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DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220517T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220517T170000
DTSTAMP:20260616T024345
CREATED:20220503T112519Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220503T115252Z
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SUMMARY:-DEPARTURE OF ST. HELENA\, THE EMPRESS
DESCRIPTION:May 17\, 2022 – Bashans 9\, 1738 \nOn this day of 327 A.D.\, St. Helena the Empress\, departed. She was born in the city of Raha (Edessa) for Christian parents about the year 247 A.D. They brought her up in a Christian manner\, taught her the doctrine of the church and the religious ethics. She was very beautiful. When Emperor Constantius the First\, Emperor of Byzantium\, came to the city of Raha\, and heard about this Saint\, he sought her out and married her. She gave birth to Constantine who became the first Christian Emperor. She raised him up well\, and taught him philosophy\, wisdom and knighthood. During the reign of her son\, she saw a vision at night as if one said to her: ‘Go to Jerusalem and search carefully for the Honorable Cross and the Holy places.’ When she informed her son about this\, he sent her with many soldiers to Jerusalem. \nShe searched for the wood of the Honorable Cross until she found it along with the other two crosses whereon the two thieves were crucified. She wanted to know which was the cross of the Lord Christ. St. Macarius\, bishop of Jerusalem\, told her that it was the cross that was written on the top of it: ‘This is Jesus\, king of the Jews.’ She asked him that she wished to see a miracle to make sure that it was the cross of the Lord. By the Will of God\, a procession of a dead man was passing by at that time. She placed the other two crosses on the body of the dead man\, but he did not rise. When she placed the third cross\, straightway the dead rose up. Her faith increased and her joy multiplied. She built many churches as it is written under the 17th day of the month of Tout. She gave the needed money to build the churches to St. Macarius\, she took the honorable Cross and the nails and returned to her righteous son Emperor Constantine. He kissed the Cross and placed it in a case made of gold and decorated with precious stones\, and placed some of the nails in his helmet. \nSt. Helena led a righteous life\, and she endowed many endowments for the churches\, monasteries and the poor. She departed at age of eighty. May her prayers be with us. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/departure-of-st-helena-the-empress-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220516T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220516T170000
DTSTAMP:20260616T024345
CREATED:20220503T112443Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220503T115248Z
UID:11005-1652688000-1652720400@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-DEPARTURE OF ST.DANIEL THE ARCHPRIEST OF SHEAHAT (SCETIS)
DESCRIPTION:May 16\, 2022 – Bashans 8\, 1738 \nOn this day also the holy father Anba Daniel the Archpriest of Sheahat (Scetis)\, departed. He was perfect and pure father. When his fame was noised abroad\, many came to him among whom was St. Anastasia disguised in a man’s apparel. She became a nun\, and lived in a cell near him for 28 years and no one knew who he (She) was. One day\, the Saint saw a person whose name was Olagi (Eulogius)\, who worked as a stone cutter for a Karat of gold each day. With a very small portion of this he lived and with the remainder he fed the poor without saving any thing. When Abba Daniel saw his good fight and the excellence of his deeds\, he asked God to give Olagi more money to increase his deeds of mercy. God answered his prayer\, and Olagi found a treasure when he was cutting the stones\, which he took and went to Constantinople. With the newly found money he became a minister to the Emperor\, and forsake the deeds of mercy. When St. Daniel heard about this\, he went to Constantinople\, and found what had become of Olagi\, and that he had abandoned his deeds of mercy. Then the Saint saw in a vision as if the Lord Christ is sitting judging among the people and that he commanded to crucify St. Daniel and demanded from him the lost soul of Olagi. When the Saint rose up from his sleep\, he went back to his monastery\, and entreated God to bring Olagi back to his former state. The angel of the Lord appeared to him and rebuked him for rejecting God’s judgement of His creation. Afterwards\, the Emperor of Constantinople died and another reigned who dismissed Olagi and took his money and wanted to kill him. He escaped in order to save his life and returned to his town to cut the stones as before. Anba Daniel met Olagi and told him all what had happened to him because of him. Many hardships befell St. Daniel because of the faith\, and God manifested many miracles through him. He knew in advance the time of his departure from this world\, he gathered all the monks around him\, commanded\, strengthened\, and comforted them and then departed in peace. \nMay his prayers be with us and glory be to God forever. Amen
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/departure-of-st-daniel-the-archpriest-of-sheahat-scetis-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220516T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220516T170000
DTSTAMP:20260616T024345
CREATED:20220503T112406Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220503T115244Z
UID:11003-1652688000-1652720400@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-MARTYRDOM OF ST.JOHN OF SENHOUT
DESCRIPTION:May 16\, 2022 – Bashans 8\, 1738 \nOn this day St. John of Senhout\, departed. He was born in Senhout\, his father’s name was Macarius and his mother’s name was Anna. It came to pass that when he was tending the sheep flock of his father\, the angel of the Lord appeared to him\, showed him a crown of light and said to him: ‘Why are you sitting here while many others are persecuted\, now rise up and go to the city of Atrib (Banha)\, struggle for the Name of the Lord Christ’; then the angel gave him the salutation of peace and departed from him. He bade farewell to his parents\, went to the Governor\, and confessed the Lord Christ before him. The Governor delivered him to one of the soldiers to entreat him kindly that perhaps he would change his mind and be obedient to him. However the Saint performed several miracles before the soldier that made him also believe in the Lord Christ and received the crown of martyrdom by the hands of the Governor. The Governor became angry and tortured the Saint with every kind of torture\, but the Lord strengthened him and made him to endure it. Then the Saint was sent to Ansena (Antinoe)\, where he was again tortured. At the end they cut off his head by the sword. Julius El Akfahasy took his body\, shrouded\, and sent it to his town Senhout. The people received him with hymns and praise\, and placed him in the church. The body of the Saint now is located in Shoubra El-Khema in Egypt. \nMay his prayers be with us. Amen
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/martyrdom-of-st-john-of-senhout-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220515T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220515T170000
DTSTAMP:20260616T024345
CREATED:20220503T112148Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220503T115239Z
UID:10989-1652601600-1652634000@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-DEPARTURE OF ST. ATHANASIUS THE APOSTOLIC\, THE 20TH POPE OF ALEXANDRIA
DESCRIPTION:May 15\, 2022 – Bashans 7\, 1738 \nOn this day of the year 89 A.M. (373 A.D.) the great Pope Anba Athanasius the apostolic\, the 20th. Pope of Alexandria\, departed. He was born to pagan parents about the year 295 – 298 A.D. It happened that when he was in school\, he saw some Christian children acting the Christian rituals some as priests\, some as deacons and one of them as a bishop. He asked their permission to participate with them\, but they refused saying: ‘You are pagan\, and you are not allowed to mix with us.’ He answered them: ‘I am from now on a Christian.’ They rejoiced with him\, they made him a patriarch over them in the play\, they enthroned him on a high place\, and they offered him honor and respect. At that time pope Alexandros passed by\, when he saw them\, he said to those who were with him about Athanasius: ‘This child would be in a great position one day.’ When Athanasius’ father died\, his mother brought him to Pope Alexandros\, who taught them the principles of the Christian faith and baptized them. They gave their money to the poor\, and stayed with the Pope\, who taught Athanasius the church subjects\, and ordained him deacon and made him a personal secretary. The gifts of the Holy spirit increased in him. He was chosen Patriarch on the 8th. of Bashans of the year 44 A.M. (May 5th.\, 328 A.D.) after the departure of Pope Alexanderos. \nPope Alexanderos had recommended Athanasius\, his deacon\, for the Papacy\, who lived with St.Antonios the father of the monks and followed his example in asceticism. He manifested his brilliancy in exposing ‘Arius’ in the universal council\, when Arius said about Christ that he was ‘similar’ in essence with the Father\, St.Athanasius said: ‘One in essence with the Father.’ In this fashion he manifested his excellence. St. Athanasius hid himself in the mountains\, after the departure of Pope Alexanderos for he believed of his unworthiness to this serious and important position. The people sought him until they found him\, and brought him to the bishops\, and was ordained Pope in 328 A.D. The historian Socrates testified about him saying: ‘Athanasius fluency in speech and his outspokenness in the council of Nicea brought over him all the hardships that he encountered in his life.’ After he became a Pope\, he ordained for Ethiopia its first Metropolitan whose name was Anba ‘Salama’. The church of Ethiopia have followed the church of Alexandria since that time. The spiritual and religious state in Ethiopia had established and settled since that time. \nSt. Athanasius was exiled away from his Chair five times:\n1. The First Exile: Arius\, after he had been excommunicated\, tried to return to Alexandria\, by sending a misleading and flattering letter to Emperor Constantine\, which touched him. The Emperor asked Pope Athanasius to take him back. Athanasius refused to accept him because that would be a contradiction to the decision of the Universal Council. The Arians accused Pope Athanasius with these charges:\n1. That he supported Pope Philominus who rebelled against the government.