From kidusmarkos.org, ethiopiantewahedo.org, ninesaintsethiopianorthodoxmonastery.org, ethiopianorthodoxhurch.info:
Daily Readings and Prayers:
Week Three, Day Five
Saints/Martyrs/Feasts/Fasts to be observed/commemmorated/celebrated: Great Lent, Our Lady of Qusquam, On this day died Saint Mary, the Egyptian, the dweller in the desert, And on this day our Lord Jesus Christ appeared to Thomas, the apostle, on the eighth day after His resurrection, And the fathers have commanded us to celebrate the commemoration of the deaths of our father Adam and our mother Eve on this day, And on this day were born Noah and David, the king, the father of Solomon.
Scriptural Readings and Daily Prayers:
The Weddasse Mariam (The Hymn of Praise of the Virgin Mariam):
The Fifth Day of the Week:
1. The Bush which Moses saw in flaming fire in the desert,
the wood of which was not consumed, is a similitude of Mariam, the Virgin who was spotless. The word of the Father became incarnate of her, and the fire of His God- head did not consume the Virgin, and after she had brought Him forth, her virginity was maintained, and His God-head was unchanged. Our God, Who verily id God, became a man; He came and delivered us.
O HOLY VIRGIN MARIAM PRAY FOR US.
2. We all magnify Thee, O our Lady, the God-bearer, that Thy compassion may be over us all. The Virgin Mariam, the God-bearer, hath became the object of the boast of us all, because through her was destroyed the curse of olden time, which rested upon our race, through her wickedness which the woman committed (when) she ate (of the tree),
Through Eve was the door of the garden shut fast, and because of Mariam the Virgin it has been opened to us again. It is allotted to us to eat of the tree of life, that is to say, the body of Kristos and his precious blood. Because of His love for us He came and delivered us. What understanding and what language, and what hearing is able to comprehend this mystery, which must be proclaimed to be wonderful, "God is the Lover of men"? One is He alone, The word of the Father, who existed before the world in His
incorruptible Godhead, from One, the Father. The Only begotton Son came and was incarnate of the Holy woman, His mother, and after she brought Him forth, her virginity perished not, and because of this, it became manifest that she was the Bearer of God.
O HOLY VIRGIN MARIAM PRAY FOR US.
3. O deep is the richness of the wisdom of God ! The womb which He decreed should bring forth children in pain, and suffering and sorrow of heart, has become the fountain of life, and has brought forth without seed of man Him Who removed the curse from our race. Ans for this reason we will praise Him saying "Glory be to Thee, O Thou Good Friend of man, the Redeemer of our souls." We will magnify Thee. O HOLY VIRGIN MARIAM PRAY FOR US.
O how wonderful and might in power was the womb of the Virgin, which brought forth God without seed ! And for this the Angel who appeared unto Joseph was a witness when he spoke, saying "That which shall be born of her is of Holy Spirit" (Matt. 1:20). It was the Word of God Who became incarnate without change.
Mariam brought Him forth a second time, and Gabriel rejoiced and said unto her, "thou shall bring forth a Son and shall call His name Emmanuel, which is being interpreted, God with us. And moreover, He shall be called Eeyesus, Who shall save His people from their sins." Matt 1: 20-24
And may He save us also by His power, and forgive our sins because we have known in truth that He is the God Who became man. Praise be unto Him for ever and ever.
O HOLY VIRGIN MARIAM PRAY FOR US.
O how wonderful is the birth of God by Mariam, the Holy Virgin ! She completed the Word of the Father; seed did not precede His birth, and her virginity was not destroyed by His birth. The Word went forth from the Father without weariness and was born of the Virgin without the suffering (or pain). The wise men woshiped Him, and brought unto Him incense became He was Holy, and gold because He was the King, and myrrh, which was given for His death which gave life (unto men). And for our sakes He accepted (death) of His own free will. He alone is the Good Being and Lover of men. We will magnify Thee.
O HOLY VIRGIN MARIAM PRAY FOR US.
4. O how wonderful ! He took a rib from the side of Adam, and fashioned from it a woman, and the whole creation of the children of men was given to God, the Word of the Father, Who was incarnate of the Holy Virgin, and is called Emmanuel. And because of this we beseech her at all times to strive on our behalf with her beloved Son for thr forgiveness of our sins. She was beneficent towards all the saints and the high priests, for she brought to the Prophets Him concerning Whom they had prophesied, and she brought forth to the Apostles Him in Whose Name they were to preach in all the ends of the world, and from her went forth for the martyrs and believers, Him for Whom they were to fight, Eeyesus Kristos.
The richness of the grace of His wisdom cannot be fathomed. We will seek after the greatness of His compassion, for He came and delivered us. We will magnify Thee. O HOLY VIRGIN MARIAM PRAY FOR US.
5. God swore unto David in rightousness, and He will not repent, "Of the fruit of the belly, I will seat upon Thy throne". (II Samuel 7:12; Psalm 132:11). And when that rightous man received it from Him, that Kristos should be born in the flesh, he wished to seek out and to prepare a dwelling place for God, the Word of the Father.And He completed it with great effort and then He cried out in the Holy Spirit and said, "Behold, we have heard it in Efrata and the dwelling-place of the God of Jacob, which in Bethlehem, in which Emmanuel has chosen to be born in the flesh for our salvation" (compare Psalm
O HOLY VIRGIN MARIAM PRAY FOR US.
