your prayers support me. \nSeven years later\, he saw in a vision\, who told him\, Rise\, and go to your parents\, that you might receive their blessings before your departure from this world. This vision was repeated on three consecutive nights\, and he told the Abbot about it. The Abbot told him that this was from God\, and advised him to go to see his parents. When he left the monastery\, he found a poor man wearing ragged garments\, he took them from him\, and gave him his own monk’s garb. When he arrived at his father’s house\, he lived for three years\, near the door of the house\, in a small hut made of straw. He ate\, during this time\, the fragments from his father’s table which the servants threw to him. Whenever his mother passed by him\, she was disgusted by his smell and the appearance of his clothes. When his departure drew near\, the Lord made it known to him that after three days he would depart from this world. St. John sent and called his mother. Without telling her that he was her son\, he made her swear to bury him in that hut with whatever clothes he had on. Then\, he gave her the golden Gospel and said to her\, Whenever you read in it\, remember me. When his father returned to the house\, she showed him the Gospel\, and immediately he recognized that it was the Gospel of his son John. They came in haste to St. John and asked him about the Gospel and about their son. He asked them to assure him that they would not bury him except in the clothes that he had on\, and then he told them that he was their son. They wept with a great weeping. When the nobles of the city of Rome heard that\, they gathered to see this righteous monk. After three days\, he departed and his mother clothed him with the clothes that she had prepared for his wedding day before he went to the monastery. Thereupon she fell sick\, and her husband remembered the oath that they had given. Immediately he removed the clothes of his son and clothed him with the old ragged cloth that he had on and buried him in the hut in which he had lived. Many miracles were manifested from his body. Then they built a church in his name and placed his body in it. May his prayers with us. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/departure-of-st-john-of-the-golden-gospel-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220722T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220722T170000
DTSTAMP:20260612T194343
CREATED:20220504T060210Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T060210Z
UID:11352-1658476800-1658509200@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-MARTYRDOM OF ST. HORESIUS (HARSIOS) OF SOUL
DESCRIPTION:July 22\, 2022 – Epep 15\, 1738 \nOn this day also\, the honorable saint Anba Horesius of Soul\, was martyred. May his intercession be with us and Glory be to God forever. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/martyrdom-of-st-horesius-harsios-of-soul-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220722T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220722T170000
DTSTAMP:20260612T194343
CREATED:20220504T060121Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T060121Z
UID:11347-1658476800-1658509200@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-MARTYRDOM OF ST. CYRIACUS AND ST. JULIETTA\, HIS MOTHER
DESCRIPTION:July 22\, 2022 – Epep 15\, 1738 \nOn this day also\, St. Cyriacus (Qyriacus) and St. Julietta\, his mother\, were martyred. When Cyriacus was three years old\, his mother left Iconium\, her native land\, taking her son with her. She went to Tarsus\, fleeing from the Governor that was persecuting the Christians. However\, she found the Governor there in Tarsus. Some had laid accusation against her before the Governor. He brought her and ordered her to worship the idols. She answered him\, What you say to me cannot be accepted by a three year-old child. The governor said to her\, We can ask your child. God then made the child talk\, who cried out saying\, Your gods are made of stone and wood by the hands of men\, there is no other True God except my Lord Jesus Christ. Those who heard the child were amazed\, and the Governor was exposed. For that reason\, he inflicted pain over the child that surpassed his age. He also tortured his mother with many kinds of tortures. But the Lord God delivered them safely each time. Many saw this and believed in the Lord Jesus Christ\, and received the crown of martyrdom. Finally\, the Governor ordered to cut the heads off of St. Cyriacus (Qyriacus) and St. Julietta\, his mother\, and they received the crown of martyrdom. May their prayers be with us. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/martyrdom-of-st-cyriacus-and-st-julietta-his-mother-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220722T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220722T170000