\n2. That he broke the communion cup of the priest Eskira\, and destroyed his altar.\n3. That he killed bishop Arsanius\, and used his arms in sorcery.\n4. That he also raped a nun. \nThe Pope cleared himself from the first charge. A council was assembled in Tyre\, most of the attendants were Arians\, were against Athanasius to look into these charges. In the second charge\, the Lord moved the priest Eskira’s heart\, who had conspired with them to testify falsely against him\, and he cleared the Pope from that charge. With regard of the third charge\, Arsanius the bishop\, who had agreed with them to accuse the Pope falsely for his murder\, came to the council. Pope Athanasius kept him in an adjacent room. The Arians brought two arms of a dead person and claimed that they were the arms of Arsanius. Then Arsanius was brought in\, and showed his arms to the council and declared his regrets. The Arians said that Athanasius was a sorcerer and he was able to make arms for him. They became violent against Arsanius who left the council and went to the Emperor. Then they looked in the matter of the rape\, they brought a harlot who claimed that Athanasius raped her. One of the entourage of Pope Athanasius\, a priest called Timothy said to her: ‘How dare you to say that I came to your house\, and overpowered your will?’ She thought that the priest was Athanasius for she did not know him\, and she said: ‘You are’. At once the false claim was exposed. Athanasius could not meet the Emperor because of the interferences of the Arians\, who accused him before the Emperor that he prevented the export of the wheat from Alexandria to the Emperor. The Emperor gave his order to exile Athanasius to Trefe (Treves) in France in February 5th.\, 335 A.D. where its bishop had met him with great honor. \nArius died a horrible death as Socrates said: ‘God made Arius to die in a public washroom\, where his bowels poured out of his body\, and the people regarded his death as a punishment from the Divine Justice.’ When the Emperor heard about the death of Arius\, he recognized the innocence of Athanasius\, and recommended while he was on his death bed\, in the year 337 A.D. that Athanasius be returned to Alexandria. After the departure of Constantine\, the Empire was divided\, Constantine II over France\, Egypt became under the rule of Constantius\, and Constance over Italy. With the mediation of Constantine\, the Pope returned in the year 338 A.D. The people of Alexandria received him with great joy. \n2. The Second Exile: \nThe Arians did not stop at that\, but assembled a council\, where they excommunicated Athanasius. They appointed instead someone called Gregory\, and they sent their decision to Julius\, Bishop of Rome. Pope Athanasius assembled a council in Alexandria in 340 A.D. where he protested against the Arians\, then he wrote a letter to all the churches to declare his innocence. However\, the Arians influenced Philogorius to help to install their appointed Patriarch Gregory to take over the churches of Alexandria\, and they also influenced Emperor Constantius. The people of Alexandria were horrified\, and decided to resist\, but the Arians attacked the churches in Alexandria on Good Friday\, raped and slained many worshipers. Pope Athanasius sought the help of all the churches in the world\, left his Chair\, and traveled to Rome. A council was assembled in Sardica\, where they declared:\na. The innocence of Pope Athanasius\nb. Confirmed the cannons and the Creed of faith of the Council of Nicea.\nc. They excommunicated the Arian bishops.\nd. Deposed Gregory from his office. \nThey delegated two bishops to meet Emperor Constans\, the ruler of Italy\, who agreed on what the council had decided\, and threatened his brother Emperor Constantius with war if he did not return Athanasius to Alexandria. At the same time\, some Egyptian radicals rose up and killed Gregory in 349 A.D. Athanasius returned for the second time to his Chair\, and the people received him with joy. Gregory the Theologian\, the writer of the liturgy\, described this reception saying: ‘The people came as the flood of the Nile\,’ and he also pointed out to the palm branches\, the carpets\, and the many clapping hands. \n3. The Third Exile: The Arians did not like the return of Athanasius to Alexandria\, and waited unwillingly until the death of Emperor Constans. The Arians accused Athanasius before Constantius that he collaborated with Magneutius who was the enemy of the Emperor. Constantius obtained a condemnation of Athanasius and his exile from a council assembled at Arles and another one at Milan. The soldiers went to the church of St. Mary which was built by Pope Theonas (The 16th. Patriarch). Athanasius was praying the Vespers service. The soldiers rushed inside the church to arrest him\, but God blinded them from recognizing him from the rest of the people and the lamps were extinguished. Athanasius escaped and went to the desert\, and remained for sometime with the monks. The Arians appointed George of Cappadocia\, bishop on Alexandria\, but the Orthodox refused to accept him and anathematized him. He took over all the churches and its properties. Nevertheless\, the pagans whom he persecuted\, killed him and burnt his body. \n4. The Fourth Exile: After the death of Constantius\, Julian his cousin became Emperor. He wanted to rally the people of Alexandria so he returned Athanasius. Athanasius assembled a council in 362 A.D.\, and provided conditions for the acceptance of the Arians that wish to return to the church. He also gave a special attention to the preaching among the pagans. This was not appreciated by Emperor Julian\, who loved and supported the pagans. He ordered the arrest of Athanasius. Athanasius went out of Alexandria\, and took a boat to Upper Egypt. The Governor followed him in another boat\, and when he approached the boat of Athanasius\, he asked about the boat of the Pope. They said to him that he was not too far away. The Governor went on his way in hurry but he did not find Athanasius\, for he hid himself in another place. Those around the Pope were greatly saddened because of the much tribulations that befell him. Athanasius told them\, that in times of persecution\, he felt great inner peace and that God took care of him and embraced him with His grace more than any other time in his life. He also said: ‘The persecution of Emperor Julian is like a summer cloud that will go away.’ While they were in these conversation\, the news came to them that Julian was killed in his war with the Persians\, and that he was killed by St. Mercurius (Abu Sefain)\, and that he said just before his death: ‘You have overcome me\, O You son of Mary.’ \n5. The Fifth Exile: Jovian became Emperor after Julian had been killed\, then Valens became Emperor and he was Arian. In 367 A.D. Valens ordered the exile of Athanasius again. Athanasius was forced to leave Alexandria and hid in the tomb of his father. Meanwhile\, the Emperor killed 30 bishops who were pro-Athanasius. The Emperor saw the determination of the Copts\, and decided to lift the persecution\, and to return Athanasius to his Chair in 368 A.D. Although Athanasius reached the age of 72\, he did not compromise in performing his duties. For his steadfastness and his firm stand for justice\, the world described him by the saying: ‘Athanasius against the world.’ He wrote several books about the Arians\, on the Incarnation\, and other subjects. Abba Cosma (The 44th. Patriarch) praised these publications by saying: ‘I ask anyone who would find the books of Athanasius to write them on paper\, and for those who could not find paper\, to write them on their clothes.’ \nAthanasius was the first Pope to wear the monastic tunic from the hand of St. Antonios. He made it the uniform for bishops and patriarchs. He was the one who ordained St. Antonios a priest\, and then Archpriest. He departed in peace after he had been on the Apostolic Throne for forty five years. May his prayers be with us\, and glory be to God forever. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/departure-of-st-athanasius-the-apostolic-the-20th-pope-of-alexandria/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220514T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220514T170000
DTSTAMP:20260616T024345
CREATED:20220503T112059Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220503T115235Z
UID:10984-1652515200-1652547600@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-DEPARTURE OF FATHER PAPHNUTE OF EL-BANDARAH
DESCRIPTION:May 14\, 2022 – Bashans 6\, 1738 \nOn this day also\, Father Paphnute who was from El-Bandarah\, departed. May his prayers be with us and glory be to God forever. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/departure-of-father-paphnute-of-el-bandarah-2/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220514T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220514T170000
DTSTAMP:20260616T024345
CREATED:20220503T112022Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220503T115231Z
UID:10982-1652515200-1652547600@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-DEPARTURE OF ST. MACARIUS OF ALEXANDRIA