6. And also another of the Prophets had said it; "And as for thee,O Bethlehem of the land of Efrata, thou shalt not be the least of the Kings of Judah, for from thee shall go forth a King Who shall rule my people Israel" (Micah 5: 2).
O how wonderful is the word of those who prophesied concerning Christ in one Spirit, to Whom be glory, together with the Good Father and the Holy Spirit, from now and forever, We will magnify thee. O HOLY VIRGIN MARIAM
When evil men revolted against David who reigned over Israel, he wished to drink, his men break through and waged war in the camp of the rebels, and brought unto him that water which he wished to drink. And when the righteous man saw that they had willingly delivered
themselves over to the slaughter for his sake, he poured out the water (2 Samuels 23: 13-17; 1Chron. 11: 18-19). And when the righteousness was accounted unto him
forever. And verily in like manner, have the martyrs rejected the desire of this world, and poured out their blood for God, and have endured bitter deaths for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Have compassion upon us according to the greatness of Thy compassion. We will magnify thee. O HOLY VIRGIN MARIAM PRAY FOR US.
4. One of the Holy Trinity saw our law estate, bowed the heaven of heavens, came and dwelth in the womb of the Virgin, and became a man like unto us, with the exception of sin alone. And He was born in Bethlehem, according to what the Prophet preached, He delivered us, and redeemed us, and made us His own people for ever and ever. O HOLY VIRGIN MARIAM PRAY FOR US.
Scriptural Readings:
Week Three, Day Five
The Nineteenth Day
Morning prayer
In the name of the Father…
Opening prayer
Lord, our Almighty Father, through your HOLY will we have been born anew, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, and through the living and abiding word of you. Help us in your mercy to purify our souls by our obedience to the truth for a sincere love of our brethren, and to love one another earnestly from the heart. Amen. Our Father….O my Lady Mary…
Psalm 95: 1-11
95:1 O come, let us sing to the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. 95:2 Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise to him with psalms. 95:3 For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. 95:4 In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also. 95:5 The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land. 95:6 O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker. 95:7 For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice, 95:8 Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness: 95:9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work. 95:10 Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways: 95:11 To whom I swear in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, As it was in the beginning….
Psalm 96: 1- end
96:1 O sing to the Lord a new song: sing to the Lord, all the earth. 96:2 Sing to the Lord, bless his name; declare his salvation from day to day. 96:3 Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people. 96:4 For the Lord is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods. 96:5 For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the Lord made the heavens. 96:6 Honour and majesty are before him: strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. 96:7 Give to the Lord, O ye kindreds of the people, give to the Lord glory and strength. 96:8 Give to the Lord the glory due to his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts. 96:9 O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth. 96:10 Say among the heathen that the Lord reigns: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously. 96:11 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fullness thereof. 96:12 Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice 96:13 Before the Lord: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, As it was in the beginning….
Psalm 97: 1-12
97:1 The Lord reigns; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof. 97:2 Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne. 97:3 A fire goes before him, and burns up his enemies round about. 97:4 His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled. 97:5 The hills melted like wax at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth. 97:6 The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory. 97:7 Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship him, all ye gods. 97:8 Zion heard, and was glad; and the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of your judgments, O Lord. 97:9 For thou, Lord, art high above all the earth: you are exalted far above all gods. 97:10 Ye that love the Lord, hate evil: he preserves the souls of his saints; he delivers them out of the hand of the wicked. 97:11 Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart. 97:12 Rejoice in the Lord, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, As it was in the beginning….
Scripture Readings
1st Reading
Daniel 6: 26-27
6:26 I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and steadfast forever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even to the end. He delivers and rescues, and he works signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions. He who receives the prophet the by the name of the prophet, shall receive the prophet’s …
2nd Reading
Titus 3: 8
3:8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men. He who receives the Apostle by the name of the Apostle shall receive the Apostle’s reward. Amen
3rd Reading (Chant)
Psalm 96: 1-2
96:1 O sing to the Lord a new song: sing to the Lord, all the earth. 96:2 Sing to the Lord, bless his name; declarehis salvation from day to day. Halleluiah, stand up and harken to the Holy Gospel, the message of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
4th Reading
The Gospel of St. Luke 18: 9-14
18:9 And he spoke this parable to certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes to heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbles himself shall be exalted. It is easier for heaven and to pass, than one …..
Concluding prayer
O Almighty and eternal God in whom, there is no darkness, no obscurity. We pray that you may fill us and our hearts with the splendour of your light, so that we who have received your holy commandments may walk in safety in your ways and give thanks and praise, now and forever. Amen. Our Father….O my Lady Mary…
Holy Saint Mark
(The Patron Saint of our Church)
Day 19
Evening prayer
In the name of the Father and of the Son …
Opening prayer
O lord our heavenly father almighty and everlasting god, we give you thanks and praise for keeping us safe throughout this day and ask you to defend us from all perils throughout this coming night and keep us safe from the dangers of this night. We make this our evening prayer through our lord Jesus Christ who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen. Our Father… O my Lady Mary…
Psalm 98: 1-end
98:1 O sing to the Lord a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory. 98:2 The Lord hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly showed in the sight of the heathen. 98:3 He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. 98:4 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise. 98:5 Sing to the Lord with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm. 98:6 With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the Lord, the King. 98:7 Let the sea roar, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. 98:8 Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together 98:9 Before the Lord; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, As it was in the beginning….
