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X-WR-CALNAME:ST. MARY AND ST. MENA
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X-WR-CALDESC:Events for ST. MARY AND ST. MENA
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TZID:UTC
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TZOFFSETFROM:+0000
TZOFFSETTO:+0000
TZNAME:UTC
DTSTART:20210101T000000
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220716T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220716T170000
DTSTAMP:20260613T231706
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:20260613T231706
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:20260613T231706
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:20260613T231706
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:20260613T231706
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:20260613T231706
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:20260613T231706
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/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220714T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220714T170000
DTSTAMP:20260613T231706
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/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220713T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220713T170000
DTSTAMP:20260613T231706
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/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220713T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220713T170000
DTSTAMP:20260613T231706
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/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220712T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220712T170000
DTSTAMP:20260613T231706
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/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220712T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220712T170000
DTSTAMP:20260613T231706
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/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220711T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220711T170000
DTSTAMP:20260613T231706
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/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220710T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220710T170000
DTSTAMP:20260613T231706
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:20260613T231706
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:20260613T231706
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:20260613T231706
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:20260613T231706
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:20260613T231706
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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DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220706T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220706T170000
DTSTAMP:20260613T231706
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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DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220706T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220706T170000
DTSTAMP:20260613T231706
CREATED:20220504T051815Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T051815Z
UID:11170-1657094400-1657126800@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-MARTYRDOM OF THE SEVEN ASCETIC SAINTS IN TOUNAR MOUNT
DESCRIPTION:July 6\, 2022 – Paona 29\, 1738 \nMartyrdom of the Seven Ascetic Saints in Tounar Mount\nOn this day\, the seven ascetic saints in Tounar Mount (Tona)\, were martyred. These were: Basadi\, Cotolus\, Ardama\, Moses\, Esey\, Parkalas (Mikalas)\, and a monk called Cotolus. The angel of the Lord had appeared to Sts. Basadi and Cotolus and commanded them to confess the name of the Lord Christ. They rose up straightway to go to the governor. They met the five saints embarking a ship going to the governor to also confess the Lord Christ. They all agreed together on receiving the crown of martyrdom. They went to the governor and confessed the Lord Christ. He tortured them excessively\, then hung stones from their necks\, and shut them up in prison. The Lord appeared to them\, comforted\, strengthened\, and promised them the kingdom. The governor then sent them to Alexandria\, where they were tortured severely. He threw them into cauldrons full of sulphur and pitch\, and lighted a great fire under them\, then he took them out and threw them away. The Lord sent His angel who healed them. They came back to the governor and confessed the Lord Christ before him. One hundred thirty persons witnessed that. They confessed the Lord Christ\, were martyred\, and they received the crown of martyrdom. The Governor intensified the torture on the seven saints\, and finally cut off their heads with the sword\, and they received the crown of martyrdom.\nMay their intercession be with us. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/martyrdom-of-the-seven-ascetic-saints-in-tounar-mount-2/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220705T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220705T170000
DTSTAMP:20260613T231706
CREATED:20220504T051736Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T051736Z
UID:11167-1657008000-1657040400@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-COMMEMORATION OF THE CONSECRATION OF THE CHURCH OF ANBA SARABAMOUN\, BISHOP OF NIKIOS
DESCRIPTION:July 5\, 2022 – Paona 28\, 1738 \nCommemoration of the Consecration of the Church of Anba Sarabamoun\, Bishop of Nikios\nOn this day also\, the church celebrates the Commemoration of the Consecration of the Church of Anba Sarabamoun\, the martyr\, Bishop of Nikios.\nMay his prayers be with us and Glory be to God forever. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/commemoration-of-the-consecration-of-the-church-of-anba-sarabamoun-bishop-of-nikios-2/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220705T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220705T170000