DESCRIPTION:May 14\, 2022 – Bashans 6\, 1738 \nOn this day also of the year 395 A.D.\, the blessed father St. Macarius of Alexandria departed. He was a contemporary of St. Macarius the great (Senior)\, the father of the monks\, and for this reason\, he was called St. Macarius\, the Junior. He became a monk at one of the monasteries near by Alexandria. For his asceticism\, he became the father and the spiritual guide for all the monk’s cells in the area that near by Alexandria\, so he was also called the father of the cells. He practiced many worships and possessed many virtues in his ascetic life. Among these practices\, he once stayed for five days with his thoughts in heaven\, occupied with early Saints\, prophets\, angels\, apostles and the Lord Christ\, while he was standing on his sleeping mat. After two nights\, the devils started to scratch his feet\, twisting themselves as snakes around his feet. They also showed him fire in his cell\, however with patience\, the fire and the phantoms disappeared. On the fifth day\, he could not control his thoughts with regards to the needs of life. This happened so that he would not become proud of what he had spiritually achieved. He said to himself: ‘I have remained in the ascetic life for 50 years\, and they had not been like these five days.’ After he had managed the schools of those were seeking to be baptized\, he lived alone (Recluse) in the year 335 A.D. in el-Natroun desert\, where he became the abbot of all the monasteries in this desert. \nIt happened that he walked in the desert for several days in unpaved road\, and was placing sticks of reed during the way to help him recognize the way to come back. When he wanted to return\, he found the devil had removed all the sticks to mislead him. When he became thirsty\, God sent him a wild cow\, and he drank from its milk\, until he returned to his cell. One day a hyena came to him and pulled his garment. He followed her to her den\, and it brought out her three young ones. He found that they were all malformed\, and was amazed from the intelligence of the animal. He prayed and put his hands on them\, and they were healed. The hyena disappeared for a while\, and she came back with a sheep skin which he used to sleep on until his departure. At one time\, the thoughts of pride disturbed him until he was weary of it. These thoughts invited him to come to Rome to heal the sick there\, instead of them suffering the travel to him. He slept in his cell\, and extended his feet outside the cell\, and said to his thoughts: ‘You can travel now if you can.’ When his thoughts went on disturbing him\, he carried on his shoulder a basket full of sand\, and walked in the desert until he became physically tired\, the thoughts of pride left him\, and he rested. \nOnce\, he went to the monastery of St. Pachomius in a layman’s garment\, and stayed there during the forty days of Lent. No one saw him eating or sitting down. He was making baskets of palm leaves while he was standing. The monks said to St. Pachomius: ‘Cast out this man from here\, for he is not human.’ He asked them to be patient until God reveals his story to them. St. Pachomius inquired of God about him\, and God told him that he was St. Macarius of Alexandria. They were all happy to hear that\, they welcomed him and received his blessings. When he found that his virtues have been revealed\, he returned to his monastery. It happened that it did not rain for some time in Alexandria\, and the Patriarch called him. When he arrived to Alexandria\, the rain started to fall\, and it continued to rain until they asked him to stop it. He prayed and God stopped it. Emperor Valens exiled him with St. Macarius the great to one of the islands. They guided its people to the Christian faith\, and then they returned to their monasteries. He considered that the virtue that was revealed and became known to everyone\, was rendered useless. When he heard that someone had a virtue that he did not have\, he practiced this virtue until he mastered it more than him. He completed his life in a good spiritual conduct until he reached a good old age\, and departed in peace. May his prayers be with us. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/departure-of-st-macarius-of-alexandria-2/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220514T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220514T170000
DTSTAMP:20260616T024345
CREATED:20220503T111945Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220503T115226Z
UID:10977-1652515200-1652547600@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-MARTYRDOM OF ST. ISAAC EL-DEFRAWI
DESCRIPTION:May 14\, 2022 – Bashans 6\, 1738 \nOn this day\, St. Isaac El-Defrawi was martyred. He was born in the city of Defra\, district of Tanta. When he grew up\, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a vision\, and told him to go to the town of Towwa\, district of Beba\, to receive the crown of martyrdom. He instantly went to his parents to bid them farewell\, they wept and forbade him from doing that. The angel of the Lord appeared to him again and took him out of the town. When he arrived to Towwa\, he professed his faith before the Governor saying: ‘I believe in the Lord Christ’. The Governor placed him under guard until he had returned from the city of Nakyos. It happened when St. Isaac was passing by\, with the soldier\, a blind man\, was sitting on the wayside\, asked him to give him sight. He said to him: ‘Do not say give me\, but let it be according to your faith’\, and then he prayed to the Lord Christ for his sake\, and the man was given sight straightaway. When the soldier saw that\, he believed. When the Governor returned\, the soldier confessed the Lord Christ before him\, he ordered to cut off his head\, and received the crown of martyrdom. \nThe Governor became angry at St. Isaac\, and tormented him severely\, then sent him to the city of El-Bahnasa to be tortured there. It happened when he was in the boat\, he asked for a drink\, and a sailor gave him little of water\, and the man was with one eye. The Saint took some of the water and poured it over him\, and the man received the sight in his blind eye immediately. When the Saint arrived to El-Bahnasa\, the Governor tortured him severely\, but the Lord comforted and healed him and finally the Governor ordered him to be beheaded\, and he received the crown of life. Some of the faithful took his body and carried it to his town Defra and buried him there. Then they built a church after his name. May his intercession be with us. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/martyrdom-of-st-isaac-el-defrawi-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220513T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220513T170000
DTSTAMP:20260616T024345
CREATED:20220503T111905Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220503T115222Z
UID:10975-1652428800-1652461200@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-MARTYRDOM OF ST. JEREMIAH THE PROPHET
DESCRIPTION:May 13\, 2022 – Bashans 5\, 1738 \nOn this day\, the prophet Jeremiah\, one of the major prophets\, the son of Hilkiah the priest\, was martyred. He prophesied in the days of Josiah son of Amon\, king of Judah and Jehoiakim son of Josiah. God had chosen him for He said: ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations’ (Jr 1:5). He rebuked the children of Israel for they left the worship of God and rejected His Commandments. He warned them of the anger of God if they did not return on their transgressions. When he saw their hard hearts and the fast approaching judgement of the Lord\, he prayed fervently weeping so that God might forgive the sins of his people. God rejected his prayers with regard to those who did not obey him\, and He moved Nebuchadnezzar to besiege Jerusalem. His soldiers conquered it under the leadership of Nebuzardan who killed many of them inside the city. After they had taken all the precious possessions of the temple\, the king’s palace\, and the nobles of the people\, they took with them all those who were left alive to Babylon. Among those who were driven to exile was the prophet Jeremiah. Nevertheless\, when Nebuzardan saw him bound with the rest\, he set him free. He then wrote his ‘Lamentations’ for the destruction of the city of Jerusalem\, the temple and the exile of his people for 70 years in babylon. This Prophet prophesied about the coming of Our Lord and Savior\, and His sufferings and passion. His life ended when the jews themselves stoned him in Egypt\, and he died a martyr in prison. May his prayers be with us and glory be to God forever. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/martyrdom-of-st-jeremiah-the-prophet-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220512T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220512T170000
DTSTAMP:20260616T024345
CREATED:20220503T111819Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220503T115218Z
UID:10969-1652342400-1652374800@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-DEPARTURE OF POPE YOANNIS THE FIFTH\, THE 72ND PATRIARCH
DESCRIPTION:May 12\, 2022 – Bashans 4\, 1738 \nOn this day also of the year 882 A.M. (April 29th.\, 1166 A.D.)\, Pope Yoannis the fifth\, the 72nd. Patriarch of Alexandria\, departed. He was John the monk from the monastery of Abu-Yehnis (John). He was enthroned on the 2nd. of El-Nasi (Intercalary days)\, year 863 A.M. (August 25th.\, 1147 A.D.) He was a holy\, righteous\, and pure man. In his days\, the Copts (El-Nasarah – Christians) were persecuted by the Moslem governors (Emams) and Khalifas\, and many were killed or sold as slaves. A monk named ‘Bashnouna’ from the monastery of St. Macarius was martyred on the 24th. of Bashons year 880 A.M. (1164 A.D.) and his body was burned for he refused to change his faith. The bones of this Saint were preserved in the church of Abu-Serga. They also destroyed the church of St. Mina in Haret El-Rome\, and the church of El-Zohari and many other churches in different parts of Cairo after they plundered what was in them. But God permitted these churches to be rebuilt by the Coptic layman Abu El-Fakher Salib Ebn-Mikhail. The Patriarch was arrested during the days of El-Aadel Ebn El-Selar and was imprisoned because he refused to ordain a Metropolitan for Ethiopia instead of its Metropolitan who was still alive. The metropolitan name was Anba Michael El-Atfihi who was ordained by Pope Macarius. The Pope was released two weeks later because of the death of El-Aadel. During the days of this Patriarch\, the words ‘Life-giving’ was added to the confession which became: ‘This is the life-giving Flesh that Thine Only-Begotten Son\, Our Lord\, God and Savior\, Jesus Christ\, took from our Lady …’ He departed after he had been on the throne of St. Mark for 18 years\, 8 month\, and 4 days. May his prayers be with us and glory be to God forever. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/departure-of-pope-yoannis-the-fifth-the-72nd-patriarch-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220512T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220512T170000
DTSTAMP:20260616T024345
CREATED:20220503T111741Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220503T115214Z
UID:10967-1652342400-1652374800@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-DEPARTURE OF POPE JOHN (YOUHANNA) THE FIRST\, THE 29TH PATRIARCH OF THE SEE OF ST. MARK