Psalm 99: 1-end
99:1 The Lord reigns; let the people tremble: he sits between the cherubims; let the earth be moved. 99:2 The Lord is great in Zion; and he is high above all the people. 99:3 Let them praise your great and terrible name; for it is holy. 99:4 The king's strength also loves judgment; thou dost establish equity, thou executest judgment and righteousness in Jacob. 99:5 Exalt ye the Lord our God, and worship at his footstool; for he is holy. 99:6 Moses and Aaron among his priests, and Samuel among them that call upon his name; they called upon the Lord, and he answered them. 99:7 He spoke to them in the cloudy pillar: they kept his testimonies, and the ordinance that he gave them. 99:8 Thou answeredst them, O Lord our God: thou wast a God that forgavest them, though thou tookest vengeance of their inventions. 99:9 Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at his holy hill; for the Lord our God is holy. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, As it was in the beginning….
Psalm 100: 1-5/end
100:1 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all ye lands. 100:2 Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing. 100:3 Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 100:4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful to him, and bless his name. 100:5 For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endures to all generations. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, As it was in the beginning….
Psalm 101: 1-end
101:1 I will sing of mercy and judgment: to thee, O Lord, will I sing. 101:2 I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come to me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. 101:3 I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me. 101:4 A froward heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked person. 101:5 Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer. 101:6 Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walks in a perfect way, he shall serve me. 101:7 He that works deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that tells lies shall not tarry in my sight. 101:8 I will early destroy all the wicked of the land; that I may cut off all wicked doers from the city of the Lord. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, As it was in the beginning….
Scripture Readings
Jacobs Ladder
1st Reading
Isaiah 5: 20-23
Woe to them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe to them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! Woe to them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink: Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him! He who receives the prophet the by the name of the prophet, shall receive the prophet’s …
2nd Reading
Romans 6: 15-23
6:15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin to death, or of obedience to righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity to iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness to holiness. For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit to holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. He who receives the Apostle by the name of the Apostle shall receive the Apostle’s reward. Amen
3rd Reading (Chant)
Psalm. 102:1-2
102:1 Hear my prayer, O Lord, and let my cry come to thee. 102:2 Hide not your face from me in the day when I am in trouble; incline your ear to me: in the day when I call answer me speedily. Halleluiah, stand up and harken to the Holy Gospel, the message of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
4th Reading
The Gospel, St. Luke 18: 20-22
18:20 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour your father and your mother. And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up. Now when Jesus heard these things, he said to him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that you have, and distribute to the poor, and thou shall have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. It is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one ….
Concluding prayer
O Lord, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comfort us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God our heavenly Father. AND May your will be done. Amen. Our Father….O my Lady Mary…
The Synaxarium:
THE THE EIGHTH MONTH
Miyazia 06
(April 14)
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT,
ONE GOD. AMEN.
On this day died Saint Mary, the Egyptian, the dweller in the desert. This holy woman was a native of Egypt, and she came from the city of Alexandria, and her parents were Christians. When her days were twelve years, the Hater of good and the Adversary of men seduced her, and led her astray and made her his net wherein he caught innumerable souls, that is to say Satan made her to love fornication. And she gave her body up to fornication, without payment, because of her love for the deadly sin, and she continued in this filthy work for a period of seven and twenty years; and her love for this filthy work increased [with her years]. And by the Will of God, the Lover of mankind, He showed her the men who wished to go and be blessed at the tomb of our Lord Jesus Christ in the city of Jerusalem, and the thought stirred in her mind that she would go with them; and she embarked in a ship, with many people. When they were about to set sail, the sailors said unto her, “Give us the passage money for the ship,” and as she had not the money with her to give them, she gave them her body so that they might take fornication with her in place of the ship’s passage money. When she arrived in Jerusalem, she did the same thing, and played the whore continually. When she wished to go in with the rest of the people through the door of the church of the tomb of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Divine Power prevented her from entering. And it came to pass that when she wished [to fornicate] with the people who were coming [there] the Power of God prevented her from doing so. And when she drew nigh, and the Power prevented her from entering the church because of her filthy deeds, she lifted up her eyes to heaven, to God the Merciful, being sad and sorrowful in her heart, and she saw above her a picture of our Lady, the holy Virgin Mary, the God-bearer. And she wept before it, and made entreaty unto it, saying, “O intercessor for all Christian people, O God-bearer, make a pact with me. If I can go in and celebrate the festival with all the [other] people, I will do everything which thou commandest me.” And saying these words she went quickly into the church of the tomb of our Lord Jesus Christ. And when she had finished the keeping of the feast, she returned quickly to the picture of our Lady the holy Virgin Mary, the God-bearer; and she made long prayers before it, and wept bitterly, and made entreaties before it that the Virgin would send her where ever she pleased, so that she might save her soul. And a voice came out from the picture of our Lady, the holy Virgin Mary, the God-bearer, saying, “If thou wilt go into the desert of the Jordan thou wilt find rest and salvation.” And she accepted