DTSTAMP:20260613T231706
CREATED:20220504T051620Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T051620Z
UID:11161-1657008000-1657040400@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-DEPARTURE OF ST.THEODOSIUS\, THE 33RD POPE OF ALEXANDRIA
DESCRIPTION:July 5\, 2022 – Paona 28\, 1738 \nDeparture of St.Theodosius\, the 33rd Pope of Alexandria\nOn this day\, of the year 283 A.M. (June 22nd\, 567 A.D.) St. Theodosius\, the thirty-third Pope of Alexandria\, departed. After the departure of Pope Timothy\, the bishops and the Orthodox Christians gathered and ordained this father a patriarch. He was a learned man\, and well rehearsed in the church books. Soon after\, the enemy of the good enticed some evil men from the city of Alexandria\, to take Acacius\, Archdeacon of the churches of the city of Alexandria\, and appoint him a patriarch. That happened with the help of Julian\, who was excommunicated by Pope Timothy for his approval of the council of Chalcedon. When they appointed Acacius\, they exiled Pope Theodosius to the city of Germanos. St. Severus\, the Antiochian Patriarch\, who was residing in Sakha\, in the Egyptian land\, comforted and strengthened him. He reminded him of the tribulation that came upon the apostles\, and John Chrysostom (of the golden mouth). Six month after the exile of Pope Theodosius\, he went to the city of Malig\, and dwelt there for two years. Afterwards\, the people of the city of Alexandria went to the governor and demanded from him the return of their legitimate shepherd\, and the expulsion of Acacius the Fraudulent. When the news reached Emperor Justinian and the God-loving\nEmpress Theodora\, she sent a letter to the church in Alexandria to ask about the legitimacy of the ordination of Pope Theodosius\, for if it was according to the canon of the church he should be reinstated on his chair. A council of lay people and one hundred twenty priests convened and unanimously agreed that Theodosius was ordained with the consent of the bishops and the people and according to the canons of the church. Acacius was present in this council; he rose up confessing that he had transgressed. He asked for forgiveness and to remain as archdeacon as he was before. They sent these facts to the Empress. Since the Emperor was in agreement with the faith of the council of Chalcedon\, he wanted to attract the Pope to this erroneous faith. He wrote to his representative in Alexandria saying\, If the Patriarch Theodosius agreed with us in faith\, along with his papacy\, add the governorship of the city of Alexandria\, but if he did not agree\, he should be expelled from the city. When the Patriarch heard that\, he said\, That what the devil had told the Lord Christ after he showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory\, ‘All these things will I give you\, if you will fall down and worship me’. The Patriarch then left the city and went to Upper Egypt and stayed there confirming the believers.\nLater on\, the Emperor called St. Theodosius to Constantinople\, so he went with some of the learned priests. The Emperor received him with great honor\, and seated him in a distinguished place. He tried to flatter him\, and talk gently to him\, to persuade him to agree on the faith of the council of Chalcedon. When he did not yield\, he exiled him to Upper Egypt\, and appointed in his place a person called Paul. When this Paul arrived to Alexandria\, its people did not receive him. He remained there for a year and only few followed him. When the Emperor heard of this\, he commanded to shut the churches until the people submitted to the patriarch he appointed. The believers built a church in the name of St. Mark and another on the name of Sts. Cosmas and Damian outside the city where they were able to receive the Holy Mysteries and baptize their children. When the Emperor heard that\, he had the churches opened. Pope Theodosius\, when he heard this\, feared that the Emperor might have intended to lure the people by that act. He wrote a letter to the believers to confirm them in the Orthodox faith and to warn them from the deception of this infidel. He lived four years in Alexandria\, and remained in exile in Upper Egypt for twenty-eight years. He spent thirty-one years\, four months\, and fifteen days in the patriarchate. This Pope wrote many discourses and useful teachings.\nMay his prayers be with us. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/departure-of-st-theodosius-the-33rd-pope-of-alexandria-2/
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DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220704T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220704T170000
DTSTAMP:20260613T231706
CREATED:20220504T051540Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T051540Z
UID:11157-1656921600-1656954000@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-MARTYRDOM OF ST. THOMAS OF SHENTALET
DESCRIPTION:July 4\, 2022 – Paona 27\, 1738 \nOn this day also\, St. Thomas of Shentalet (Sandalat) was martyred. Michael\, the angel of the Lord\, appeared to this Saint when he was twenty-one years old\, while he was sleeping in the field tending the pigs. The angel Michael commanded him to go and confess the Lord Christ. St.Thomas went to Alexandria and confessed his faith before the governor who tortured him with different kinds of tortures. There were with him under the torture St. Babnuda\, of the city of El-Bandara\, and Anba Shenousy\, from the city of Balkim\, and they encouraged each other to endure. After many tortures\, the governor sent St. Thomas to Arianus\, the governor of Ansena\, where he was beheaded and received the crown of martyrdom. There were seven hundred men and nine women martyred during his days. May Their prayers be with us\, and glory be to God forever. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/martyrdom-of-st-thomas-of-shentalet-2/