DTSTAMP:20260612T194343
CREATED:20220504T060013Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T060013Z
UID:11341-1658476800-1658509200@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-DEPARTURE OF ST. EPHRAEM EL-SORIANI (THE SYRIAN)
DESCRIPTION:July 22\, 2022 – Epep 15\, 1738 \nOn this day\, of the year 379 A.D.\, the holy father\, St. Ephraem (Ephraim) the Syrian\, departed. He was born in the city of Nissibis\, in the beginning of the fourth century to pagan parents\, during the days of the righteous Emperor Constantine. It happened that he met with St. James bishop of Nissibis\, who preached to him and taught him the particulars of the Christian Faith. Ephraem believed on his hands. St. James baptized him and Ephraim stayed with him. He excelled in his worship that surpassed his contemporaries. He debated the pagans and overcame them by the grace that was within him. When the council of Nicea convened\, he went with his teacher St. James to attend the council. One day\, it happened that while St. Ephraem was praying\, he saw a pillar of light which extended from earth to heaven. When he marvelled at what he saw\, he heard a voice saying to him\, That what you saw is St. Basil\, Bishop of Caesaria. St. Ephraem longed to see St. Basil and he went to Caesaria. He entered the church and stood in a corner of it. He saw St. Basil in his priestly vestments embroidered with gold. St. Ephraim doubted the holiness of St. Basil. The Lord showed him a white dove that alighted over St. Basil’s head. God then inspired St. Basil of the presence of St. Ephraem. St. Basil called him by his name\, and St. Ephraem marvelled at how he knew him. They greeted each other\, and St. Basil ordained him a deacon. \nSt. Ephraem increased his asceticism\, and many great virtues were manifested through him that surpass description. Among which was that of an honorable woman\, who was ashamed to confess her sins orally to St. Basil. She wrote on a paper her sins which she had committed since her youth\, and gave it to St. Basil. When he received it and knew what was written in it\, he prayed for her. The piece of paper became blank except for only one great sin. The woman wept\, and entreated him to pray for her that God might forgive this sin for her. St. Basil told her\, Go to the wilderness where St. Ephraem is and he will pray for you. The woman went to him and told him what had happened. He said to her\, I am not worthy of this honor\, go back to St. Basil for he is a high priest. Go now quickly before he departs from this world. When the woman returned\, she found that St. Basil had departed\, and was carried on the heads of the priests. She wept\, and threw the piece of paper on his coffin. She prayed to God interceding through the saint. Then\, she took the piece of paper\, and she found it completely blank. St. Ephraem had performed many miracles. In his days\, Ebn-Disan the Infidel appeared. This father debated with him until he overcame his erroneous opinions. He wrote many articles and discourses. When he completed his strife\, he departed to the Lord. May his prayers be with us. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/departure-of-st-ephraem-el-soriani-the-syrian-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220721T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220721T170000
DTSTAMP:20260612T194343
CREATED:20220504T055927Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T055927Z
UID:11336-1658390400-1658422800@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-DEPARTURE OF ST. PETER THE FIFTH\, THE 83RD PATRIARCH OF ALEXANDRIA
DESCRIPTION:July 21\, 2022 – Epep 14\, 1738 \nOn this day also\, of the year 1064 A.M. (July 8th\, 1348 A.D.)\, Pope Peter the Fifth\, 83rd Patriarch of Alexandria\, departed. He was known as Peter (Boutros) Ebn-dawoud. He was from St. Macarius monastery\, and was a priest in El-Shahraan monastery. He was enthroned on the 6th of Tubah\, 1056 A.M. (January 2nd\, 1340 A.D.). All the days of his papacy were peaceful and tranquil. He departed after staying in his Chair for eight years\, six months\, and six days\, and was buried in Old Cairo. May his prayers be with us\, and Glory be to God forever. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/departure-of-st-peter-the-fifth-the-83rd-patriarch-of-alexandria-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220721T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220721T170000
DTSTAMP:20260612T194343
CREATED:20220504T055838Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T055838Z
UID:11332-1658390400-1658422800@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-MARTYRDOM OF ST. PROCOPIUS (PROCONIUS) OF JERUSALEM