the words, and prayed and saluted the picture of our Lady, the holy Virgin Mary, the God-bearer, and then she went forth. When she had gone forth from the church she met a certain man, and he gave her three small coins wherewith she bought bread. Then she crossed the valley (or, river) of the Jordan, and dwelt in the desert of the Jordan for seven and forty years; and she strove strenuously, and Satan fought against her by means of her love for the impure thing, which she had worked formerly. And she lived upon the bread, which she had bought for many days, and every two days she used to fast for two days, and every three days for three days, and little by little she ate up her bread. When the bread was finished she lived upon the herbs in the desert. When the seven and forty years wherein she had wandered up and down the desert had come to an end, the holy priest Zozimas went out into the desert of the Jordan, in order to complete therein the holy Forty Days’ Fast, according to the custom observed in his monastery--now it was the custom with the monks of his monastery to go out each year for the Great Fast (i.e. Lent) into the desert, and to devote themselves to severe ascetic labors, and to fight in the spirit until the end of the Fast. When Saint Zozimas had gone out into the desert of the Jordan, he entreated God to show him, that which would give him consolation. As he was going along in the desert he saw the holy woman Mary in the distance, and he believed her to be Satan himself. And having prayed, it was shown to him that she was a human being, and he went towards her, and she fled from him; and he followed her and ran after her to come up to her, but she still fled from him. Then she called out to him by his name, saying, “O Zozimas, why dost thou want to talk to me; throw me a rag that I may cover myself therewith, for I am naked.” And he marveled exceedingly when she called him by his name, and he threw to her the wherewithal to cover herself; and straightway she came to him and bowed before him, and he bowed before her, and they embraced each other, and she asked him to pray for her, for he was a priest. Then he asked her to tell him the story of her fight, and then she told him everything, which had happened to her from the beginning to the end. Then she asked him to come and visit her each year, and to bring with him the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, and he said unto her, “I will.” When a full year had passed he took some of the holy Body, and the honorable Blood in a cup, and he carried with him figs, and dates, and also lentils for soaking in water. And he came to the bank of the River Jordan, and saw the holy woman coming in the distance, and she was walking towards the River Jordan; and when she came up to him they embraced each other and prayed. Then he administered to her the Holy Mysteries, and he brought forth the dates, and the figs, and the lentils, and asked her to accept them from him; but she asked him to come back to her in the desert in the following year. When the second year was ended, and he went to the valley of the Jordan, he found that the holy woman was dead, and lying near her head was a paper whereon was written, “Bury Mary, the poor woman, in the dust of which she was created”; and he marveled at the writing. And he saw near her feet a lion, which was guarding her, and whilst he was wondering in his mind with what he should dig her grave, the lion came and dug a grave for her; then the holy man prayed over her and buried her. And he returned to his monastery and related to the monks the story of the strife of this holy woman Mary the Egyptian from the beginning to the end thereof, even as she had told it to him; and they all marveled exceedingly, and they praised the glorious and Most High God. And all the days of her life were seven and seventy years. Salutation to Mary, whose dead body was guarded by a lion in the desert.
And on this day our Lord Jesus Christ appeared to Thomas, the apostle, on the eighth day after His resurrection. And Thomas saw the marks of the nails which were in His hands and feet, and he took his hands and laid them in His Divine side, where the spear had pierced it, and he said, “My Lord and my God.” And our Lord said unto him, “Thou hast believed on Me, because thou hast seen Me; blessed is he who shall believe on Me without seeing Me.” In a commentary on the Gospel it saith that when Thomas the apostle laid his hand in our Lord’s side, his hand was burnt with divine fire; and that when he believed in His Godhead his hand was healed of the burn. Glory be to God, and let us beseech Him to have mercy upon us through the prayers of all His holy apostles and righteous ones, forever and ever. Amen. Salutation to the chamber wherein Christ showed His pierced side, and the hand of Thomas was burnt.
And the fathers have commanded us to celebrate the commemoration of the deaths of our father Adam and our mother Eve on this day. Before God created this our father Adam He created the heavens and the earth and all that therein is, and the angels and the archangels. And having planted for him the Garden of Edom containing every kind of fruit pleasant to the taste, and having furnished it with every desirable thing, He created Adam. He took dust from the centre of the earth, that is to say Golgotha, at the third hour of the day of the Eve of the Sabbath (Friday), and He created him out of four things, that is to say, water, fire, air, and dust. And He made him in His own image and likeness, and He breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and He dressed him in the dress of life, and light, and He made him king, and priest, and prophet, and administrator of everything he wished. Then He brought to him all the beasts, and cattle, and birds of the heavens so that Adam might see them, [and give unto] each of them its name, even as he pronounced them, through the Holy Spirit, which was on him. And God having wished to make for him a companion to help him, brought upon him slumber, and he slept, and then He took a bone from his side and filled [the place thereof] with flesh, and set her before him. When Adam woke from his sleep he prophesied, and said, “Bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh, assuredly thou be to me my wife”; and he called her name “Hewan” (Eve). And as Adam was standing [there] on the place of Golgotha, he heard the voice of his God, and behold a cloud of light took him up with Eve his wife and carried them into the Garden of Edom, and the voices of every rank of the angels, the Cherubim and the Seraphim, went before him praising and thanking God because He had done honor to Adam. And God said unto Adam and Eve, “Of every tree which is in the Garden eat, but of the tree which is in the middle of the Garden eat not, for on the day wherein ye shall eat of it ye shall surely die.” And Adam continued to till the Garden, and to eat of the fruit thereof, and he praised [God] with the angels. And when Satan, the Enemy of all good, had fallen from his exalted state and honor, because of his arrogance