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X-WR-CALDESC:Events for ST. MARY AND ST. MENA
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TZID:UTC
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DTSTART:20210101T000000
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220720T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220720T170000
DTSTAMP:20260613T190014
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:20260613T190014
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:20260613T190014
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/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220719T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220719T170000
DTSTAMP:20260613T190014
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:20260613T190014
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:20260613T190014
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:20260613T190014
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:20260613T190014
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:20260613T190014
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:20260613T190014
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/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220716T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220716T170000
DTSTAMP:20260613T190014
CREATED:20220504T054907Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T054907Z
UID:11284-1657958400-1657990800@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-MARTYRDOM OF ST. SIMON CLEOPHAS\, THE APOSTLE
DESCRIPTION:July 16\, 2022 – Epep 9\, 1738 \nOn this day\, St. Simon\, the Apostle\, was martyred. He was the son of Cleophas\, brother of Joseph the Just\, to whom the Virgin Mary was betrothed. He received the grace of the Holy Spirit in the Upper Room of Zion\, and was ordained bishop for Jerusalem succeeding St. James the Apostle. He converted many of the Jews to the faith in the Lord Christ. The Lord wrought many wonders in his hands\, and he urged the people for chastity and purity. When Emperor Trajan heard about him\, he brought him\, tortured him much\, and then cut off his head. He was one hundred twenty years old. May His prayers be with us all. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/martyrdom-of-st-simon-cleophas-the-apostle-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220715T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220715T170000
DTSTAMP:20260613T190014
CREATED:20220504T054810Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T054810Z
UID:11279-1657872000-1657904400@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-DEPARTURE OF CYRUS (KARAS)\, BROTHER OF EMPEROR THEODOSIUS
DESCRIPTION:July 15\, 2022 – Epep 8\, 1738 \nToday also\, St. Cyrus (Karas) departed. He was the brother of Emperor Theodosius the Great. This saint knew well the vanity of the world and its temporal nature. He left all his possessions and went out wandering without a destination. God guided him to the inner Western Wilderness\, where he lived for many years alone\, without seeing man or beast. There was in the wilderness of Shiheet (Scete) a holy priest called Bamwa (Pimwah) who shrouded the body of St. Hilaria. This father longed to see one of the servants of Christ\, the hermits. The Lord helped him until he came to the inner wilderness\, and he saw many of the saints. Everyone of them told him about his name\, and the reason he came to the wilderness. But St. Pimwah asked each of them\, Is there is anyone who lives further in the inner desert? They answered him\, Yes. He continued to walk until he finally arrived at St. Karas\, the last one of them. St. Karas called him from inside his cell\, Welcome\, Anba Pimwah\, the priest of Shiheet. Anba Pimwah entered his cell\, and after the greetings\, St. Karas asked him about the news of the world\, the governors and the faithful. At night\, St. Karas prayed for a long time\, then he knelt to the ground and delivered up his soul in the hands of the Lord. Anba Pimwah buried him in his cloak\, then he returned glorifying God\, telling everyone about the Saint and his strife. May his prayers be with us and Glory be to God forever\, Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/departure-of-cyrus-karas-brother-of-emperor-theodosius-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220715T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220715T170000
DTSTAMP:20260613T190014
CREATED:20220504T054703Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T054703Z
UID:11275-1657872000-1657904400@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-MARTYRDOM OF ST. EPIME (PIMANON)
DESCRIPTION:July 15\, 2022 – Epep 8\, 1738 \nThis day also\, marks the martyrdom of St. Epime (Pimanon) (Bima). He was the chief of the village of Panokleus of the district of El-Bahnasa. He was rich and merciful to the poor. The Lord Christ appeared to him in a vision and told him\, Arise\, go to the Governor and confess My Name\, for there you have a crown prepared for you. When he awoke from his sleep\, he distributed all his money to the poor and the needy. Then he prayed\, and went to El-Bahnasa\, and confessed the Lord Christ. When he confessed that he was the chief of the village\, the Governor asked him about the vessels of the church in his town\, and offered him the worship of the idols. St. Bima answered him saying\, I will not give you the vessels\, and as for worshipping the idols\, I only worship my Lord Jesus Christ. The Governor ordered his tongue cut off\, and torture by the press and by burning. But the Lord saved and healed him. The Governor then\, sent him to Alexandria\, where he was imprisoned. Julius El-Akfahsi (the writer of the biographies of the saints) had a sister possessed with an evil spirit. This Saint prayed for her and she was healed. The report of this miracle spread out and many believed. The Governor became furious and he tortured the Saint with the press and by pulling out his nails. The Lord strengthened him and healed him. When the Governor became weary of torturing him\, he sent him to Upper Egypt. There he was beheaded\, and he received the crown of martyrdom. The servants of Julius El-Akfahsi carried his body to his town. May his prayers be with us\, Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/martyrdom-of-st-epime-pimanon-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220715T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220715T170000
DTSTAMP:20260613T190014
CREATED:20220504T054615Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T054615Z
UID:11271-1657872000-1657904400@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-MARTYRDOM OF ST.BALANAH\, THE PRIEST