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DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220704T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220704T170000
DTSTAMP:20260613T231706
CREATED:20220504T051457Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T051457Z
UID:11154-1656921600-1656954000@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-MARTYRDOM OF ST. ANANIAS\, THE APOSTLE
DESCRIPTION:July 4\, 2022 – Paona 27\, 1738 \nOn this day\, St. Ananias\, the apostle\, departed. The apostles ordained this saint bishop for the city of Damascus. He preached therein with the life-giving gospel\, as he preached also in the city of Beth-Gabriel and converted many of its people to the faith\, and baptized them and their children. St. Ananias was the one to baptize the apostle Paul when the Lord sent him to him. When he baptized St. Paul\, something like scales fell from his eyes\, and he received his sight at once. God wrought many great miracles by his hands; and many of the Jews and Gentiles believed through his preaching. Afterwards\, Lucianus the governor seized St. Ananias\, and tortured him with sever tortures\, such as burning his sides with fiery torches. Finally\, Lucianus took him outside the city\, and commanded him stoned until St. Ananias delivered up his pure soul in the hand of the Lord. May his prayers be with us. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/martyrdom-of-st-ananias-the-apostle-2/
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DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220703T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220703T170000
DTSTAMP:20260613T231706
CREATED:20220504T051418Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T051418Z
UID:11151-1656835200-1656867600@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-CONSECRATION OF THE CHURCH OF ARCHANGEL GABRIEL
DESCRIPTION:July 3\, 2022 – Paona 26\, 1738 \nOn this day also\, is the commemoration of the consecration of a church in the name of the honorable angel Gabriel the announcer\, on the Naklon mount\, in El-Fayyoum. May his intercession be with us and Glory be to God forever. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/consecration-of-the-church-of-archangel-gabriel-2/
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DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220703T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220703T170000
DTSTAMP:20260613T231706
CREATED:20220504T051341Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T051341Z
UID:11145-1656835200-1656867600@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-DEPARTURE OF THE GREAT PROPHET JOSHUA SON OF NUN
DESCRIPTION:July 3\, 2022 – Paona 26\, 1738 \nOn this day\, of the year 2570 of the world\, the great prophet Joshua Son of Nun\, departed. He was born\, in the year 2460 of the world\, in Egypt (Fifty three years before the deliverance of the people of Israel from the bondage of Pharaoh). He was a disciple and servant to Moses. Moses\, after leading the people of Israel out of Egypt with the might of the Divine arm and the extraordinary wonders\, brought them to the nearby mount of Sinai. He went up the mount taking with him Joshua\, his minister\, to receive the commandments. During the war of Israel against Am-a-lek\, Joshua was the leader of the soldiers. When Moses chose twelve men to spy out the promised land\, one from each tribe\, Joshua was one of them. He completed this mission with honesty. He and Caleb alone brought forth the true and accurate information about the promised land. Therefore they alone entered this land without the people of Israel that came out of the land of Egypt. Because they had murmured and doubted in the sincerity of the promises of God\, God swore in His anger that they would not enter to His rest. Their children that they begot after their deliverance from Egypt\, entered this land along with Joshua and Caleb. \nAfter the death of the great prophet Moses in the year 2553 of the world\, the LORD spoke to Joshua the son of Nun saying: Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore\, arise\, go over this Jordan\, you and all this people\, to the land which I am giving to them; the children of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you\, as I said to Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river\, the River Euphrates\, all the land of the Hittites\, and to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun\, shall be your territory. No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses\, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and of good courage\, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous\, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left\, that you may prosper wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth\, but you shall meditate in it day and night\, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous\, and then you will have good success. (Joshua 1:1-8) Joshua’s heart was strengthened and he sent out two men to spy out the land secretly. So they went\, and came to the house of a harlot named Rahab\, and lodged there. The woman hid them; and they swore to spare her and all her household. Then she let them down by a rope through the window\, for her house was on the city wall. (Joshua 2:1-15) Then Joshua opened (i.e. conquered) Jericho after he had gone around its walls several times and when they shouted with a great shout the great walls of the city fell down. The people went up into the city and killed both man and beast. The two men that had spied out the country\, went into Rahab’s house and brought her\, her father\, her