concerning Adam, and the honor and glory [which God had given him], he went to the place where Eve was, in the form of a serpent, and he persuaded her to eat of that tree which God had set apart, and promised to her the nature of God [if she did so]. And having looked at the tree, and seen that the fruit thereof was good, she ate thereof, and made Adam to eat thereof. And their raiment of light was stripped from them, and they knew that they were naked, and they covered their shame with the leaves of the fig tree. And when God knew their fault, He cursed the serpent, and He made enmity to exist between it and the seed of Eve. And her also He cursed, saying, “In pain conceive and bring forth thy children; and thy turning shall be to thy husband, and he shall serve thee.” And to Adam He said, “Cursed shall the ground be for thy sake. With the sweat of thy face eat thy bread; dust thou art and to dust thou shalt return.” And he made for them tunics of hide, and they put them on, and they went forth from the Garden of Edom, at the turn of the evening, after seven years of joy and delight. In the morning, at sunrise, he used to smell the smell of incense, and perfume, and water of frankincense, and aromatic herbs. And Adam dwelt in the land of Elda and tilled the ground according to what he had learned in the Garden of Edom, and he knew his wife Eve and she bore him Kayl (Cain) and after him Abel. When Kayl (Cain) slew Abel in his jealousy. And Adam continued to lament the death of his son for seven (?) years, and then Seth was born unto him in exchange for Abel his son, in whom stood his memorial, and after him came many children (?). When Adam went forth from the Garden, God saw his tears and his repentance, and He gave him the promise of a hope of salvation, and He said unto him, “In five thousand and five years I will come into the world, and I will be born of what is in thee, and I will deliver thee in a wide place, and I will redeem thee by My Cross.” And Adam took from the Garden gold, and myrrh, and incense, and gave them to his son Seth, and he wrote for him, saying, “In the last days the Son of God shall come, and He shall be born of a virgin, and then the Magi shall bring (as) gifts unto Him this gold, and myrrh, and incense.” And this writing after begin handed down from generation to generation came to our Lady, the holy Virgin Mary, and she gave it to our father Peter, and Peter gave it to Clement. When our father Adam knew his death was near he called his son Seth, and Seth drew nigh unto him in the Cave of Treasures. And Adam said unto him, “Make thy children and thy children’s children to come unto me before I die.” When Seth heard the words of his father Adam, he went forth from his presence, with the tears flowing down his cheeks, and he gathered together his children, and his children’s children, and brought them to him. When Adam saw them he wept because of his [approaching] separation from them, and when they saw him weeping they all wept together before God, and they fell down upon their faces, saying, “How can the earth cover thee, and hide thee from our eyes?” Then our father Adam blessed all his children, and he said unto Seth, “O my son, this world is full of weariness; preserve righteousness and purity; let us trust in God. And incline not to the voice of Satan, and his wiles, which he will make apparent to thee. When I die take my body, and prepare it for burial with myrrh and cassia and stacte, and bury me in the cave of a store-chamber. And there shall come a water-flood, and it shall drown every created thing, and only eight souls shall be left. Be thou a protector of thy people. Watch over them and protect them in the fear of God, and teach them the way of salvation, and take care of them so that they may not be in subjection to Satan, and that he may not destroy them. Separate thy children and thy children’s children from the children of Kayl (Cain), and do not let them mix in any way, and they shall draw nigh neither to their works nor their fables.” Then Adam turned to Seth his son, and to Eve his wife, and he confided to their care the gold, and the myrrh, and the cassia, so that they might bury them with him. And he said unto them, “In the days wherein the Water-flood shall come, they shall take my body into the ark, with the gold, and the myrrh, and the cassia, and shall lay them in the middle of the earth. After many days [enemies] shall capture this country, and they shall [not] take the gold, and the myrrh, and the cassia, together with the [other] spoil, but they shall be preserved here until the time when the Word of God shall become flesh, when kings shall take them and bring them unto Him--gold because of His kingship, and incense because He is God of heaven and earth, and the myrrh is the symbol of His Passion.” And when Adam was nine hundred the thirty years old (Genesis v, 5), in the 135th year of the life of Mahalaleel, he died, at the ninth hour of the day, on Friday, the day on which he was created, now the hour in which he died was that in which his going forth from Paradise had taken place; at that moment hosts of angels gathered together to his children. And they prepared his body for burial carefully, and they anointed him with scented unguents of every kind, which are [found] in the trees of the Holy Mountain. And they laid his body facing the east of the Cave, and they set a lighted lamp before him, and they laid by his side the gold, and the myrrh, and the cassia; and they sealed the doors of the Cave with the seals of Adam and Eve and Seth. And Seth and his children continued to minister unto the body of our father Adam, until the Water-flood came. Then Noah took Adam’s body into the ark, and by the command of God he carried it with him until he brought it to Mount Ararat. Then Shem and Melchisedek, an angel of the Lord guiding them, took it from this place and buried it in the “place of a skull”; and Melchisedek continued to minister unto it with incense and offerings. And when the Son of God came, and was born of Adam’s daughter, He redeemed Adam by His death, and restored him to his former inheritance, for he was the father of the prophets and apostles, and the father of the saints and martyrs, and through him the Son of God came into the world. Salutation to Adam, the first man created, and salutation to Eve, a bone of him.
And on this day were born Noah and David, the king, the father of Solomon.
Glory be to God Who is glorified in His Saints. Amen.
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The Sixth Sunday in the Holy Lenten Fast
"Abye Tsome"
Miyazia 02 - April 10
A Short Reflection On This Sunday's Scripture Readings
Over the past few weeks, alone, U. S. national news should be enough to convince us that we live in a society that has gone mad. We send soldiers to the other side of the world to fight terror, while terror reigns from shore to shore at home. Meanwhile, as we near the end of the Great Fast, today's appointed Scripture readings ought to remind us of the progressive commitment required of all who say, "Thy Kingdom come."