DESCRIPTION:July 21\, 2022 – Epep 14\, 1738 \nOn this day\, of the year 303 A.D. (July 8th)\, St. Procopius (Proconius)\, was martyred. He was born in the city of Jerusalem\, his father was a Christian whose name was Christophorus\, which means Bearer of Christ. His mother’s name was Theodosia\, and she was a worshipper of idols. When his father died\, Theodosia took her son\, and went to Antioch. She presented much money and expensive gifts to the Emperor Diocletian\, and asked him to make her son a governor for one of the cities. He accepted her gift\, answered her request\, and appointed her son the governor of the city of Alexandria. He commanded that Procopius torture the Christians. When the Saint had gone a little way from the City of Antioch\, he heard a voice from heaven calling him by his name\, and censured his deed. The voice also threatened him by death because he dared and accepted to do what was against the command of God. Procopius asked\, Who are you\, O my Lord? I beseech you to show me yourself. A cross of light appeared to him\, and he heard a voice which said to him\, I am Jesus \, the Son of the Living God\, Who was crucified in Jerusalem. He was afraid and trembled\, and he turned to the city of Bit-Shaan (Bisan). He made for himself a cross of gold like the cross that appeared to him. \nOn his way to Alexandria\, some of the bedouins attacked him to plunder whatever he had. But he overcame them by the cross that he had. His mother told him\, You must offer sacrifices to the gods who delivered you from your enemies. The Saint replied\, Rather\, I will offer the sacrifice to Jesus Christ\, Who helped me by the power of His cross. When his mother heard his words\, she became angry\, and sent to Diocletian to inform him about that. The Emperor sent to the Governor of Caesarea\, Palestine\, to investigate the matter\, and to handle his torture. When the Governor brought him\, Procopius confessed his faith in the Lord Christ. The governor beat him so severely that he was close to death\, then he cast him in prison. The Lord Christ appeared to him\, surrounded by His angels\, released him from his bonds\, and healed his wounds. The next morning\, the Governor asked about the Saint\, and they told him that they found him free and sound. He had him brought to the temple of the idols\, where the Governor was going to pray. When the Saint came\, and the people saw him whole\, they all marvelled\, and they all cried out in the name of Christ saying\, We are Christians\, and we believe in the God of Procopius. Among them were two prefects\, twelve women\, and St. Theodosia\, mother of St. Proconius. They cut off their heads\, and they received the crown of martyrdom. That was on the sixth day of the month of Abib. \nThe Governor ordered the return of the Saint to prison\, until he could determine what to do with him. He brought him back three days later and told him\, Behold\, I have waited three days for you to return to your mind\, to have mercy on yourself\, and to offer sacrifice for the gods. The Saint replied\, The Lord Christ is the only true God. As for these statues\, which are made of stone and wood\, they are not gods and can neither harm nor help. The Governor became angry and ordered the soldiers to cut his sides with swords. A swordsman\, whose name was Archelaus\, stretched out his hand to cut the sides of the Saint\, whereupon his hand dried up\, and fell down dead. The Governor ordered to stab him with knives and pour vinegar in his wounds. Then they dragged him by his feet to the prison\, where he stayed for three days. The Governor was wondering what he should do with him. Then he threw him into a pit filled with fire\, but the Lord delivered him and no harm came upon him. Finally\, the Governor ordered to cut off his head and he received the crown of martyrdom. May his prayers be with us. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/martyrdom-of-st-procopius-proconius-of-jerusalem-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220720T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220720T170000
DTSTAMP:20260612T194343
CREATED:20220504T055750Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T055750Z
UID:11329-1658304000-1658336400@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-MARTYRDOM OF ST. ABBA SHENOUTE\, DURING THE EARLY ARAB RULE
DESCRIPTION:July 20\, 2022 – Epep 13\, 1738 \nThis day also\, marks the martyrdom of St. Shenouda. He was a righteous man\, keeping the Christian commandments. That was in the early days of the Arab conquest of Egypt. Some of his enemies laid an accusation against him before the Moslem ruler. He brought him and asked him to leave his faith but he refused\, and proudly declared his faith in the Lord Christ. The ruler became enraged\, tortured him\, and finally cut off his head\, and 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-abba-shenoute-during-the-early-arab-rule-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220720T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220720T170000