mother\, her brethren\, and all that she had\, out of the camp. Joshua spared their lives as the two spies promised her for she had spared their lives\, and hid them. Then they burnt the city\, and all that was therein. The gold\, and the silver and vessels of brass and iron\, were taken to the treasury of the house of the Lord. \nThe Lord was with this righteous man\, so he opened many cities\, killed many kings\, and the nations feared him. Because of the great fear\, the inhabitants of Gibeon worked craftily\, and went and pretended to be ambassadors. And they took old sacks on their donkeys\, old wineskins torn and mended\, old and patched sandals on their feet\, and old garments on themselves; and all the bread of their provision was dry and moldy. And they went to Joshua\, and said to him\, We have come from a far country; now therefore\, make a covenant with us. But the men of Israel said to them\, Perhaps you dwell among us; so how can we make a covenant with you? They said to them\, From a very far country your servants have come\, because of the name of the LORD your God; for we have heard of His fame … this bread of ours we took hot for our provision from our houses on the day we departed to come to you. But now look\, it is dry and moldy … and these our garments and our sandals have become old because of the very long journey. Joshua made peace with them\, and made a covenant with them to let them live; and the rulers of the congregation swore to them. Three days later\, after they had made a covenant with them\, they heard that they were their neighbors who dwelt near them. Joshua called for them\, and he spoke to them\, saying\, Why have you deceived us\, saying\, ‘We are very far from you\,’ when you dwell near us? Now therefore\, you are cursed\, and none of you shall be freed from being slaves. Joshua made them woodcutters and water carriers for the congregation and for the house of the LORD. (Joshua 9:3-27) Joshua fought with the five Amorite kings\, hence the hand of the Lord had helped him by casting down great stones from heaven upon them. The children of Israel fought them before the city of Gibeon\, and he made the sun stand still until the five kings and their soldiers were destroyed. Joshua divided the land according to the command of God among the children of Israel. He gave the priests cities to dwell in\, and land for their cattle. He set apart five cities of refuge wherein all those who had committed a murder unintentionally might dwell. When he completed about one hundred ten years and reached a good old age\, he gathered together the elders of Israel\, their heads\, their judges and their officers\, and commanded them to keep the commandment of the Law and not to deviate from worshipping God\, then departed in peace. May his prayers be with us. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/departure-of-the-great-prophet-joshua-son-of-nun-2/
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DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220702T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220702T170000
DTSTAMP:20260613T231706
CREATED:20220504T051234Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T051234Z
UID:11141-1656748800-1656781200@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-DEPARTURE OF ST.PETER THE FOURTH\, THE 34TH POPE OF ALEXANDRIA
DESCRIPTION:July 2\, 2022 – Paona 25\, 1738 \nOn this day also\, the holy father and fighter St. Peter the Fourth\, 34th Pope of Alexandria\, departed. His predecessor Pope Theodosius was exiled by the orders of Emperor Vespasian because he did not agree with him on the resolutions of the Council of Chalcedon. When the Pope departed in exile\, the Emperor did not permit the ordination of a new Patriarch. The lay leaders of the city of Alexandria went to its governor\, who was an honorable and forthright man\, and expressed to him their grief because of the vacancy of the Patriarchal chair. He advised them to go to the monastery of El-Zogag as if they were going to pray\, there they could then ordain the patriarch of their choice. They rejoiced at this counsel. The bishops took Abba Peter to the monastery of El-Zogag and ordained him Patriarch on the first of Mesra\, 283 A.M. (July 25th\, 567 A.D.). Before this\, Anba Severus had departed and the Antiochian chair remained vacant. When the people of Antioch heard that the Egyptians had ordained for themselves a patriarch\, they also ordained for themselves a patriarch called Theophanius. He and Pope Peter exchanged letters concerning the Orthodox faith. Each one mentioned his brother in the Divine Liturgy\, nevertheless they did not dare to go to their official seats. Pope Peter resided in the monastery of Epiphaniah south of El-Zogag monastery\, as Theophanius was residing in the monastery of Aphtonius in the outskirts of Antioch. In those days\, there were six hundred monasteries and thirty-two villages on the outskirts of Alexandria; all their inhabitants were Orthodox. The city of Alexandria\, the cities of Upper and Lower Egypt\, the monks of the monasteries of the desert of Scete\, Ethiopia and Nuba were under the authority of Pope Peter. He did not cease sending Epistles to the believers to confirm them in the Orthodox faith. He went around visiting the monasteries of Alexandria and its villages\, teaching\, admonishing\, and strengthening them. He chose a holy and learned man called Damianos and appointed him as his scribe. Pope Peter delegated to him the care of the churches\, and he became a patriarch after him. Pope Peter went on caring for his flock\, confirming them in the Orthodox faith until he departed in peace. May his prayers be with us and Glory be to our God forever. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/departure-of-st-peter-the-fourth-the-34th-pope-of-alexandria-2/