DESCRIPTION:May 12\, 2022 – Bashans 4\, 1738 \nOn this day of the year 221 A.M. (April 29th.\, 505 A.D.)\, Pope John the first\, the twenty ninth Pope of Alexandria\, departed. This father was born in Alexandria to Christian parents\, and was attracted since his youth to the monastic life. He became a monk in the wilderness of St.Macarius\, and he was chosen Patriarch after the departure of his predecessor Pope Athanasius the second. He did not accept but was taken by force by the bishops\, priests\, and lay leaders and ordained him on the first of Babah of the year 213 A.M. (September 29th.\, 496 A.D.). After his enthronement\, he gave special attention to education and preaching for the edification and the steadfastness of the faithful in the Orthodox faith. He was the first Patriarch to be chosen from among the monks. The Roman Emperor in Constantinople\, at that time\, was the righteous Emperor Zenon. For this reason the hand of the Patriarch was strengthened in spreading the Orthodox faith in all of Egypt. The Emperor sent all the needs of the monasteries from wheat\, oil\, wine and money to renew the buildings of their cells and to restore their churches. All the days of this pope were days of peace and tranquility. When he finished his good course\, he became sick for a short time\, and then departed in peace\, after he had been on the throne of St. Mark for eight years and seven month. May his prayers be with us. Amen\,
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/departure-of-pope-john-youhanna-the-first-the-29th-patriarch-of-the-see-of-st-mark-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220511T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220511T170000
DTSTAMP:20260616T024345
CREATED:20220503T111218Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220503T115205Z
UID:10958-1652256000-1652288400@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-DEPARTURE OF POPE GABRIEL IV\, THE 86TH PATRIARCH OF ALEXANDRIA
DESCRIPTION:May 11\, 2022 – Bashans 3\, 1738 \nOn this day also of the year 1094 A.M. (April 1378 A.D.)\, Pope Gabriel the fourth\, the 86th Patriarch\, departed. He was the abbot of the monastery of El-Moharrak. He sat on the apostolic throne on the 11th day of Tubah\, 1086 A.M. (January 6th\, 1370 A.D.). \nHe was a great scholar and righteous ascetic. During his time\, in the year 1370 A.D.\, a great light appeared during the night which looked like a day light and lingered until dawn. In 1371 A.D.\, there was a great flood in the river Nile valley which threatened to drown all the land. \nHe was contemporary of El-Sultan Shabaan and El-Sultan Ali Ebn-Shabaan El Mansour. He sat on the throne for 8 years\, three months\, and twenty two days. He was buried beside Simeon the shoe maker. May his prayers be with us and glory be to God forever. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/departure-of-pope-gabriel-iv-the-86th-patriarch-of-alexandria-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220511T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220511T170000
DTSTAMP:20260616T024345
CREATED:20220503T111135Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220503T115155Z
UID:10953-1652256000-1652288400@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-DEPARTURE OF ST. OTIMUS\, THE PRIEST
DESCRIPTION:May 11\, 2022 – Bashans 3\, 1738 \nOn this day also\, St. Otimus the priest was martyred. He was born in Fowwa\, and because of his righteousness\, he was ordained a priest for his city. He taught and confirmed the faithful in the faith. Afterwards\, he moved to mount Ansena. When Emperor Diocletian incited the persecution against the Christians\, the account of this Saint reached Arianus the governor of Ansena. He brought him and offered him to worship the idols\, and the Saint did not hearken to his orders. He tortured him much\, but the Lord strengthened him. When the Governor became weary of his torturing\, he ordered him to be burned. He was burned and received the crown of martyrdom. \nHis body was taken by a God fearing priest\, who shrouded the body and hid it in a place until the end of the time of persecution. They built him a church where God revealed many miracles. It is believed that his body still exists in the city of Kalabsha near El-Santa. May his prayers be with us. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/departure-of-st-otimus-the-priest-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220511T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220511T170000
DTSTAMP:20260616T024345
CREATED:20220503T111050Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220503T115114Z
UID:10951-1652256000-1652288400@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-DEPARTURE OF ST. JASON\, ONE OF THE SEVENTY DISCIPLES
DESCRIPTION:May 11\, 2022 – Bashans 3\, 1738 \nOn this day St. Jason\, one of the seventy disciples who were chosen by the Lord\, departed. He ministered with the disciples before the passion of the Savior\, and performed many signs and wonders. Then he was supported by the grace and power on the day of Pentecost. \nHe was born in Tarsus\, and was the first to believe from this city. He accompanied St. Paul on his evangelical missions\, and journeyed with him to many countries. He was arrested with St. Paul and Silas in Thesalonica\, and when they had taken security from Jason and the rest\, they let them go. (Acts 17:9) \nHe was ordained bishop by St. Paul over Tarsus where he shepherded the church of Christ with the best of care. He preached the Gospel also in the city of Korkiras\, many believed on his hands and he baptized them. He built for them a church in the name of St. Stephen the Archdeacon. \nWhen the Governor of the city knew about this\, he arrested him and imprisoned him. He met seven thieves in the prison\, taught them the faith and baptized them. They confessed their faith in the Lord Christ openly before the Governor who put them in a caldron filled with tar and sulphur\, they departed and were granted the crown of martyrdom. \nThen\, the Governor brought St. Jason from the prison\, and tortured him with much torture but he was not harmed. The daughter of the Governor watched this torture from her window and she believed in the Lord Christ\, the God of St. Jason. She took off her jewelry and ornaments and distributed them among the poor\, and confessed that she was Christian and believed in the God of Jason. Her father became angry\, he threw her in prison\, and ordered to throw arrows at her. She gave up her pure spirit in the hand of Christ whom she loved. \nThe Governor sent St. Jason to one of the islands to be tortured there. He took a boat with some soldiers to this island\, and God drowned them all and saved St. Jason\, who continued to teach and preach for many years until another Governor was installed. The new Governor brought him and the Christians who were with him\, and tortured them much. When the Governor saw that his torture did not harm their bodies\, he and all those in his city also believed in the Lord Christ Who only Has the power to protect His chosen one. The Saint baptized them all\, taught them the commandments of the Gospel\, and built for them churches. God performed through him many miracles and signs. He departed in a good old age. May his prayers be with us. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/departure-of-st-jason-one-of-the-seventy-disciples-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220510T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220510T170000
DTSTAMP:20260616T024345
CREATED:20220503T105700Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220503T105700Z
UID:10948-1652169600-1652202000@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-DEPARTURE OF ST.TADROS (THEODORE)\, THE DISCIPLE OF ST.PACHOMIUS
DESCRIPTION:May 10\, 2022 – Bashans 2\, 1738 \nOn this day also St. Tadros (Theodore) the disciple of St. Pachomius\, the father of the spiritual monastic communal life (Coenobitic system)\, departed. He became monk at a young age under the guidance of Anba Pachomius and showed great asceticism\, with extraordinary obedience\, so that St. Pachomius loved him and he delegated him to preach to the brethren. \nWhen St. Pachomius departed\, St. Tadros replaced him. He was a good example in meekness and patience. When he completed his course\, and finished his strife\, he departed to the Lord whom he loved. May his prayers be with us. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/departure-of-st-tadros-theodore-the-disciple-of-st-pachomius-3/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220510T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220510T170000
DTSTAMP:20260616T024345
CREATED:20220503T104017Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220503T104035Z
UID:10945-1652169600-1652202000@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-DEPARTURE OF ST.TADROS (THEODORE)\, THE DISCIPLE OF ST.PACHOMIUS
DESCRIPTION:May 10\, 2022 – Bashans 2\, 1738 \nOn this day also St. Tadros (Theodore) the disciple of St. Pachomius\, the father of the spiritual monastic communal life (Coenobitic system)\, departed. He became monk at a young age under the guidance of Anba Pachomius and showed great asceticism\, with extraordinary obedience\, so that St. Pachomius loved him and he delegated him to preach to the brethren. \nWhen St. Pachomius departed\, St. Tadros replaced him. He was a good example in meekness and patience. When he completed his course\, and finished his strife\, he departed to the Lord whom he loved. May his prayers be with us. Amen
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/departure-of-st-tadros-theodore-the-disciple-of-st-pachomius-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220510T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220510T170000
DTSTAMP:20260616T024345
CREATED:20220503T103847Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220503T103847Z
UID:10942-1652169600-1652202000@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-DEPARTURE OF THE RIGHTEOUS JOB