St. Paul taught believers at Rome, some had been Jews before accepting Christianity, and some had been studying to join them in observing the Law of Moses, when they heard about Christ, while others had been pagans before accepting the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Today's excerpt, from this sixteen chapter letter, explains the tentative nature of that Law given through Moses, and that Christ came to fill up everything that such laws had never accomplished. For God created humans to discover "new life in the spirit," rather than an old law codes. Those laws were simply a divinely appointed means to and end, and that end is Christ.
St. John's epistle teaches, "We love* because he first loved us." Honestly practicing this lesson enables us to dispel every fear based legalistic approach to doing God's will on earth, as it is done in heaven.
St. Luke tells reminds us that suffering humiliation is better than to daring to oppose God's will. St. David reminds us that to be rid of unrighteousness, our hearts must be tried by fire, so that we might learn not to dwell on human behavior.
Nicodemus' story provides an excellent case of the point, that followers of Christ are only gradually transformed. Six weeks ago, we read from St. John's Gospel, about the conclusion of Nicodemus evening lesson with our Saviour. Today we read Jesus' personal challenge of this elder: it indicates that one must first learn earthly lessons from His teaching, before ever accepting the heavenly reality of His coming kingdom. This week, hymns from St Yared's Tsome Degwa remind us that two weeks from now, we will be commemorating how St. Nicodemus took Jesus' challenge to heart, becoming a quick study; he courageously collaborated with St. Joseph of Arimathea to bury our Lord's body after taking it down from the Cross.
The Commemoration of Saint Christopher
SUNDAY
Miyazia 02 - April 10
The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church venerates the memory of Saint Christopher the Martyr on this Second day of Miyazia (Ethiopian calendar) the Tenth of April (Western calendar).
The Martyrology tells us that St. Christopher was a Canaanite; that not only was he a tall man, (he was five cubits in height, about Seven and a half feet tall), but that he also had a fearsome face. In many traditions and early icons he is depicted as having the face of a dog - he obviously must have had some very pronounced facial features.
We know that the Saint had received the Good News of the Gospel from his youth. Tradition says that St. Christopher grandfather had originally heard the Good News of the Gospel from the Apostle St. Matthew. Since then, his family had been Christians, devote in their service to Christ Jesus.
While serving the king of the Canaan, a battle occurred between the kingdom of Canaan and the Roman Imperial Army. St. Christopher was among those captured. But not understanding either Greek or Latin (the vernacular at that point in history) he did not believe the words of the men who made him captive. Therefore, the Saint prayed to Almighty God and He opened St. Christopher tongue, so that he could speak the same language as these Roman soldiers. This amazed and frightened them; the Saint then rebuked the soldiers for having taken part in the ill treatment and persecution of Christians. When they arrived at the Roman soldier camp, these men informed their Commander of the events. The Commander in turn sent a message to the Emperor Decius (reigned 249-251 A.D.) who at that time was in Antioch in Syria. The Emperor sent two hundred soldiers to bring the Saint to him.
During their travels from the region of the mentioned battle, the soldiers ran out of bread. St. Christopher prayed and there was bread in abundance for all to eat. The soldiers, who marveled at this miracle, came to believe in The Lord Jesus Christ. When they arrived at Antioch, they asked for Christian Baptism of Abba Paul, the Christian Bishop of Antioch.
When St. Christopher came before the Emperor Decius he frightened him, and Decius tried to persuade him to deny Christ. He sent two very beautiful women to the Saints lodgings, for he thought they would be able to make him to fall into sin with them; but the Saint admonished them, and shared with them the Gospel of Christ. These women repented and went and received Baptism as well. Later they too would become Martyrs for Christ.
The two hundred soldiers likewise confessed The Lord Jesus Christ, as the Living God before the Emperor Decius. The Emperor commanded that these soldiers to be executed by having their heads cut off, and they cut off their heads with swords, and the soldiers received Crowns of Martyrdom in the kingdom of the heaven.
St. Christopher testified against the Emperor, and he warned him that he was the puppet of Satan and to repeat and believe the Gospel. The Emperor was furious, and he commanded his soldiers to cast the Saint onto a huge iron grill and to light a fire under him, and they did so, but no harm whatsoever came to him as they wished. On the contrary the Saint taught the people while he was lying tied to this iron grill. When the people saw that he was speaking and teaching and that he was whole and unharmed, they marveled exceedingly, and they believed on The Lord Jesus Christ; and they lift St. Christopher whole and unharmed from the griddle.
The Emperor Decius became full of rage he commanded his soldiers to hang a great stone from the neck of St. Christopher, and to cast him into a pit, and they did as the Emperor commanded. An Angel of The Lord carried the Saint out of the pit, whole and unharmed. When the Emperor was tired of torturing the Saint he commanded them to cut off his head with the sword; he received the Crown of Martyrdom on this date in the year 250 A.D.
The Commemoration of St. Abba Yohannes
Bishop of Jerusalem
MONDAY
Miyazia 03 - April 11
On this Third day of the month of Miyazia (Ethiopian calendar) the Eleventh of April (Western calendar) the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church venerates the memory of Saint Abba Yohannes, Bishop of Jerusalem.