DTSTAMP:20260612T194343
CREATED:20220504T055711Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T055711Z
UID:11326-1658304000-1658336400@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-MARTYRDOM OF ST. APAMON OF TOUKH
DESCRIPTION:July 20\, 2022 – Epep 13\, 1738 \nOn this day also\, St. Apamon\, was martyred. He was from the city of Toukh\, the diocese of Banha. The Angel Michael appeared to him and commanded him to go to Ansena and confess Christ. He went and confessed the Lord Christ before Eukhius\, the governor. He tortured him much with the press (the wheel)\, red-hot iron bed\, and by whipping him with whips. Then he cast him in a hot water cauldron. In all that\, the Lord strengthened and raised him up sound. He was worthy for the Lord Christ to appear to him\, and promised him the Kingdom of Heaven. This Saint performed many signs and miracles. When they cut off his head he received the crown of martyrdom. St. Julius El-Akfahasi was present\, took his body\, shrouded it with costly shrouds and sent his body with two of his men to his hometown. May his prayers be with us. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/martyrdom-of-st-apamon-of-toukh-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220720T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220720T170000
DTSTAMP:20260612T194343
CREATED:20220504T055635Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T055635Z
UID:11322-1658304000-1658336400@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-DEPARTURE OF ST. PISENTIUS\, BISHOP OF QIFT
DESCRIPTION:July 20\, 2022 – Epep 13\, 1738 \nOn this day\, the holy father\, Anba Pisentius\, Bishop of Qift\, departed. This Saint became a monk in his early years\, devoted himself to the ascetic life\, and learned the church books. He never looked upon the face of a woman. Once a woman\, who had a serious sickness\, waited until he came out of the church\, and drew near him to kiss his hand\, for her belief was that she would be healed. But when he saw that she was getting close to him\, he walked faster. Since she was unable to catch him\, she took a handful of the dust upon which his feet had trodden\, and placed it on the site of the pain and she was healed. When he was ordained a bishop\, he used to see the angels fluttering their wings around the altar while he was celebrating the Divine Liturgy. He was eloquent in his sermons; no one became weary of listening to his teachings. When the Lord informed him that his departure drew near\, he gathered his people\, taught them\, and strengthened them in the Faith. Then\, he departed in peace. God manifested many miracles from his body. His disciple took a piece of his shroud which healed many of the sick. May his prayers be with us. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/departure-of-st-pisentius-bishop-of-qift-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220719T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220719T170000
DTSTAMP:20260612T194343
CREATED:20220504T055558Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T055558Z
UID:11318-1658217600-1658250000@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-MARTYRDOM OF ST. ABBA HOUR EL-SIRIAKOUSY
DESCRIPTION:July 19\, 2022 – Epep 12\, 1738 \nOn this day also\, St. Abba Hour\, was martyred. He was born in Siriakous to a father\, who was an iron worker. He wished to become a martyr\, so he went to El-Farma where he confessed the Lord Christ before its Governor. He tortured him much but the Lord comforted him and healed his wounds. The Governor was amazed when he saw that. That governor\, his wife and his children believed in the Lord Christ. They became martyrs by the hands of another governor\, who also kept on torturing the Saint Abba Hour. When he became weary of torturing him\, he sent him to Ansena\, where he was squeezed by the wheel\, crucified head down\, and burned by fire. Finally they cut off his head\, and 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-abba-hour-el-siriakousy-2/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220719T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220719T170000
DTSTAMP:20260612T194343
CREATED:20220504T055447Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T055447Z
UID:11312-1658217600-1658250000@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-COMMEMORATION OF ARCHANGEL MICHAEL