DESCRIPTION:May 10\, 2022 – Bashans 2\, 1738 \n\nOn this day the righteous Job departed. He was a righteous man in his generation and upright in his time\, as the bible testified about him: ‘… there is none like him on the earth\, a blameless and upright man\, one who fears God and shuns evil?’ (Job 1:8) The devil envied him and asked God to allow him to harm Job and to destroy his wealth. God allowed that\, because of His foreknowledge of the patience and perseverance of Job and that he would be an example and a model for those who come after him as the bible said: ‘You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord’ (James 5:11). In one day\, Job lost his sons and daughters\, his cattle\, and all his wealth. In addition\, the evil one also stricken his body with a Leprosy from his head to his feet. In all this Job offered thanksgiving and praise to God\, and never murmured or grumbled against his Creator. All what he said was: ‘May the day perish on which I was born’ (Job 3:3). He said also about the loss of his children: ‘The LORD gave\, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.’ (Job 1:21) ‘In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong’ (Job 1:22). \nThe thing that hurt Job the most\, was the harsh words of his wife and his friends. His wife advised him to blaspheme\, but Job refused\, and rebuked her saying: ”You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God\, and shall we not accept adversity?’ In all this Job did not sin with his lips’ (Job 2:10). \nJob remained sick for 30 years until he was purified as gold is purified with fire. At last the Lord spoke to him from the clouds and healed him from his sickness and doubled the wealth he had and gave him other sons and daughters. He lived to a good old age and departed in peace. May his prayers be with us. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/departure-of-the-righteous-job-2/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220509T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220509T170000
DTSTAMP:20260616T024345
CREATED:20220503T103620Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220503T103620Z
UID:10939-1652083200-1652115600@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-NATIVITY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY\, THE MOTHER OF GOD
DESCRIPTION:May 9\, 2022 – Bashans 1\, 1738 \nOn this day the church celebrates the birth of the pure Virgin St. Mary\, the Mother of God (Theotokos)\, through whom Salvation came to mankind. She was born in the city of Nazareth\, where her parents lived. Her father was grieved in his heart for he could not offer an offering to God for he did not have any children. In the fullness of time according to the Divine Will\, the angel of the Lord was sent to announce Joachim\, her father\, while he was on the mountain praying\, and said to him: ‘The Lord will give you offspring through whom salvation comes to the world.’ \nImmediately he went down the mountain believing what the angel told him\, and he told his wife Anna of what he saw and heard. She rejoiced\, gave thanks to the Lord\, and vowed that the child who was to be born to her would become a servant in the house of the Lord all the days of her/his life. She conceived\, and gave birth to this Saint and called her Mary who had become the Queen of all women of the world\, and through her we have received the grace. May her intercession be with us\, and glory be to God forever. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/nativity-of-the-blessed-virgin-mary-the-mother-of-god-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220508T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220508T170000
DTSTAMP:20260616T024345
CREATED:20220503T103134Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220503T103504Z
UID:10933-1651996800-1652029200@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-MARTYRDOM OF THE GREAT SAINT MARK\, THE APOSTLE\, THE EVANGELIST OF THE LAND OF EGYPT
DESCRIPTION:May 8\, 2022 – Baramouda 30\, 1738 \n\nOn this day\, which coincided with the 26th. of April 68 A.D.\, the great apostle St. Mark\, the evangelist of the land of Egypt\, was martyred. He was the first Pope of Alexandria and one of the Seventy Apostles. \nHis name was John\, as the Holy Bible says: ‘He came to the house of Mary\, the mother of John whose surname was Mark\, where many were gathered together praying’ (Acts 12:12). He was the one that the Lord Christ\, to Whom is the glory\, meant when He said: ‘Go into the city to a certain man\, and say to him\, The Teacher says\, My time is at hand; I will keep the Passover at your house with My disciples’ (Matthew 26:18). \nHis house was the first Christian church\, where they ate the Passover\, hid after the death of the Lord Christ\, and in its upper room the Holy Spirit came upon them. \nThis Saint was born in Cyrene (One of the Five Western cities\, Pentapolis – in North Africa). His father’s name was Aristopolus and his mother’s name was Mary. They were Jewish in faith\, rich and of great honor. They educated him with the Greek and Hebrew cultures. He was called Mark after they emigrated to Jerusalem\, where St. Peter had become a disciple to the Lord Christ. St. Peter was married to the cousin of Aristopolus. Mark visited St. Peter’s house often\, and from him he learned the Christian teachings. \nOnce Aristopolus and his son Mark were walking near the Jordan river\, close by the desert\, they encountered a raving lion and a lioness. It was evident to Aristopolus that it would be his end and the end of his Son\, Mark. His compassion for his son compelled him to order him to escape to save himself. Mark answered\, ‘Christ\, in whose hands our lives are committed\, will not let them prey on us.’ Saying this\, he prayed\, ‘O\, Christ\, Son of God protect us from the evil of these two beasts and terminate their offspring from this wilderness.’ Immediately\, God granted this prayer\, and the two beasts fell dead. His father marvelled and asked his son to tell him about the Lord Christ. He believed in the Lord Christ at the hands of his son who baptized him. \nAfter the ascension of the Lord Christ\, he accompanied Paul and Barnabas to preach the Gospel in Antioch\, Seleucia\, Cyprus\, Salamis\, and Perga Pamphylia where he left them and returned to Jerusalem. After the Apostolic Council in Jerusalem\, he went with Barnabas to Cyprus. \nAfter the departure of Barnabas\, with the order of the Lord Christ\, St. Mark went to Afrikia\, Berka\, and the Five Western cities. He preached the Gospel in these parts\, and believed on his hands most of its people. From there\, he went to Alexandria in the 1st. of Bashans 61 A.D. \nWhen he entered the city\, his shoe was torn because of the much walking in preaching and evangelism. He went to a cobbler in the city\, called Anianus\, to repair it. While he was repairing it the awl pierced his finger. Anianus shouted in Greek saying ‘EIS THEOS’ which means ‘O\, ONE GOD’. When St. Mark heard these words his heart rejoiced exceedingly. He found it suitable to talk to him about the One God. The Apostle took some clay\, spat on it and applied it to Anianus’ finger\, saying in the Name of Jesus Christ the Son of God\, and the wound healed immediately\, as if nothing happened to it.Moses\, who brought the children of Israel out of Egypt\, and gave them the Law\, the captivity of the children of Israel to Babylon\, and the prophecies that foretold the coming of Christ. \nAnianus invited him to go to his house and brought to him his children. The Saint preached and baptized them in the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. \nWhen the believers in the Name of Christ increased and the pagan people of the city heard that\, they were raged with anger and thought of slaying St. Mark. The faithful advised him to get away for a short while for the sake of the safety of the church and its care. St. Mark ordained St. Anianus a Bishop for Alexandria\, three priests and seven deacons. He went to the Five Western Cities\, remained there for two years preaching\, and ordained bishops\, priests\, and deacons. \nHe returned to Alexandria where he found the believers had increased in number\, and built a church for them in the place known as Bokalia (The place of cows)\, east of Alexandria on the sea shore. \nIt came to pass\, when he was celebrating the feast of the Resurrection on the 29th day of Baramudah\, year 68 A.D.\, the same day coincided with the great pagan Celebration for the feast of the god Syrabis\, a multitude of them assembled and attacked the church at Bokalia and forced their way in. They seized St. Mark\, bound him with a thick rope and dragged him in the roads and streets crying\, ‘Drag the dragon to the place of Cows.’ They continued dragging him with severe cruelty. His flesh was torn and scattered everywhere\, and the ground of the city was covered with his blood. They cast him that night into a dark prison. \nThe angel of the Lord appeared to him and told him: ‘O Mark\, the good servant\, rejoice for your name has been written in the book of life\, and you have been counted among the congregation of the saints.’ The angel disappeared\, then the Lord Christ appeared to him\, and gave him peace. His soul rejoiced and was glad. \nThe next morning (30th of Baramudah)\, the pagans took St. Mark from the prison. They tied his neck with a thick rope and did the same as the day before\, dragging him over the rocks and stones. Finally\, St. Mark delivered up his pure soul in the hand of God\, and received the crown of martyrdom\, the apostolic crown\, the crown of evangelism\, and the crown of virginity. \nNevertheless\, St. Mark’s death did not satisfy the rage of the pagans and their hatred. They gathered much firewood and prepared an inferno to burn him. A severe storm blew and heavy rains fell. The pagans became frightened\, and they fled away in fear. \nThe believers came and took the holy body\, carried it to the church they built at Bokalia\, wrapped it up\, prayed over him and place it in a coffin. They laid it in a secret place in this church. The prayers of this great Saint and honorable Evangelist be with us and Glory be to our God forever. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/departure-of-st-erastus-the-apostle-3/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220507T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220507T170000
DTSTAMP:20260616T024345
CREATED:20220503T103257Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220503T103257Z
UID:10935-1651910400-1651942800@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-DEPARTURE OF ST.ACACIUS\, BISHOP OF JERUSALEM
DESCRIPTION:May 7\, 2022 – Baramouda 29\, 1738 \nOn this day also\, St. Acacius\, Bishop of Jerusalem\, departed. He was a pure and righteous man. He was persecuted for a long time\, and God wrought many signs and wonders by his hands\, then departed in peace. \nHis prayers be with us and Glory be to our God forever. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/departure-of-st-acacius-bishop-of-jerusalem-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220507T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220507T170000
DTSTAMP:20260616T024345
CREATED:20220503T102518Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220503T102518Z
UID:10928-1651910400-1651942800@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-DEPARTURE OF ST.ERASTUS\, THE APOSTLE