DESCRIPTION:July 15\, 2022 – Epep 8\, 1738 \nOn this day also\, St. Balanah the priest\, was martyred. He was from the city of Bara\, of the diocese of Sakha. When he heard of the persecution of the faithful and the slaying of the saints\, he distributed all his money to the poor and the needy. He then went to Antinoe (Ansena)\, and confessed the Lord Christ before the governor. He tortured St. Balanah much with different kinds of tortures until he delivered up his soul in the hands of the Lord. May his prayers be with us\, Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/martyrdom-of-st-balanah-the-priest-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220715T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220715T170000
DTSTAMP:20260613T190014
CREATED:20220504T054523Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T054523Z
UID:11267-1657872000-1657904400@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-MARTYRDOM OF ST. PIROOU AND ST. ATHOM
DESCRIPTION:July 15\, 2022 – Epep 8\, 1738 \nOn this day also\, St. Piroou and St. Athom were martyred. These two Saints were born in the city of Sonbat\, of Christian parents who were righteous\, loving works of righteousness and charitable deeds. Their father’s name was John and their mother’s was Mary. St. Piroou was blond with curled hair\, tall in stature\, with blue eyes. St. Athom was tall in stature with white complexion\, dark eyes and black beard. When Piroou was thirty years old\, and Athom was twenty-seven\, they attended church consistently during masses\, and continued to give alms and provide shelter for strangers. When persecution was incited against the Christians\, they took some goods and went to the town of El-Farma to trade there. They found the body of a Saint called Noua with some of the soldiers. They bought the body from them with silver\, placed the body in a marbled sarcophagus in their own home. They hung an oil lamb before it\, and many miracles appeared from the body. The two saints reflected upon the vanity of the world\, and the blessings of paradise. They distributed their money among the poor\, went to Alexandria and confessed Christ before the Governor. He tortured them by beating and whipping them until their blood poured out on the ground. They hanged them and put fire under them. The Angel of the Lord came and brought them down and healed their wounds. Then\, the Governor sent them to El-Farma. When the Governor of El-Farma saw their courage and the beauty of their appearance\, he offered them the worship of the idols. When they refused\, he pulled out the nails of their hands and feet. Then he put them on iron rods and lit fire under them. \nDuring this\, the wife of the Governor died\, and he asked the two Saints to forgive him for what he had done to them. They prayed to God for her and God raised her from the dead. The Governor and every one with him believed. He released the two Saints and they returned to their town Sonbat. They gave the poor whatever was left of their money. They gave the body of St. Noua to a righteous man called Sarabamon. They asked him to hang an oil lamp before it at all times. Then\, they went to the Governor and confessed Christ. He ordered them beaten and dragged in the city until their blood poured out on the ground. A deaf and dumb woman took some of the blood and anointed her ears and tongue with it. Instantly she was healed. She glorified the Lord Christ and confessed Him. The Governor ordered them all to be beheaded. They all received the crown of martyrdom. The righteous Sarabamon\, and some people from Sonbat were present. They took the bodies of the two Saints\, shrouded them\, and took them to their town. A church was built for them\, where their bodies and the body of St. Noua were placed. It was said that their bodies are now located in the church of St. Barbara in Old Cairo. May their prayers be with us\, Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/martyrdom-of-st-piroou-and-st-athom-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220715T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220715T170000
DTSTAMP:20260613T190014
CREATED:20220504T054436Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T054436Z
UID:11262-1657872000-1657904400@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-DEPARTURE OF ST. BISHOY
DESCRIPTION:July 15\, 2022 – Epep 8\, 1738 \nOn this day\, St. Bishoy\, whose memorial is honorable\, the star of the desert\, departed. He was born in a town called Shansa in Egypt\, and he had six brothers. His mother saw an angel in a vision saying to her\, The Lord says to you\, give Me one of your children to serve Me. She answered\, Lord\, take whoever you want. The angel took the hand of Anba Bishoy\, who was thin and his body was frail. His mother told the angel\, My Lord\, take one who is strong to serve the Lord. This is whom the Lord has chosen\, answered the Angel. Later on\, St. Bishoy went to the wilderness of Shiheet and became a monk by the hand of Anba Bemwah (Bamouyah)\, who also ordained St. John Yehness the Short a monk. St. Bishoy struggled in much asceticism and many worships that made him worthy to see the Lord Christ. Emperor Constantine appeared to him in a vision\, saying\, Had I known how great is the honor of monks\, I would have abandoned my kingdom and became a monk. St. Bishoy told him\, You have banished the heathen worship and exalted Christianity\, and has not Christ given you anything? Emperor Constantine answered him\, The Lord has given me many gifts\, but none of them is like the honor of the monks. \nDuring his days\, an ascetic old man appeared in the mountain of Ansena\, who was reputed for his righteousness and to whom many people gathered. But he deviated from the true faith and the devil lead him astray. He taught that there is no Holy Spirit\, and many were deceived by his sayings. Anba Bishoy heard about him\, and he went to him and he had with him a weaved basket with three ears. When he visited the old man and his followers\, they asked him about the reason for making three ears for the basket. He answered\, I have a Trinity\, and everything I do\, is like the Trinity. They said to him\, Then\, Is there a thing called the Holy Spirit? Then he started to explain to them from the Holy Scriptures\, from the Old and New Testaments. He indicated to them that the Holy Spirit is One of the three Persons of the Trinity. He convinced them\, and they returned to the true faith. Then he returned to his monastery in the wilderness of Scete (Shiheet). When the barbarians invaded the wilderness\, he left it and dwelt on Mount Ansena\, where he departed. After the time of persecution had ended\, they brought his body with the body of St.Paul of Tamouh to his monastery in the wilderness of Shiheet. May his prayers be with us. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/departure-of-st-bishoy-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220714T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220714T170000