DESCRIPTION:July 19\, 2022 – Epep 12\, 1738 \nOn this day\, the church celebrates the commemoration of the honorable Archangel Michael\, the perpetual intercessor of the human race before God the Pantocrator. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; … that serpent of old\, called the Devil and Satan\, who deceives the whole world; (Revelation 12:7-9) and crushed his power over the Christians. May his intercession be with us. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/commemoration-of-archangel-michael-3/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220718T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220718T170000
DTSTAMP:20260612T194343
CREATED:20220504T055359Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T055359Z
UID:11310-1658131200-1658163600@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-DEPARTURE OF ST. ISAIAH\, THE HERMIT
DESCRIPTION:July 18\, 2022 – Epep 11\, 1738 \nOn this day also\, the great saint\, Anba Isaiah\, who was a hermit in the wilderness of Shiheet (Scetis)\, departed. May his prayers be with us\, and Glory be to God forever. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/departure-of-st-isaiah-the-hermit-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220718T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220718T170000
DTSTAMP:20260612T194343
CREATED:20220504T055318Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T055318Z
UID:11305-1658131200-1658163600@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-MARTYRDOM OF SAINTS JOHN AND SIMON\, HIS COUSIN
DESCRIPTION:July 18\, 2022 – Epep 11\, 1738 \nOn this day\, Sts. John and Simon\, his cousin\, who were from the city of Shoubramalas (Ziftah-Gharbiah)\, were martyred. The mother of St. John was barren\, and his father prayed ceaselessly to the Lord to give him a son\, whom he would vow to the Lord. He saw in a vision St. John the Baptist\, who told him that the Lord would give him a son. When this Saint was born\, his father called him John\, and he built a church in the name of St. John the Baptist. When the boy grew and was twelve years old\, his father put him in charge of tending the sheep. John gave his food to the shepherds\, and he fasted until the evening daily. When his father heard this\, he went to him to verify that. When the boy saw him\, he was afraid that his father might beat him\, and he wanted to flee. His father calmed him and asked him about his food. John replied\, It is inside the hut. When the father went inside\, he found the basket full of hot bread. He returned and told his mother what had happened and both rejoiced for the grace that was bestowed upon their son. They prevented their son from tending the sheep\, and handed him to one who taught him the church books. When John became eighteen years old\, they ordained him a priest. Simon\, his cousin\, who was also tending to the sheep of his father\, left that and became a disciple of this Saint. God wrought many signs by the hands of St. John. When Diocletian denied Christ and worshipped idols\, Sts. John and Simon went to Alexandria. They confessed the Lord Christ before its Governor\, who tortured them much. Finally\, he cut off their heads\, and they received the crown of martyrdom. May their prayers be with us. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/martyrdom-of-saints-john-and-simon-his-cousin-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220717T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220717T170000
DTSTAMP:20260612T194343
CREATED:20220504T055239Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T055239Z
UID:11303-1658044800-1658077200@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-DEPARTURE OF ANBA GABRIEL VII\, THE 95TH POPE OF ALEXANDRIA
DESCRIPTION:July 17\, 2022 – Epep 10\, 1738 \nThis day also\, of the year 1561 A.D.\, marks the departure of the great Saint Anba Gabriel VII\, 95th Pope of Alexandria. He was born in the area around the monastery of El-Mouharraq\, and at a young age he became a monk in the wilderness of St. Macarius. Because of his good conduct and his great righteousness\, they ordained him Patriarch after the departure of Pope John XIII (94th Pope). That was in the year 1518 A.D. after the Ottoman conquest. He remained in the papacy about forty-three years\, preaching and teaching the flock. Some of his important accomplishments\, were the renovation of the monasteries of Anba Antonius\, and Anba Paul\, the first hermit\, in the Eastern desert\, and the monastery of El-Mouharraq in Upper Egypt. Some people in authority asked him to approve things against the welfare of his flock. The Pope chose to leave his Chair and he went to the monastery of St. Antonius\, for he desired to keep what the Lord said: Greater love has no man than this\, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13) The Lord examined him but he endured thankfully\, and received the blessing that the Lord gave for those persecuted for the sake of righteousness. Then\, he fell sick for a short illness\, and departed in peace. May his prayers be with us and Glory be to God forever\, Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/departure-of-anba-gabriel-vii-the-95th-pope-of-alexandria-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220717T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220717T170000