DESCRIPTION:May 7\, 2022 – Baramouda 29\, 1738 \nOn this day\, St. Erastus\, one of the Seventy Apostles\, departed. He received the grace of the holy spirit in the upper room of Zion with the Disciples. He preached\, ministered\, and suffered along with them frequently. \nThey laid the hands on him\, and ordained him bishop for Jerusalem. He taught there and in many other places\, and God worked great signs and wonders on his hands. As example he changed bitter salty water to sweet water. \nHe labored with St. Paul the apostle in his many journeys\, for he ministered unto him. He is mentioned in chapter nineteen of the Acts of the Apostles. After he reached a good old age\, he departed in peace. \nHis prayers be with us. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/departure-of-st-erastus-the-apostle-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220506T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220506T170000
DTSTAMP:20260616T024345
CREATED:20220503T102359Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220503T102359Z
UID:10926-1651824000-1651856400@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-MARTYRDOM OF ST.MILLIUS\, THE ASCETIC
DESCRIPTION:May 6\, 2022 – Baramouda 28\, 1738 \nOn this day\, St. Milius\, the ascetic\, was martyred. This father was an ascetic and fighter all the days of his life. He dwelt in a cave with his two disciples in mount Khurasan. The two sons of the king of Khurasan went out to hunt wild animals and they set up their nets. This Saint fell in their net\, and he was dressed in sackcloth made of hair\, and his hair was exceedingly long. When they saw him they were afraid of him and asked him: ‘Are you a man or a demon?’ He answered: ‘I am a sinful man and I dwell here in this mount to worship the Lord Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God.’ They told him: ‘There is no God except the sun and the fire\, offer the sacrifices to them lest we kill you.’ He answered them: ‘These things have been created by God. You are not aware of the truth. It is preferable for you to worship the true God\, the creator of all these things.’ They asked him: ‘Do you claim that he Whom the Jews crucified is God?’ He said to them: ‘Yes\, He Who was crucified for our sins\, and Who was killed and died\, is God indeed.’ The two princes were raged of him. They seized his two disciples\, tortured\, and then slew them. As for St. Milius\, they continued to torture him for two weeks. Finally\, they made him stand up between them and shot arrows at him until he departed in peace. On the following day they went on hunting\, followed a wild beast\, and shot arrows at him\, and God turned their arrows into their own hearts killing them. \nMay The prayers of this Saint be with us and Glory be to our God forever. Amen
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/martyrdom-of-st-millius-the-ascetic-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220505T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220505T170000
DTSTAMP:20260616T024345
CREATED:20220503T102205Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220503T102205Z
UID:10924-1651737600-1651770000@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-MARTYRDOM OF ST.BOCTOR EBN ROMANUS
DESCRIPTION:May 5\, 2022 – Baramouda 27\, 1738 \nOn this day\, which coincided with the 26th. of April 68 A.D.\, the great apostle St. Mark\, the evangelist of the land of Egypt\, was martyred. He was the first Pope of Alexandria and one of the Seventy Apostles. \nHis name was John\, as the Holy Bible says: ‘He came to the house of Mary\, the mother of John whose surname was Mark\, where many were gathered together praying’ (Acts 12:12). He was the one that the Lord Christ\, to Whom is the glory\, meant when He said: ‘Go into the city to a certain man\, and say to him\, The Teacher says\, My time is at hand; I will keep the Passover at your house with My disciples’ (Matthew 26:18). \nHis house was the first Christian church\, where they ate the Passover\, hid after the death of the Lord Christ\, and in its upper room the Holy Spirit came upon them. \nThis Saint was born in Cyrene (One of the Five Western cities\, Pentapolis – in North Africa). His father’s name was Aristopolus and his mother’s name was Mary. They were Jewish in faith\, rich and of great honor. They educated him with the Greek and Hebrew cultures. He was called Mark after they emigrated to Jerusalem\, where St. Peter had become a disciple to the Lord Christ. St. Peter was married to the cousin of Aristopolus. Mark visited St. Peter’s house often\, and from him he learned the Christian teachings. \nOnce Aristopolus and his son Mark were walking near the Jordan river\, close by the desert\, they encountered a raving lion and a lioness. It was evident to Aristopolus that it would be his end and the end of his Son\, Mark. His compassion for his son compelled him to order him to escape to save himself. Mark answered\, ‘Christ\, in whose hands our lives are committed\, will not let them prey on us.’ Saying this\, he prayed\, ‘O\, Christ\, Son of God protect us from the evil of these two beasts and terminate their offspring from this wilderness.’ Immediately\, God granted this prayer\, and the two beasts fell dead. His father marvelled and asked his son to tell him about the Lord Christ. He believed in the Lord Christ at the hands of his son who baptized him. \nAfter the ascension of the Lord Christ\, he accompanied Paul and Barnabas to preach the Gospel in Antioch\, Seleucia\, Cyprus\, Salamis\, and Perga Pamphylia where he left them and returned to Jerusalem. After the Apostolic Council in Jerusalem\, he went with Barnabas to Cyprus. \nAfter the departure of Barnabas\, with the order of the Lord Christ\, St. Mark went to Afrikia\, Berka\, and the Five Western cities. He preached the Gospel in these parts\, and believed on his hands most of its people. From there\, he went to Alexandria in the 1st. of Bashans 61 A.D. \nWhen he entered the city\, his shoe was torn because of the much walking in preaching and evangelism. He went to a cobbler in the city\, called Anianus\, to repair it. While he was repairing it the awl pierced his finger. Anianus shouted in Greek saying ‘EIS THEOS’ which means ‘O\, ONE GOD’. When St. Mark heard these words his heart rejoiced exceedingly. He found it suitable to talk to him about the One God. The Apostle took some clay\, spat on it and applied it to Anianus’ finger\, saying in the Name of Jesus Christ the Son of God\, and the wound healed immediately\, as if nothing happened to it.Moses\, who brought the children of Israel out of Egypt\, and gave them the Law\, the captivity of the children of Israel to Babylon\, and the prophecies that foretold the coming of Christ. \nAnianus invited him to go to his house and brought to him his children. The Saint preached and baptized them in the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. \nWhen the believers in the Name of Christ increased and the pagan people of the city heard that\, they were raged with anger and thought of slaying St. Mark. The faithful advised him to get away for a short while for the sake of the safety of the church and its care. St. Mark ordained St. Anianus a Bishop for Alexandria\, three priests and seven deacons. He went to the Five Western Cities\, remained there for two years preaching\, and ordained bishops\, priests\, and deacons. \nHe returned to Alexandria where he found the believers had increased in number\, and built a church for them in the place known as Bokalia (The place of cows)\, east of Alexandria on the sea shore. \nIt came to pass\, when he was celebrating the feast of the Resurrection on the 29th day of Baramudah\, year 68 A.D.\, the same day coincided with the great pagan Celebration for the feast of the god Syrabis\, a multitude of them assembled and attacked the church at Bokalia and forced their way in. They seized St. Mark\, bound him with a thick rope and dragged him in the roads and streets crying\, ‘Drag the dragon to the place of Cows.’ They continued dragging him with severe cruelty. His flesh was torn and scattered everywhere\, and the ground of the city was covered with his blood. They cast him that night into a dark prison. \nThe angel of the Lord appeared to him and told him: ‘O Mark\, the good servant\, rejoice for your name has been written in the book of life\, and you have been counted among the congregation of the saints.’ The angel disappeared\, then the Lord Christ appeared to him\, and gave him peace. His soul rejoiced and was glad. \nThe next morning (30th of Baramudah)\, the pagans took St. Mark from the prison. They tied his neck with a thick rope and did the same as the day before\, dragging him over the rocks and stones. Finally\, St. Mark delivered up his pure soul in the hand of God\, and received the crown of martyrdom\, the apostolic crown\, the crown of evangelism\, and the crown of virginity. \nNevertheless\, St. Mark’s death did not satisfy the rage of the pagans and their hatred. They gathered much firewood and prepared an inferno to burn him. A severe storm blew and heavy rains fell. The pagans became frightened\, and they fled away in fear. \nThe believers came and took the holy body\, carried it to the church they built at Bokalia\, wrapped it up\, prayed over him and place it in a coffin. They laid it in a secret place in this church. \nThe prayers of this great Saint and honorable Evangelist be with us and Glory be to our God forever. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/martyrdom-of-st-boctor-ebn-romanus-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220504T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220504T170000
DTSTAMP:20260616T024345
CREATED:20220503T101842Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220503T101842Z
UID:10919-1651651200-1651683600@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-MARTYRDOM OF ST.SOUSENYOS
DESCRIPTION:May 4\, 2022 – Baramouda 26\, 1738 \nOn this day\, St. Sousenyos was martyred. This Saint was the son of one of the friends of Emperor Diocletian. The angel of the Lord appeared to him and strengthened his heart on receiving the crown of martyrdom\, and he kept this in his heart. \nThe Emperor sent him to the city of Nicomedia to restore the worship of idols. This Saint sorrowed exceedingly. He sent and brought a priest who taught him the doctrine of the church\, the facts of the faith and baptized him. \nWhen his father knew that\, he accused him to the Emperor that he did not worship the idols. The Emperor ordered to torture him with severe tortures\, but the Lord strengthened and comforted him. Finally\, they cut off his head\, and he received the crown of martyrdom. \nThe number of those who had seen him during his torture and believed because of him\, were eleven hundred and seventy. They were martyred and received the crown of martyrdom. \nHis prayers be with us. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/martyrdom-of-st-sousenyos-2/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220504T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220504T170000