DTSTAMP:20260613T190014
CREATED:20220504T054355Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T054355Z
UID:11258-1657785600-1657818000@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-MARTYRDOM OF ST.IGNATIUS\, BISHOP OF ANTIOCH\, IN ROME
DESCRIPTION:July 14\, 2022 – Epep 7\, 1738 \nOn this day also\, St. Ignatius was martyred in Rome in the year 107 A.D. He was chosen Bishop for Antioch\, succeeding St. Peter the Apostle\, in the year 69 A.D.\, during the reign of Emperor Trajan. When the Emperor heard that this Saint had attracted many by his teachings to believe in the Lord Christ\, he brought him and asked him\, Are you Ignatius the Theophoros? He replied\, Yes\, I am. The Emperor inquired about the meaning of his name. The saint replied saying\, It means ‘Godbearer.’ The Emperor said\, Do you think that we do not carry our gods to support us in wars? The Saint answered\, How can these statues be gods? Listen\, there is no God except the only God that created the Heaven and Earth\, and His Son Jesus Christ who was incarnated to save mankind. So if you had believed in Him\, you would be content now in your kingship. \nThe emperor attempted to persuade him to forsake Christianity\, but he refused. The Emperor was enraged\, ordered him bound with fetters\, and taken to Rome to be thrown to the beasts. Ignatius responded by kissing the fetters that would be his means of receiving the crown of martyrdom. The believers tried to save him by paying bribes to the soldiers\, but he refused\, for he was yearning for martyrdom. He went on his way to Izmir (Smyrna)\, where he wrote a letter to the Christians of Rome that said in it: I am afraid that your love may be harmful. If you wish to prevent my death\, that will not be difficult for you. But allow me to be slaughtered wherever the altar has been prepared .. I am wheat which must be ground\, to make bread\, to be offered to Jesus Christ. Whenever the people will not behold me anymore\, I will behold our Lord Jesus Christ. When he arrived in Rome\, they threw him to the beasts. A lion attacked him and grabbed him by his neck. The Saint delivered up his soul in the hand of the Lord. Then the lion released him and went back to his place\, and the believers came and carried his body with great honor to a place they prepared for him in Antioch. May his prayers be with us\, and Glory be to God forever. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/martyrdom-of-st-ignatius-bishop-of-antioch-in-rome-2/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220714T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220714T170000
DTSTAMP:20260613T190014
CREATED:20220504T054318Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T054318Z
UID:11253-1657785600-1657818000@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-DEPARTURE OF ST. SHENOUDA (SHENOUTE)\, THE ARCHIMANDRITE
DESCRIPTION:July 14\, 2022 – Epep 7\, 1738 \nOn this day\, the ascetic father\, St. Shenouda (Shenoute)\, the Archimandrite\, departed. This father was born in the city of Shandaweil (Shenalolet) in the district of Akhmim. His father was a farmer\, who owned flocks of sheep. When Shenouda grew up\, his father entrusted him with the care of the sheep. He tended to the sheep\, gave his food to the shepherd\, and he spent his day fasting. His father took him to his uncle Anba Bgoul (Bigal) to bless him. Anba Bgoul laid the boy’s hands on his own head and said\, You bless me\, my child\, for you will be a father for many peoples. His father left him with his uncle and returned home. One day he heard a voice from heaven saying\, Shenouda has become the Archimandrite. Since that time\, he exerted himself with many worships and intense asceticism. When Anba Bgoul (Bigal) departed\, Shenouda replaced him. He followed the monastic communal rules that were formulated by St. Pakhom\, and he added to them a pledge the monk had to sign before joining the monastery. \nThe number of monks during his days reached 1800 monks. That monastery\, still standing west of the city of Souhag\, has a church and is known as the monastery of Anba Bishoy. Anba Shenouda had built another monastery\, the number of its monks reached 2200 monks\, which is still standing and is known as the monastery of Anba Shenouda. Once\, an army commander asked Anba Shenouda to lend him his girdle to wear during the war so that God might make him victorious. The Saint gave it to him and the commander overcame his enemies. Anba Shenouda became a shining light to all the world with his sermons\, discourses\, and canons that he put for the good of the monks\, hierarchies\, and laity\, men and women. He attended the Council of the two hundred that gathered at Ephesus with the holy father Anba Kyrillos (24th)\, and he admonished Nestorius the heretic. Before his departure\, he asked his disciples to support him so that he might worship his creator. He worshiped God and then commanded them to follow his footsteps and told them\, I commit you to God then he departed in peace. May his prayers be with us. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/departure-of-st-shenouda-shenoute-the-archimandrite-2/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220713T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220713T170000
DTSTAMP:20260613T190014
CREATED:20220504T054216Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T054216Z
UID:11245-1657699200-1657731600@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-MARTYRDOM OF ST. THEODOSIA AND HER COMPANIONS
DESCRIPTION:July 13\, 2022 – Epep 6\, 1738 \nOn this day also\, St. Theodosia\, mother of St. Proconius\, along with two prefects and twelve other women\, were martyred. When Theodosia heard that her son became Christian\, and the Emperor had tortured him severely until he was close to death\, she went to see him. She found them bringing him out of prison and all his wounds were healed. She and all those who were with her marvelled. They all cried saying\, We believe in the God of Proconius. The Emperor ordered their heads cut off 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-st-theodosia-and-her-companions-2/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220713T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220713T170000
DTSTAMP:20260613T190014
CREATED:20220504T053953Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T053953Z