St. Abba Yohannes was born to Jewish parents (his Hebrew name was Levi) who kept the Law of the Moses. They instructed and taught him well and he excelled in understanding the Law given by God through His Prophet Moses. He argued and disputed with the Christians until he became convinced (by the teaching of St. Justus II, Bishop of Jerusalem) that the Messiah had come in the person of The Lord Jesus Christ, and that He was truly God Incarnate. St. Justus instructed him in the Christian faith and then baptized and ordained him a Deacon. Because of his knowledge, and virtues the Clergy and Faithful elected him as Bishop of Jerusalem after the death of St. Abba Justus II, circa 127 A.D.
When the Roman Imperial Governor of Jerusalem, Andrianus held Office, he began work to rebuild the ruined parts of the city, which had been damaged. He built a tower on the western gate (The gate of the Jewish Temple) and he hanged an engraved tablet with his name on the door of that gate. He prevented the Christians from praying at Golgotha and even passing through it. The Jews and the Gentiles (Romans - Greeks) became powerful and troubled the Christians much. Because of that many tribulations and sorrows befell this Saint, so he asked God that He might receive him. His supplication was accepted and he departed in peace. He was Bishop of Jerusalem for only a period of two years, departing on this date in 129 A.D.
Wisdom from the Church Fathers
A brother said to Abba Serapion, "Give me a word." The old man said to him, "What shall I say to you? You have taken the livelihood of widows and orphans and put it on your shelves." For he saw that they were full of books.
A provincial magistrate heard about Abba Moses (the Ethiopians) one day and he went to Scetis to visit him. They told the old man. When he heard it, he got up and fled towards the marsh. Along the way, the magistrate and his entourage met him and said, "Old man, can you tell us where the cell of Abba Moses is?" He said to them, "What do you want with him? He's a fool and a heretic!" So the magistrate continued to Scetis and said to the brothers, "I heard people talking about Abba Moses and I wanted to see him, but there was an old man going into Egypt who crossed our path and we asked him where Abba Moses' cell was, and he said to us, 'What do you want with him? He's a fool and a heretic.'" When they heard this, the brothers were greatly scandalized and said, "What sort of an old man was it who dared to speak like that about the holy man?" He said, "He was an old man wearing a tattered cloak, a big black man." They said to him, "That was Abba Moses himself. He spoke like testioned and honored by you." And the magistrate went away greatly edified.
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Daily Readings and Prayers:
Week Three, Day Five
Saints/Martyrs/Feasts/Fasts to be observed/commemmorated/celebrated: Great Lent, Our Lady of Qusquam, On this day died Saint Mary, the Egyptian, the dweller in the desert, And on this day our Lord Jesus Christ appeared to Thomas, the apostle, on the eighth day after His resurrection, And the fathers have commanded us to celebrate the commemoration of the deaths of our father Adam and our mother Eve on this day, And on this day were born Noah and David, the king, the father of Solomon.
Scriptural Readings and Daily Prayers:
The Weddasse Mariam (The Hymn of Praise of the Virgin Mariam):
The Fifth Day of the Week:
1. The Bush which Moses saw in flaming fire in the desert,
the wood of which was not consumed, is a similitude of Mariam, the Virgin who was spotless. The word of the Father became incarnate of her, and the fire of His God- head did not consume the Virgin, and after she had brought Him forth, her virginity was maintained, and His God-head was unchanged. Our God, Who verily id God, became a man; He came and delivered us.
O HOLY VIRGIN MARIAM PRAY FOR US.
2. We all magnify Thee, O our Lady, the God-bearer, that Thy compassion may be over us all. The Virgin Mariam, the God-bearer, hath became the object of the boast of us all, because through her was destroyed the curse of olden time, which rested upon our race, through her wickedness which the woman committed (when) she ate (of the tree),
Through Eve was the door of the garden shut fast, and because of Mariam the Virgin it has been opened to us again. It is allotted to us to eat of the tree of life, that is to say, the body of Kristos and his precious blood. Because of His love for us He came and delivered us. What understanding and what language, and what hearing is able to comprehend this mystery, which must be proclaimed to be wonderful, "God is the Lover of men"? One is He alone, The word of the Father, who existed before the world in His
incorruptible Godhead, from One, the Father. The Only begotton Son came and was incarnate of the Holy woman, His mother, and after she brought Him forth, her virginity perished not, and because of this, it became manifest that she was the Bearer of God.
O HOLY VIRGIN MARIAM PRAY FOR US.
3. O deep is the richness of the wisdom of God ! The womb which He decreed should bring forth children in pain, and suffering and sorrow of heart, has become the fountain of life, and has brought forth without seed of man Him Who removed the curse from our race. Ans for this reason we will praise Him saying "Glory be to Thee, O Thou Good Friend of man, the Redeemer of our souls." We will magnify Thee. O HOLY VIRGIN MARIAM PRAY FOR US.
O how wonderful and might in power was the womb of the Virgin, which brought forth God without seed ! And for this the Angel who appeared unto Joseph was a witness when he spoke, saying "That which shall be born of her is of Holy Spirit" (Matt. 1:20). It was the Word of God Who became incarnate without change.
Mariam brought Him forth a second time, and Gabriel rejoiced and said unto her, "thou shall bring forth a Son and shall call His name Emmanuel, which is being interpreted, God with us. And moreover, He shall be called Eeyesus, Who shall save His people from their sins." Matt 1: 20-24
And may He save us also by His power, and forgive our sins because we have known in truth that He is the God Who became man. Praise be unto Him for ever and ever.
O HOLY VIRGIN MARIAM PRAY FOR US.