DTSTAMP:20260616T024345
CREATED:20220503T101456Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220503T101456Z
UID:10915-1651651200-1651683600@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-DEPARTURE OF POPE YOUANNIS VII\, 78TH PATRIARCH
DESCRIPTION:May 4\, 2022 – Baramouda 26\, 1738 \n\nOn this day also\, of the year 1009 A.M. (April 21st\, 1293 A.D.)\, Pope Youannis VII\, 78th Patriarch\, departed. After the lay leaders of Cairo had nominated Pope Gabriel III for the Papacy\, some of the lay leaders of Egypt agreed to choose Youannis Ebn Abi-Saaid El-Soukary. They threw an altar lot which fell on Gabriel\, but Youannis\, the above mentioned\, along with his supporters\, quarreled with Gabriel. Youannis nullified the result of the lot and was enthroned in the 6th day of Tubah 978 A.M. (January 15th.\, 1262 A.D.)\, after the departure of Pope Athanasius III\, his predecessor. \nHe remained on the Patriarchal Chair six years\, nine months\, and nineteen days\, then he was dismissed. Pope Gabriel took over his place from the 24th day of Babah 985 A.M. to the 6th day of Tubah 987 A.M.\, then he was dismissed. Youannis was reinstated by the order of El-Sultan on the 7th day of Tubah. \nDuring Pope Youannis’ days\, in the year 980 A.M.\, El-Sultan ordered to dig a huge pit and throw the Christians in it\, to be burned. He brought the Patriarch and mandated him to pay fifty thousand Dinars\, which took two years to collect. Consequently\, they released the Christians who suffered much tribulations in his time\, and the bishops suffered much afflictions. Pope Gabriel\, his predecessor\, departed during Pope Youannis second period of heading the church\, so he was listed in the list of the Patriarchs before Youannis. \nPope Youannis remained on the Chair in his second time of heading the church 22 years\, 3 months\, and 19 days\, and departed in peace in the 26th. of Baramoudah 1009 A.M. He was buried in the gardens of El-Nastour monastery. \nHis prayers be with us and Glory be to our God forever. Amen. \n 
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/departure-of-pope-youannis-vii-78th-patriarch-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220503T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220503T170000
DTSTAMP:20260616T024345
CREATED:20220503T102024Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220503T102024Z
UID:10922-1651564800-1651597200@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-MARTYRDOM OF ST.SARAH\, AND HER TWO SONS
DESCRIPTION:May 3\, 2022 – Baramouda 25\, 1738 \nOn this day\, St. Sarah and her two sons\, were martyred. She was from the city of Antioch\, the wife of a man whose name was Socrates\, one of the governors of Emperor Diocletian. This Governor had denied Christ to please Diocletian\, pretending before his wife that he did that because of his fear from the Emperor. \nSarah had two sons\, she could not baptize in Antioch\, because of her fear from the Emperor and her husband. She took them and sailed to Alexandria to baptize them there. God willed to reveal the greatness of her faith as a lesson to the generations to come. God brought forth a great tempest and the ship was about to be wrecked and drown. Sarah was afraid that her sons would be drowned without being baptized. She prayed a long prayer\, then she wounded her right breast\, took some of her blood\, anointed them making the sign of the cross upon the foreheads\, and over the hearts. Then she dipped them in the sea three times saying: ‘In the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.’ \nAfter that\, the winds died down\, a great calm came on the sea\, and the ship sailed toward Alexandria. When she arrived\, took her sons\, went to the church\, and handed them to Pope Peter\, the seal of the martyrs. He baptized them\, together with the children of the city. When the Pope carried one of her sons to baptize him\, the water froze. The Pope went on baptizing other children and came back to her sons\, but the water froze again. The same thing occurred on the third attempt. The Pope was amazed and asked their mother about her story. She told him about all what happened to her at sea and what she did for her sons. He glorified God and said: ‘It is indeed one baptism.’ \nWhen the woman returned to Antioch\, her husband denounced what she had done. He related what happened to the Emperor accusing his wife with adultery. The Emperor brought her and reproached her saying: ‘Why did you go to Alexandria to commit adultery with the Christians?’ The Saint answered him: ‘Christians do not commit adultery\, and do not worship idols\, and after this do what you wish\, for you will not hear another word from me.’ \nThe Emperor asked her: ‘Tell me what did you do in Alexandria?’ When she did not answer him\, he ordered to tie her hands behind her\, and to place her two sons on her belly\, and to bum all three of them. She turned her face to the east and prayed. They burnt her\, with her sons. She delivered up her pure soul along with her sons\, and they all received the crown of martyrdom. \nTheir prayers be with us. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/martyrdom-of-st-sarah-and-her-two-sons/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220503T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220503T170000
DTSTAMP:20260616T024345
CREATED:20220503T100933Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220503T101959Z
UID:10912-1651564800-1651597200@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-COMMEMORATION OF SAINTS BABNUDA (PAPHNUTE) THE HERMIT\, THEODORE THE WORSHIPPER\, AND THE 100 MARTYRS
DESCRIPTION:May 3\, 2022 – Baramouda 25\, 1738 \nThis day also marks the commemoration of Sts. Babnuda (Paphnute) the hermit\, Theodore the worshipper\, and the One hundred martyrs\, who were martyred in Persia. \nTheir prayers be with us and Glory be to our God forever. Amen
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/commemoration-of-saints-babnuda-paphnute-the-hermit-theodore-the-worshipper-and-the-100-martyrs/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220502T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220502T170000
DTSTAMP:20260616T024345
CREATED:20220503T100335Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220503T100827Z
UID:10908-1651478400-1651510800@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-DEPARTURE OF POPE SINUTHIUS (SHENOUDA I)\, 55TH POPE OF ALEXANDRIA
DESCRIPTION:May 2\, 2022 – Baramouda 24\, 1738 \nOn this day\, of the year 596 A.M. (April 19th.\, 880 A.D.)\, the great father Pope Sinuthius (Shenouda I)\, 55th Pope of the See of St. Mark\, departed. This holy father was a monk in the monastery of St. Macarius. He advanced in righteousness and worship\, and was ordained archpriest for the monastery. \nShortly after\, he was chosen for the Patriarchate with the recommendation of the people and bishops. He was enthroned on the 13th day of Tubah 575 A.D. (January 8th.\, 859 A.D.)\, and great tribulations and severe persecutions befell him. God performed through him many signs and healed many grievous sicknesses. \nOnce there was a drought in the city of Mariout for three years\, the wells dried up and the farm land became barren. This father came to the church of St. Mina\, celebrated the Divine Liturgy\, and supplicated God to have mercy upon His creation. At the setting of the sun of that day\, the rain began lightly then ceased. This father entered his room and stood up praying and he said: ‘O My Lord Christ\, have mercy on Thy people with the riches of Thy compassion\, and let them be filled with Thy good pleasure.’ Before he finished his prayer\, mighty thunders and lightnings started\, and the rain descended like a flood\, until the wells\, the vineyards\, and the farms were filled with water. The people rejoiced\, glorifying God the wonder worker. \nWhen this father was in the wilderness visiting the monasteries\, the Arabs of Upper Egypt came to the desert of Scetis to plunder the monasteries and kill the monks. The Pope took his staff that had the sign of the cross on it and he went forth to meet them\, when they saw the Cross they retreated and fled away. (The account of this wonder is mentioned in the 9th day of Baramoudah \nSome men\, in a village called Boukhnessa\, one of the villages of Mariout\, said that He Who suffered for us was only a man and that the Divinity had departed from Him. This Pope wrote a letter and sent it during the Holy Fast (Lent) to be read in all the churches. He said in it\, ‘God the Word suffered for us in His Body\, and His Divinity was not separated from His humanity\, not for a twinkling of an eye. The pain and suffering did not touch and affect the Divinity\, as when you hammer a red hot iron\, the iron suffers from the hammering but not the flame. For the passion of the Humanity to be of value\, the Hypostatic union with the Divinity was a must\, and through this passion Christ redeemed all the humanity.’ \nAlso\, some men from the city of El-Balyana\, and their bishops\, said that the Divine Nature died. When the father heard that\, he wrote to them saying: ‘The Nature of God\, the Word\, is unknowable\, intangible\, and impassable for it was impossible for the pain to affect its essence. The participation of the Divinity with the humanity in passion is moral participation\, to give a value to these sufferings\, to pay the debt of the humanity to God the Omnipresent\, and that would only be possible if the Divinity would participate morally without affecting His essence. So we say ‘Holy God\, Who was crucified for us\, have mercy upon us.” When his letter reached them\, they turned from their error\, and the bishops came and confessed the true and right faith before the Pope and asked for forgiveness. \nPope Shenouda I\, cared greatly for the churches\, their buildings\, and their needs. He also cared for the places wherein pilgrims sojourned\, and what money has left to him\, he gave to the poor and the needy. \nWhen he finished his good course\, he departed in peace. He stayed on the Chair of St. Mark for 21 years\, 3 months and 11 days.His prayers be with us. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/departure-of-pope-sinuthius-shenouda-i-55th-pope-of-alexandria/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220501T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220501T170000