UID:11243-1657699200-1657731600@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-MARTYRDOM OF ST. AOULIMPAS\, THE APOSTLE
DESCRIPTION:July 13\, 2022 – Epep 6\, 1738 \nOn this day\, St. Aoulimpas\, who was called Paul\, one of the seventy apostles\, was martyred. This Apostle ministered to the disciples and carried the epistles of St. Peter to the Gentiles. He went with him to the city of Rome\, preached there\, taught and converted many to the Faith. When St. Peter was martyred\, this Apostle was the one to take his body off the cross\, shroud him\, and take him to the house of one of the believers. Someone accused him\, before the Emperor Nero\, of being one of the disciples of Peter. Nero brought him and questioned him. The Saint confessed that the Lord Christ is the true God. Nero tortured him severely. Then he asked him\, How do you wish to die? The Saint replied saying\, I only wish to die for the Name of Christ. Kill me any way you wish\, and bring me speedily to my desire. Nero ordered to beat him and to crucify him\, head downwards\, like his teacher St. Peter. They did so and he received the crown of martyrdom. May his prayers be with us. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/martyrdom-of-st-aoulimpas-the-apostle-2/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220712T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220712T170000
DTSTAMP:20260613T190014
CREATED:20220504T053904Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T053904Z
UID:11237-1657612800-1657645200@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-MARTYRDOM OF SAINTS PETER AND PAUL\, THE APOSTLES
DESCRIPTION:July 12\, 2022 – Epep 5\, 1738 \n\nOn this day\, the two great saints Peter and Paul\, were martyred. Peter was from Bethsaida\, and he was a fisherman. The Lord chose him on the second day of His baptism after He chose Andrew his brother. He had fervent faith and strong zeal. When the Lord asked His disciples: Who do men say that I am? So they answered\, Some say John the Baptist\, some Elijah\, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets. … Simon Peter answered and said\, You are the Christ\, the Son of the living God. (Mat. 16:13-20) After he received the grace of the Holy Spirit\, he went around in the world preaching of the crucified Christ\, and he converted many to the faith. God wrought great and innumerable signs and wonders by his hands. He wrote two catholic Epistles to the believers. When he came to the city of Rome\, he found there St. Paul the Apostle. Through their preaching\, most of the people of Rome believed\, so Nero seized Peter and commanded to crucify him. Peter asked them to crucify him head downwards\, and he delivered up his soul into the hand of the Lord. As of St. Paul the Apostle\, he was born in Tarsus two years before the advent of the Savior. He was a Jew\, of the tribe of Benjamin\, a Pharisee\, the son of a Pharisee. He was well learned in the Law of the Torah\, and he was jealous for it. He persecuted the Christians. When they stoned St. Stephen\, Paul was guarding the clothes of those who were stoning him. He took from Caiaphas\, the high priest\, letters to the synagogues of Damascus\, to bind the Christians and bring them to Jerusalem. As he journeyed\, he came near Damascus\, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground\, and heard a voice saying to him\, Saul\, Saul\, why are you persecuting Me? And he said\, Who are You\, Lord? And the Lord said\, I am Jesus\, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads. \nThen He ordered him to go to Ananias in Damascus\, who baptized him\, and he received his sight at once. He was filled by the grace of the Comforter\, and he proclaimed boldly the Faith. He went around in the world preaching of the crucified Christ. He suffered much beatings\, imprisonment\, and was bound with fetters\, some of which are mentioned in the book of the Acts of the Apostles and in his Epistles. He went to Rome and proclaimed the Faith there and many believed by his hands. He wrote for them the Epistle to the Romans which was the first of his fourteen Epistles. Finally\, Nero seized him\, tortured him severely and ordered his head cut off. While St. Paul was passing along with the executioner\, he met a damsel who was a kinswoman of the Emperor Nero\, and who had believed through him. She walked along with St. Paul\, weeping\, to where they carried out the sentence. He comforted her and asked her for her veil. He wrapped his head with the veil\, and asked her to return back. The executioner cut off his head and left it wrapped in the veil of the young girl\, and that was in the year 67 A.D. The young girl met the executioner on his way back to the Emperor\, and asked him about Paul and he replied\, He is lying where I left him and his head is wrapped in your veil. She told him\, You are lying\, for he and Peter had just passed by me\, they were arrayed in the apparel of kings\, and had crowns decorated with jewels on their heads\, and they gave me my veil\, and here it is. She showed it to the executioner\, and to those who were with him. They marvelled\, and believed on the Lord Christ. God wrought by the hands of Peter and Paul many great signs and wonders\, that they even carried the sick out into the streets … that as Peter came by … his shadow might fall on them … and they were all healed. (Acts 5:15) The handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from Paul’s body to the sick\, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them. (Acts 19:12) May their prayers be with us and Glory be to God forever. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/martyrdom-of-saints-peter-and-paul-the-apostles/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220712T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220712T170000
DTSTAMP:20260613T190014
CREATED:20220504T053820Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T053820Z
UID:11232-1657612800-1657645200@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-Apostle's Feast  Commemorations
DESCRIPTION:
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/apostles-feast-commemorations/
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DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220711T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220711T170000
DTSTAMP:20260613T190014
CREATED:20220504T053451Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T053451Z
UID:11220-1657526400-1657558800@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-COMMEMORATION OF THE RELOCATION OF THE RELICS OF SAINTS APAKIR AND JOHN