DTSTAMP:20260612T194343
CREATED:20220504T055145Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T055145Z
UID:11298-1658044800-1658077200@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-MARTYRDOM OF ST. THEODORE\, BISHOP OF CORINTH\, AND HIS COMPANIONS
DESCRIPTION:July 17\, 2022 – Epep 10\, 1738 \nOn this day also\, of the year 299 A.D.\, St. Theodore\, Bishop of Corinth\, three women\, and two governors\, one called Lucianus and the other Dagnanius\, were martyred. When some evil men accused the Saint before these two afore-mentioned governors\, that he was a Christian\, and bishop of Corinth\, the governors brought him and asked him about his belief. He confessed that he was Christian. They tortured him by beating and dragging him in the streets. He admonished them for their forsaking the true God\, and worshipping the hand made stones. They ordered to cut out his tongue. They cut off his tongue and threw it away. A believing woman took it and handed it to the Saint who placed it back in its place\, and by the power of God it healed as it was. He started again to explain the invalidity of the worshipping of idols. Those gathered marvelled and many of them believed as the governor Lucianus also believed. Dagnanius the governor became enraged and he killed St. Theodore as he killed three women who were following him as he was going to the place of execution. Shortly after\, Lucianus convinced Dagnanius and he also believed in the Lord Christ. Both went to Cyprus\, confessed the Lord Christ before its governor. He cut off their heads and they also received the crown of martyrdom. May his prayers be with us. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/martyrdom-of-st-theodore-bishop-of-corinth-and-his-companions-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220717T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220717T170000
DTSTAMP:20260612T194343
CREATED:20220504T055043Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T055043Z
UID:11293-1658044800-1658077200@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-MARTYRDOM OF ST. THEODORE\, BISHOP OF PENTAPOLIS
DESCRIPTION:July 17\, 2022 – Epep 10\, 1738 \nOn this day\, St. Theodore\, Bishop of Pentapolis (Five Cities) was martyred. He was ordained by Pope Theonas (16th) a bishop for the Five Cities (Pentapolis). One year after his ordination\, Diocletian incited the persecution against the Christians everywhere. He appointed a prince called Pilate\, governor of Africa and its provinces. He heard that this bishop was confirming the Christians in their Christian Faith\, so he brought him and ordered him to offer a sacrifice to the idols. He replied\, I offer daily the sacrifice for the Creator of the idols. The Governor asked him\, Is there any other god beside Artemis and Apollo? The Saint replied\, Yes\, Jesus Christ the creator of all things. The Governor became angry from his answer and ordered his torture. They spent forty days torturing him by beating and crucifying him. When he did not return from his true faith they cut off his head and he received the crown of martyrdom. May his prayers be with us. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/martyrdom-of-st-theodore-bishop-of-pentapolis-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220716T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220716T170000
DTSTAMP:20260612T194343
CREATED:20220504T054946Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T054946Z
UID:11289-1657958400-1657990800@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-DEPARTURE OF ST. CLADIANUS (CELADION)\, THE NINTH POPE OF THE SEE OF ST. MARK
DESCRIPTION:July 16\, 2022 – Epep 9\, 1738 \nOn this day also\, in the year 166 A.D. St. Cladianus (Celadion)\, the ninth Pope of the See of St. Mark\, departed. He was a knowledgeable man\, and righteous in his life. He was chosen Patriarch in the 8th of Tubah (January 16th\, 152 A.D.)\, after the departure of his predecessor Pope Marcianus. He continued to teach\, preach\, and better his people\, until he departed in peace after he had stayed on the Chair for fourteen years and six months. May his prayers be with us and Glory be to God forever. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/departure-of-st-cladianus-celadion-the-ninth-pope-of-the-see-of-st-mark-2/
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END:VCALENDAR