DTSTAMP:20260616T024345
CREATED:20220503T100057Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220503T100057Z
UID:10905-1651392000-1651424400@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:-MARTYRDOM OF ST. GEORGE\, PRINCE OF MARTYRS
DESCRIPTION:May 1\, 2022 – Baramouda 23\, 1738 \n\nOn this day\, of the year 307 A.D.\, the great among the martyrs St. George\, was martyred. He was born in Cappadocia; his father’s name was Anastasius\, and his mother’s name was Theobaste. When he was twenty years old\, his father died\, and he went to Emperor Diocletian to take over his father’s position. He found that the Emperor had apostatized the faith and ordered the worship of idols. George was sorrowful\, and he gave all his wealth to the poor and needy and set free his slaves. \nWhen he saw the edict of the Emperor against the Christians\, he became raged and tore it. They took him before the Emperor\, and he cried in their middest saying: ‘For how long you shall pour your anger against the innocent Christians\, and force those who know the true faith to adopt the faith that you are in doubt of because it is fraudulent? So\, either you believe on this true faith\, or at least do not disturb with foolishness those who are steadfast in it.’ The Emperor asked Mephnanius\, one of his ministers\, to pacify and persuade him. He asked him: ‘Who taught you to be daring like this.’ The Saint answered: ‘It is the truth\,’ then started to explain it to him. The Emperor interrupted\, reminding the Saint with the ranks that he bestowed on him\, and promised him with more if he denied his Christ. The Saint refused with pride all these vain propositions. The Emperor tortured him severely\, but the Lord strengthened him and healed all his wounds. \nWhen the Emperor was weary of torturing him\, he brought a magician\, whose name was Athanasius\, who gave the Saint a cup full of poison to drink. St. George made the sign of the cross over the cup then drank it. When no harm came upon him\, the magician believed in the Lord Christ\, and received the crown of martyrdom. The Emperor became raged and ordered to squeeze him until he delivered up his soul\, and they cast his body out side the city. \nThe Lord Christ raised him up\, and the Saint returned to the city. When the people saw him\, three thousand and seven hundred souls believed. The Emperor ordered to cut off their heads and they received the crown of martyrdom. \nWhen St. George stood before Emperor Diocletian\, along with seventy kings that were sitting around him\, they asked the Saint: ‘We wish you to make these chairs that we are sitting on to put forth leaves\, and bear fruit.’ The Saint prayed to the Lord Christ\, the Lord accepted his supplication and the chairs put forth leaves and bore fruit. \nThey took him once to a cemetery and asked him to raise the dead therein. He prayed to the Lord Christ. The Lord raised them and after they talked to them\, they returned to their graves and died. \nA poor woman\, brought her son\, who was blind\, deaf and dumb\, he prayed to the Lord Christ then made the sign of the cross over him\, and he was healed right away. \nDiocletain\, during all that\, went on torturing St. George\, until he was weary and bored of that. He started to be pleasant to the Saint and promised to give him his daughter in marriage if he would offer the incense to his gods. The Saint pretended that he accepted his offer\, and the Emperor rejoiced and brought him into the royal palace. While St. George was praying the Psalms\, the Empress heard him and asked him to explain to her what he had said. He began to interpret to her all the events from the creation of the world to the Incarnation of the Lord Christ\, and his words entered her heart and she believed in the Lord Christ\, to Whom is the Glory. \nThe Emperor ordered to call upon all the men of the city to gather\, in order to see Saint George offering the incense to the Emperor’s gods. When multitude gathered by the idols\, Gawargios (George) stood and cried at the idols in the Name of the Lord Christ the Savior of the world. The earth opened its mouth and swallowed all the idols. The Emperor and all those who were with him were ashamed and he returned to his palace full of fury and wrath. The Empress told him: ‘Didn’t I tell you not to oppose the Galileans\, for their God is strong and mighty?’ The Emperor was exceedingly wrath with her\, for he knew that St. George had brought her also to his faith. The Emperor with rage ordered to comb her body with a steel comb\, then cut off her head\, and she received the crown of martyrdom. Finally\, Diocletian decided to put an end to the humiliation that befell him\, so he ordered to cut off the head of St. George\, and he received the crown of martyrdom. A Christian took the body\, wrapped it in expensive shrouds\, and took it to the city of Lydda\, his home town\, and they built a great church on his name there. His intercession be with us and Glory be to our God forever. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/martyrdom-of-st-george-prince-of-martyrs-2/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20211116T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20211116T170000
DTSTAMP:20260616T024345
CREATED:20210528T093621Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210528T093621Z
UID:5571-1637049600-1637082000@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:- Martyrdom of St. Baslantya
DESCRIPTION:September 16\, 2020 – Tout 6\, 1737 \nOn this day also the holy Saint Baslantya was martyred in the days of Diocletian the infidel. When this pious Christian lady was only nine years old\, she was arrested\, her hands and feet were bound and she was cast into the fire\, but she did not get burned because of the mighty power of God. At her prayers\, God caused water to come down and she drank\, and then she committed her soul to God. May her prayers and blessings be with us all\, and Glory be to God forever. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/martyrdom-of-st-baslantya/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20210930T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20210930T170000
DTSTAMP:20260616T024345
CREATED:20210528T100157Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210528T100157Z
UID:5623-1632988800-1633021200@stsmaryandmenari.org
SUMMARY:- Departure of St. Theopesti
DESCRIPTION:September 30\, 2020 – Tout 20\, 1737 \nAlso today we commemorate the departure of St. Theopesti. She was married and had a son. Her husband died while she was still young. She took it upon herself to become a nun. She started to practice the spiritual life. She persisted in fasting and continual prayers and worshipping day and night. She went to the saintly father Abba Macarius\, bishop of Nekios\, she bowed to him and took his blessings\, then she asked him to pray on her and put on her garb of monasticism. The bishop advised her to try herself for a year and he promised her that would put on her the garb of monasticism after that year. \nShe went to her house and enclosed herself in a small room and closed its door\, and then made a small opening in it. Her son\, who was then twelve years old\, was taking care of her needs. She embarked in strenuous worships with asceticism and devotion. The year elapsed\, and the bishop had forgotten that he had promised this saint that he would put on her the garb of monasticism. He saw her in his sleep in a shining figure\, telling him\, My father\, how did you forget me till now\, and I am passing away tonight? and he saw as if he were awake. He prayed on her the prayer for ordaining monks\, and he did not find a Kalansowa (cover for the head)\, he took off his own and put it on her head. Then he put on her the holy Eskeem. He asked his disciple for another Kalansowa and put it on. She had a silver cross in her hand which she gave to him saying: �Accept this from your disciple.� And it was said that when he awakened\, he found the cross in his hand and he looked attentively at the cross which was beautifully made. He was amazed and glorified God. \nEarly in the morning he went with his disciple to the house of this blessed woman. Her son received him crying with tears. When he asked him why he was crying\, he replied saying\, My mother called me in the middle of the night and bid me farewell and told me whatever the bishop tells you\, do and do not break it. I will depart this night to go to the Lord Christ. She prayed over me and advised me saying: �Keep all that I commanded you and do not go against the opinion of our father\, the bishop\, and here now I am in your hands.� The bishop came to where the saint was lying and knocked on the door\, but she did not answer. He said this blessed saint had departed indeed\, and he ordered his disciple to open the door. When the bishop entered\, he found she had given up her soul. She had on her the Eskeem that he had put on her in his vision and also the Kalansowa that he had on. His eyes were filled with tears. He praised and glorified God who works out the satisfaction of His saints. The bishop shrouded her as was the habit of the monks and called the priests who carried her to the holy church and prayed over her with great honor. There was in the city a paralytic infidel man\, suffering from evil spirits. When he heard the chanting of priests\, he asked his people to carry him and take him where the body of the saint was. When they brought him to the church\, he drew near to the holy body with faith and he was cured instantly. The devil came out of him\, and he became well straightaway. He and his people believed in the Lord Christ and the bishop baptized them. And everyone who had a disease or a deformity would come to the church and touch the holy body and would be healed immediately. And when the governor heard about these wonders\, he and most of the city believed in the Lord Christ. He came to the church and carried the body and buried it with honor. May his prayers and blessings be with us all\, and Glory be to God forever. Amen.
URL:https://stsmaryandmenari.org/event/departure-of-st-theopesti/
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