DESCRIPTION:July 11\, 2022 – Epep 4\, 1738 \nOn this day\, the church commemorates the relocation of the relics of the honorable Sts. Apakir and John. After they received the crown of martyrdom as it is mentioned in the account of the sixth day of the month of Amshir\, some of the believers took their bodies. They laid them in the church of St. Mark the Evangelist\, which is to the south of Alexandria. They remained there until the days of St. Cyril (Kyrillos)\, the Pillar of Faith\, the angel of the Lord appeared to him and commanded him to relocate the relics of these two saints to the other church of St. Mark by the seaside. He relocated them with great honor\, then built a church for them in this district. They arranged for them a feast on this day. Beside the church there was a pagan temple wherein many heathens gathered. When they saw the wonders that were manifested in the church of these two saints many of them believed in the Lord Christ. May their prayers be with us and Glory be to God forever. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/commemoration-of-the-relocation-of-the-relics-of-saints-apakir-and-john-2/
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DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220710T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220710T170000
DTSTAMP:20260613T190014
CREATED:20220504T053404Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T053404Z
UID:11217-1657440000-1657472400@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-DEPARTURE OF ST. CELESTINE\, POPE OF ROME
DESCRIPTION:July 10\, 2022 – Epep 3\, 1738 \nOn this day also\, the great Pope Celestine\, bishop of the city of Rome\, departed (July 27th\, 432 A.D.). This saint was the disciple of St. Boniface\, bishop of Rome. At the time of his death\, he commended that father Celestine would succeed him\, and then he cautioned him saying\, Take heed O my son for there would be ravening wolves in the city of Rome. This father was a righteous and well learned monk. When Pope Boniface departed on September 4th\, 422 A.D.\, they ordained Celestine in his place on September 10th\, 422 A.D.\, during the reign of Emperor Honorius. This Emperor died in the city of Raffeen in France in the year 423 A.D. One of the Emperors (Julian the Infidel) wanted to appoint Nestorius a patriarch for Rome and expel Celestine the saintly Pope. The people rose up and expelled Nestorius which made Emperor Julian enraged against him. This Saint fled to one of the monasteries nearby Pentapolis (Five cities) and dwelt there. God wrought many signs and miracles by his hands. Then\, the angel Raphael appeared to him in a dream saying: Rise up and go to the city of Antioch to its patriarch St. Dimitrius\, and abide with him for the Emperor had decided in his heart to kill you upon his return from the war. When he woke up\, he went forth from that monastery along with two brothers and came to the city of Antioch. \nHe found its Patriarch ill\, told him what had happened to him\, and stayed in one of the monasteries of Antioch. Sts. Ignatius and Boniface along with a third venerable person appeared to the Emperor in a dream and said to him\, Why have you left the city of the saints without a bishop. Behold\, God will remove your soul from you\, and you shall die by the hands of your enemies. The Emperor asked\, What shall I do? They replied\, Do you believe in the Son of God? He answered saying\, I do believe. They said to him\, Send and bring our son bishop Celestine with honor\, and restore him to his throne. When the Emperor awoke from his dream\, he wrote to the patriarch of Antioch\, Demetrius\, asking him to inform his envoys of the whereabouts of Celestine\, and return him to his See. They found him and returned him to his Chair with great honor\, and the people received him with joy and happiness. The peace and the affairs of the church were established by his presence. When Nestorius blasphemed and the Council assembled for him\, Celestine was unable to attend the Council\, because of his illness\, so he sent two priests with a letter excommunicating Nestorius in it. The Emperor believed in what Nestorius said\, nevertheless he yielded to the decisions of the Council and exiled Nestorius to Egypt. When the Lord willed for Celestine to depart from this world\, St. Boniface\, his predecessor\, and St. Athanasius\, the Apostolic\, appeared to him and told him\, Affirm your people in the faith\, for Christ is calling you. When he woke up he commanded his people saying\, Take heed to yourselves\, for behold ravening wolves shall come into this city. Having said this he added\, I am leaving\, for the saints are calling for me. When he said that\, he departed in peace. May his prayers be with us and Glory be to God forever. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/departure-of-st-celestine-pope-of-rome-2/
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DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220710T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220710T170000
DTSTAMP:20260613T190014
CREATED:20220504T053319Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T053319Z
UID:11215-1657440000-1657472400@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-DEPARTURE OF ST. KYRILLOS (CYRIL) THE FIRST\, THE TWENTY-FOURTH POPE OF ALEXANDRIA
DESCRIPTION:July 10\, 2022 – Epep 3\, 1738 \nOn this day\, of the year 160 A.D. (June 27th\, 444 A.M.)\, the great father\, the pillar of faith and the lamp of the Orthodox church\, St. Kyrillos (Cyril) the First\, the Alexandrian Pope\, and the twenty-fourth Patriarch of the See of St. Mark\, departed. This saint was the son of the sister of Pope Theophilus (23rd patriarch). He was raised by his uncle at the school of Alexandria where he was educated in its Theological and Philosophical subjects needed to defend Christianity and the Orthodox faith. After he learned a great deal of these subjects\, his uncle sent him to the monastery of St. Macarius in the wilderness. There\, he became a disciple to a righteous old monk called Sarabamon. He taught him the church books\, and the sayings of the pure fathers. He trained his mind and body by practicing the works of righteousness and virtues for a period of time. After he spent in the wilderness five years\, Pope Theophilus sent him to Abba Sarapion\, the honorable bishop\, so he increased in wisdom and knowledge. Shortly after\, the bishop returned him to Alexandria. His uncle was rejoiced\, ordained him a deacon\, appointed him a preacher in the cathedral and made him his scribe. Whenever Kyrillos gave a sermon\, he captured the hearts of his listeners with his eloquence\, fluency\, and his strong influence. \nSince that time\, he became well known for his vast knowledge\, his great righteousness\, and his deep influence in his teaching. When his uncle Pope Theophilus departed in the 18th of Babah 128 A.M. (October 15th\, 412 A.M.)