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DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220702T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220702T170000
DTSTAMP:20260613T231706
CREATED:20220504T051142Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T051152Z
UID:11137-1656748800-1656781200@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-MARTYRDOM OF ST.JUDE\, ONE OF THE SEVENTY DISCIPLES
DESCRIPTION:July 2\, 2022 – Paona 25\, 1738 \nOn this day\, St. Jude\, one of the Seventy disciples\, was martyred. This Apostle preached in many cities\, and in the islands\, where he built a church. He went to Edessa\, healed its king Abgar from his sickness and baptized him. After this he went to the city of Araz\, preached there\, and baptized many of its people. The governor of the city seized him\, and tortured him with many tortures. Then\, they shot at him with arrows\, so he delivered up his pure soul. He is the writer of the Epistle attributed to his name in the New Testament which is filled with wisdom and grace. May his prayers be with us. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/martyrdom-of-st-jude-one-of-the-seventy-disciples-2/
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DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220701T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220701T170000
DTSTAMP:20260613T231706
CREATED:20220504T051052Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220504T051052Z
UID:11134-1656662400-1656694800@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-MARTYRDOM OF THE GREAT SAINT ANBA MOSES THE BLACK
DESCRIPTION:July 1\, 2022 – Paona 24\, 1738 \nOn this day\, St. Moses the Black\, whose life story is remarkable\, was martyred. This saint took the Kingdom of Heaven by force\, exactly as our Lord Jesus Christ said: The Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence\, and the violent take it by force. (Matthew 11:12). In his early life\, St. Moses was a slave to people who worshiped the sun. He was a mighty man who loved to eat and drink excessively. He killed\, robbed and committed all evil. No one could stand up before him\, or challenge him. On many occasions\, he lifted up his eyes to look to the sun and to talk to it saying\, O Sun!! if you are God\, let me know it. Then he said\, And you O God whom I do not know\, let me know you. One day\, he heard someone saying to him\, The monks of Wadi El-Natroun know the real God. Go to them and they will tell you. Instantly\, he rose up\, girded his sword and went to the wilderness of Shiheat. He met St. Esidorous (Isidore) the priest\, who was frightened when he saw him\, because of his appearance. St. Moses comforted him by saying that he came to the monks so that they might let him know the real God. St. Esidorous took him to St. Macarius the Great\, who preached to him\, taught him the faith and baptized him. He accepted St. Moses as a monk and taught him to live in the wilderness. St. Moses dashed in many worships\, and fought a spiritual fight which was greater than that fought by many saints. \nHowever\, the devil fought him intensively with his old habits of excessive eating\, drinking\, and fornication. He informed St. Esidorous about everything which came upon him in his fight with the Enemy. He comforted him and taught him how to overcome the snares of the devil. It was told about him\, that when the elders of the Monastery slept\, he used to go round to their cells and take their water pots and fill them with water which he brought from a well at a far distance from the monastery. After many years in spiritual struggle\, the devil envied him\, and struck him with a sore on his foot which made him sick and bed-ridden. When he knew that this was from the devil\, he increased in his asceticism and worship\, until his body became as a burnt wood. God looked to his patience\, healed his illness\, and removed all his pains. The blessing of the Lord came upon him. After a while\, he became the Father and the spiritual guide of 500 brothers\, who elected him to be ordained a priest. When he came before the Patriarch to be ordained\, the patriarch wanted to test him by asking the elders\, Who brought this black here? Cast him out. He obeyed\, and left saying to himself\, It is good what they have done to you\, O black colored one. The Patriarch\, however\, called him back and ordained him a priest\, and said to him\, Moses\, all of you now has become white. \nOne day\, he went with some elders to St. Macarius the Great\, who said to them\, I see among you one to whom belong the crown of martyrdom. St. Moses answered him\, Probably it is me\, for it is written: ‘For all they that take with the sword\, shall perish with the sword.’ (Matt. 26:25) After they returned to the monastery\, it did not take long until the Barbarians attacked the monastery. He told the brethren\, Whoever wants to escape\, let him escape. They asked him\, And you O father\, why do you not also escape? He replied that he had waited for this day for long time. The Barbarians entered the monastery and killed him with seven other brothers. One of the brethren was hiding\, and saw the angel of the Lord\, with a crown in his hand standing by and waiting for him. He went out from his hiding place to the Barbarians and he was also martyred. Beloved Ones\, contemplate in the power of repentance\, and what it did. It transformed an infidel slave who was a murderer\, adulterer and robber into a great Father\, teacher\, comforter\, and priest who wrote rules for the monks\, and saint whose name is mentioned on the altar in our prayers. \nHis Body is located now in the Monastery of El-Baramouse. May his prayers be with us\, and glory be to God forever. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/martyrdom-of-the-great-saint-anba-moses-the-black-2/
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