\, they enthroned this father in his place on the 20th of Babah\, 128 A.M. (Oct. 17th\, 412 A.D.). The church was illumined with his knowledge\, and he gave special attention to resisting paganism and defending the Christian faith. He started to refute the falsity of Emperor Julian the Infidel in his ten essays that had been written after his apostasy. These were the favorite readings of the pagan young people of Alexandria and their pride\, for they believed that it destroyed the principles of the Christian faith. Pope Kyrillos refuted them in terms that were clear\, strong and convincing. He set out to rebut the heretics until he was able to close their churches and seize their contents. He ordered the expulsion of the Jews from Alexandria which led to a disturbance and confrontation between the Jews and the Christians. This led to the widening of the contention between the governor and this great saint. Because of his strong devotion to the Christian ethics and teachings\, he found himself compelled to ask for reconciliation with the governor. However\, the governor refused to accept the reconciliation\, and the conflict between them continued for a period of time. \nWhen the heresy of Nestorius\, Patriarch of Constantinople\, emerged\, a Universal Council convened for him. He denied that the Virgin was the mother of God (Theotokos). Two hundred bishops assembled in the city of Ephesus during the reign of Emperor Theodosius II\, known by Theodosius the Less. St. Cyril (Kyrillos)\, Pope of Alexandria\, presided over this council. He debated Nestorius\, explained to him his heretic opinion\, and threatened him with excommunication and exile from his Chair\, if he did not change his erroneous opinion. St. Kyrillos composed twelve discourses wherein he explained the true faith\, refuting the error of Nestorius. Anba John\, Patriarch of Antioch\, and some of the bishops of the East disagreed with him\, taking Nestorius’ side. Nevertheless\, shortly after\, they came back and agreed with Kyrillos who was victorious over the enemies of the church. He wrote many discourses and valuable epistles\, confirming in them\, that God the Word is One Nature\, One Will\, and One Person incarnated. He anathematized anyone who separated Christ or differed from this true faith. The Emperor exiled Nestorius in the year 435 A.D. to the land of Egypt\, and remained in the city of Akhmim until his death in the year 440 A.D. From the monumental works of Pope Kyrillos was the commentary of the Holy Books. When he finished his strife\, he fell sick for a short time and departed in peace. He remained on the Alexandrian Chair for thirty-one years\, eight months\, and ten days. May his prayers be with us. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/departure-of-st-kyrillos-cyril-the-first-the-twenty-fourth-pope-of-alexandria-2/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220709T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220709T170000
DTSTAMP:20260613T190014
CREATED:20220504T052821Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T052821Z
UID:11204-1657353600-1657386000@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-DEPARTURE OF ST.THADDAEUS\, THE APOSTLE
DESCRIPTION:July 9\, 2022 – Epep 2\, 1738 \nOn this day\, St. Thaddaeus\, the Apostle\, departed. The Lord had chosen him among the twelve disciples. When he received the grace of the Comforter along with the disciples\, he travelled around the world preaching the Gospel. He returned many of the Jews and Gentiles to the knowledge of God and Baptized them. Then he went to the land of Syria and preached to its people and many believed through his hands. He suffered from the Jews and Gentiles\, much humiliation and many tortures\, 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-thaddaeus-the-apostle-2/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220708T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220708T170000
DTSTAMP:20260613T190014
CREATED:20220504T052740Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T052740Z
UID:11189-1657267200-1657299600@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-DEPARTURE OF SAINTS BIOUKHA AND TAYABAN (BANAYEN) THE PRIEST
DESCRIPTION:July 8\, 2022 – Epep 1\, 1738 \nOn this day also\, the fighters Sts. Bioukha and Banayen\, departed. They were priests in the church of Tunah of the diocese of Tanda. Their father was the steward of this church. It happened when the priest Banayen was celebrating the Divine Liturgy\, someone came calling him to see his father who was dying in that instant. He answered him saying\, I cannot take off my priestly vestment before the end of the service. If God is willing\, I shall see him before he dies\, otherwise it will be the will of God. His father asked for him three times\, and he responded with the same answer. When he finished the mass\, he found his father had departed. The church vessels were stored in a place known only by his father. Banayen the priest went to St. Daniel\, the priest of the wilderness of Shiheet\, who guided him by Divine inspiration\, to the place where the vessels were stored. These two saints lived a virtuous life until they departed in peace. May their prayers be with us\, and Glory be to God forever. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/departure-of-saints-bioukha-and-tayaban-banayen-the-priest-2/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220708T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220708T170000
DTSTAMP:20260613T190014
CREATED:20220504T052112Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T052112Z
UID:11185-1657267200-1657299600@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-MARTYRDOM OF SAINT FEBRONIA THE ASCETIC
DESCRIPTION:July 8\, 2022 – Epep 1\, 1738 \nOn this day\, St. Febronia\, the ascetic virgin\, was martyred. This saint was the niece of the superior of a convent that had fifty virgins\, in a place called Ouryana in Mesopotamia. Her aunt brought her up in the fear of God and taught her the reading of the Holy Books. St. Febronia vowed herself to the Lord Christ\, and she fought the good fight by asceticism\, fasting for two days at a time\, and unceasing in her prayers. When Emperor Diocletian issued his edict to worship idols\, many Christians were martyred by his hands. When the virgins heard that\, they were afraid and left the convent and went into hiding. None was left in the convent except St. Febronia\, another sister and the abbess. On the following day\, the envoys of the Emperor came\, seized the abbess\, and humiliated her. St.Febronia said to them\, Take me and set free this old woman. But they took her as well\, bound in ropes\, and brought them to the Governor. At that time she was twenty years old\, and was attractive. The Governor asked her to worship the idols and promised her many things but she refused. He ordered that she be beaten with rods\, and her dress to be torn off. The abbess cried out to him saying\, May God rip you up\, O wild beast\, for you want to put to shame this young orphan girl. The Governor was wrathful\, and ordered St.Febronia to be squeezed by the wheel\, and to comb her body with an iron comb until her flesh was completely torn. During all that\, she prayed to the Lord asking for help. He then cut out her tongue and smashed her teeth so that she could not pray. But the Lord strengthened her and comforted her. Finally\, the Governor ordered her head cut off\, and she received the crown of martyrdom. A righteous man took her body and shrouded it with costly shrouds\, and placed it in a golden box. May her prayers be with us. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/martyrdom-of-saint-febronia-the-ascetic-2/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220707T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220707T170000
DTSTAMP:20260613T190014
CREATED:20220504T052028Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T052028Z
UID:11181-1657180800-1657213200@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-NATIVITY OF ST. JOHN\, THE BAPTIST
DESCRIPTION:July 7\, 2022 – Paona 30\, 1738 \nOn this day\, the church celebrates the nativity of St. John the Baptist. He whom none born of women was greater. He who kneeled to the Lord Christ while he was still in his mother’s womb\, and was worthy to lay his hand upon the head of the Son of God during Baptism. The Holy Bible said about him: Now Elizabeth’s full time came for her to be delivered\, and she brought forth a son. When her neighbors and relatives heard how the Lord had shown great mercy to her\, they rejoiced with her. Now so it was\, on the eighth day\, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him by the name of his father\, Zacharias. And his mother answered and said\, ‘No; he shall be called John.’ But they said to her\, ‘There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.’ So they made signs to his father; what he would have him called. And he asked for a writing tablet\, and wrote\, saying\, ‘His name is John.’ And they all marveled. Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed\, and he spoke\, praising God. He prophesied about his son\, saying. ‘you\, child\, will be called the prophet of the Highest; for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways.’ (Luke 1:57-76) \nWhen he was two years old\, the wise men (Magi) came\, Herod killed the children\, some divulged about this child and the soldiers searched for him to kill him. Zechariah took the child and brought him to the sanctuary\, laid him on the altar and told the soldiers\, I have received him from this place. The angel of the Lord caught up the child and brought him to the desert of Ziphana\, so the soldiers became enraged and they killed his father Zechariah. For this reason the Lord had said to the Jews: That on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth\, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah\, son of Berechiah\, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. (Matthew 23:35) So the child John grew and became strong in spirit\, and was in the deserts more than twenty years living an angelic life\, till the day of his manifestation to Israel. (Luke 1:80) And John himself was clothed in camel’s hair\, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. (Matthew 3:4) He lived in the wilderness persevering in prayers and asceticism\, until the Lord ordered him\, to fulfill the prophesies\, to preach to the people about the coming of the Savior of the World. For he was sent from God\, to bear witness of the Light\, that all through him might believe. He was not that Light\, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. (John 1:6-8) \nNow in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar\, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea\, Herod being tetrarch of Galilee\, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and the region of Trachonitis\, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene\, Annas and Caiaphas being high priests\, the Word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. And he went into all the region around the Jordan\, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins\, as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet\, saying: The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the LORD\, make His paths straight. Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill brought low; and the crooked places shall be made straight and the rough ways made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’ (Luke 3:1-6) In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea\, and saying\, Repent\, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand! (Matthew 3:1-2) Then Jerusalem\, all Judea\, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him and were baptized by him in the Jordan\, confessing their sins. (Matthew 3:5-6) While the people were waiting\, and thinking in their hearts about John if he was the Christ\, John answered\, saying to them all\, I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming\, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fan is in His hand\, and He will thoroughly purge His threshing floor\, and gather the wheat into His barn; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire. (Luke 3:16-17) Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. And John tried to prevent Him\, saying\, I have need to be baptized by You\, and are You coming to me? But Jesus answered and said to him\, Permit it to be so now\, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he allowed Him. Then Jesus\, when He had been baptized\, came up immediately from the water; and behold\, the heavens were opened to Him\, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven\, saying\, This is My beloved Son\, in whom I am well pleased. (Matthew 3:13-17) (Luke 3:20-22) Then John’s disciples came to him and said\, Rabbi\, He who was with you beyond the Jordan\, to whom you have testified; behold\, He is baptizing\, and all are coming to Him! John answered and said\, A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. You yourselves bear me witness\, that I said\, ‘I am not the Christ\,’ but\, ‘I have been sent before Him.’ He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom\, who stands and hears him\, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. He must increase\, but I must decrease. He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. And what He has seen and heard\, that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony. He who has received His testimony has certified that God is true. For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God\, for God does not give the Spirit by measure. The Father loves the Son\, and has given all things into His hand. He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life\, but the wrath of God abides on him. (John 3:26-36) \nBut when John saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism\, he said to them\, Brood of vipers! Who has warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance\, and do not think to say to yourselves\, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. (Matthew 3:7-10) (Luke 3:7-9) When Herod Antipas\, the son of Herod the Great\, married Herodias\, the wife of his brother Philip\, against all the Laws\, St. John the Baptist came to him. He admonished him for his transgression and all the evil things that he was doing. So Herod ordered\, according to the instigation of Herodias the adulterer\, to seize John\, chain him and imprison him in the fortress called Macronda. John remained in this jail for a year\, without Herod being able to slay him. His disciples visited their teacher\, frequently and courageously\, in prison. As he did not neglect his duties toward them\, proving to them that Jesus was the expected Christ. When the news of the wonders that our Savior did noised everywhere\, John wanted his disciples to be eye witnesses to the wonders of Christ\, to be confirmed in their faith in him. While he was in prison\, John sent two of his disciples to Christ\, who said to Him\, Are You the Coming One\, or do we look for another? Jesus answered and said to them\, Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: The blind receive their sight and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me. (Matthew 11:2-6) \nAs they departed\, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John\, What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed\, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes\, I say to you\, and more than a prophet. For this is he of whom it is written: ‘Behold\, I send My messenger before Your face\, who will prepare Your way before You.’ Assuredly\, I say to you\, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence\, and the violent take it by force. For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. And if you are willing to receive it\, he is Elijah who is to come. He who has ears to hear\, let him hear! But to what shall I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their companions\, and saying: ‘We played the flute for you\, And you did not dance; we mourned to you\, And you did not lament.’ For John came neither eating nor drinking\, and they say\, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking\, and they say\, ‘Look\, a gluttonous man and a winebibber\, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by her children. (Matthew 11:7-19) The Lord Christ\, to Whom is the Glory\, also said about John the Baptist: He was the burning and shining lamp\, and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light. (John 5:35) Herodias desired to get rid of John the Baptist\, so she executed her scheme during the celebration of Herod’s birthday.When Herod’s birthday was celebrated\, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod. Therefore he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask. So she\, having been prompted by her mother\, said\, Give me John the Baptist’s head here on a platter. And the king was sorry; nevertheless\, because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him at the table\, he commanded it to be given to her. So he sent and had John beheaded in prison. And his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl\, and she brought it to her mother. Then his disciples came and took away the body and buried it\, and went and told Jesus. When Jesus heard of it\, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart. (Matthew 14:2-13) The joy of the people celebrating Herod’s birthday turned into sorrow. As of the head\, it flew up from their hands and was crying out saying: It is not right for you to take your brother’s wife. The martyrdom of St. John took place at the end of the thirty-first or at the beginning of the thirty-second year of the Christ. The life of this Saint was like that of the angels in purity. He was filled with the Holy Spirit while he was in his mother’s womb\, and was martyred for his witnessing to the truth. May his prayers be with us and Glory be to God forever. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/nativity-of-st-john-the-baptist-2/
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DTSTAMP:20260613T190014
CREATED:20220504T051902Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T051902Z
UID:11175-1657094400-1657126800@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-MARTYRDOM OF SAINTS ABBA HOUR AND HIS MOTHER THEODORA
DESCRIPTION:July 6\, 2022 – Paona 29\, 1738 \nMartyrdom of Saints Abba Hour and his Mother Theodora\nOn this day also\, Sts. Abba Hour and his mother Theodora\, were martyred. Abba Hour was a soldier in the army of Antioch. He came to Alexandria\, and confessed the Lord Christ before its governor. He commanded that Abba Hour’s hands be cut off\, that he be tied to the tail of an ox and dragged through the city. Then he was thrown into a pit filled with snakes which did not harm him. During all that torture\, he cried out to the Lord Christ\, who healed and strengthened him. His mother came to see him and she rejoiced in his strife. They told the governor about her\, and he had her brought to him. He asked her to sacrifice to the idols but when she refused he became enraged at her\, and frightened her but she was not afraid of his raging. He commanded to put red-hot iron rods in her sides. When they did so she rejoiced and sang hymns to venerate the Lord for He made her worthy to suffer for His Holy Name. Later on she delivered up her soul and received the crown of martyrdom. As for St. Abba Hour (Hor)\, they placed him in a cauldron of boiling oil and tar\, and he praised God until he delivered up his soul and received the crown of martyrdom. His brother Abba Bishai (Pishai) was martyred on the first day of El-Nasi (Intercalary days).\nMay their prayers be with us and Glory be to God forever. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/martyrdom-of-saints-abba-hour-and-his-mother-theodora-2/
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