O how wonderful is the birth of God by Mariam, the Holy Virgin ! She completed the Word of the Father; seed did not precede His birth, and her virginity was not destroyed by His birth. The Word went forth from the Father without weariness and was born of the Virgin without the suffering (or pain). The wise men woshiped Him, and brought unto Him incense became He was Holy, and gold because He was the King, and myrrh, which was given for His death which gave life (unto men). And for our sakes He accepted (death) of His own free will. He alone is the Good Being and Lover of men. We will magnify Thee.
O HOLY VIRGIN MARIAM PRAY FOR US.
4. O how wonderful ! He took a rib from the side of Adam, and fashioned from it a woman, and the whole creation of the children of men was given to God, the Word of the Father, Who was incarnate of the Holy Virgin, and is called Emmanuel. And because of this we beseech her at all times to strive on our behalf with her beloved Son for thr forgiveness of our sins. She was beneficent towards all the saints and the high priests, for she brought to the Prophets Him concerning Whom they had prophesied, and she brought forth to the Apostles Him in Whose Name they were to preach in all the ends of the world, and from her went forth for the martyrs and believers, Him for Whom they were to fight, Eeyesus Kristos.
The richness of the grace of His wisdom cannot be fathomed. We will seek after the greatness of His compassion, for He came and delivered us. We will magnify Thee. O HOLY VIRGIN MARIAM PRAY FOR US.
5. God swore unto David in rightousness, and He will not repent, "Of the fruit of the belly, I will seat upon Thy throne". (II Samuel 7:12; Psalm 132:11). And when that rightous man received it from Him, that Kristos should be born in the flesh, he wished to seek out and to prepare a dwelling place for God, the Word of the Father.And He completed it with great effort and then He cried out in the Holy Spirit and said, "Behold, we have heard it in Efrata and the dwelling-place of the God of Jacob, which in Bethlehem, in which Emmanuel has chosen to be born in the flesh for our salvation" (compare Psalm
O HOLY VIRGIN MARIAM PRAY FOR US.
6. And also another of the Prophets had said it; "And as for thee,O Bethlehem of the land of Efrata, thou shalt not be the least of the Kings of Judah, for from thee shall go forth a King Who shall rule my people Israel" (Micah 5: 2).
O how wonderful is the word of those who prophesied concerning Christ in one Spirit, to Whom be glory, together with the Good Father and the Holy Spirit, from now and forever, We will magnify thee. O HOLY VIRGIN MARIAM
When evil men revolted against David who reigned over Israel, he wished to drink, his men break through and waged war in the camp of the rebels, and brought unto him that water which he wished to drink. And when the righteous man saw that they had willingly delivered
themselves over to the slaughter for his sake, he poured out the water (2 Samuels 23: 13-17; 1Chron. 11: 18-19). And when the righteousness was accounted unto him
forever. And verily in like manner, have the martyrs rejected the desire of this world, and poured out their blood for God, and have endured bitter deaths for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Have compassion upon us according to the greatness of Thy compassion. We will magnify thee. O HOLY VIRGIN MARIAM PRAY FOR US.
4. One of the Holy Trinity saw our law estate, bowed the heaven of heavens, came and dwelth in the womb of the Virgin, and became a man like unto us, with the exception of sin alone. And He was born in Bethlehem, according to what the Prophet preached, He delivered us, and redeemed us, and made us His own people for ever and ever. O HOLY VIRGIN MARIAM PRAY FOR US.
Scriptural Readings:
Week Three, Day Five
The Nineteenth Day
Morning prayer
In the name of the Father…
Opening prayer
Lord, our Almighty Father, through your HOLY will we have been born anew, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, and through the living and abiding word of you. Help us in your mercy to purify our souls by our obedience to the truth for a sincere love of our brethren, and to love one another earnestly from the heart. Amen. Our Father….O my Lady Mary…
Psalm 95: 1-11
95:1 O come, let us sing to the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. 95:2 Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise to him with psalms. 95:3 For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. 95:4 In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also. 95:5 The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land. 95:6 O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker. 95:7 For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice, 95:8 Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness: 95:9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work. 95:10 Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways: 95:11 To whom I swear in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, As it was in the beginning….
Psalm 96: 1- end
96:1 O sing to the Lord a new song: sing to the Lord, all the earth. 96:2 Sing to the Lord, bless his name; declare his salvation from day to day. 96:3 Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people. 96:4 For the Lord is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods. 96:5 For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the Lord made the heavens. 96:6 Honour and majesty are before him: strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. 96:7 Give to the Lord, O ye kindreds of the people, give to the Lord glory and strength. 96:8 Give to the Lord the glory due to his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts. 96:9 O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth. 96:10 Say among the heathen that the Lord reigns: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously. 96:11 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fullness thereof. 96:12 Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice 96:13 Before the Lord: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, As it was in the beginning….
Psalm 97: 1-12
97:1 The Lord reigns; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof. 97:2 Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne. 97:3 A fire goes before him, and burns up his enemies round about. 97:4 His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled. 97:5 The hills melted like wax at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth. 97:6 The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory. 97:7 Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship him, all ye gods. 97:8 Zion heard, and was glad; and the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of your judgments, O Lord. 97:9 For thou, Lord, art high above all the earth: you are exalted far above all gods. 97:10 Ye that love the Lord, hate evil: he preserves the souls of his saints; he delivers them out of the hand of the wicked. 97:11 Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart. 97:12 Rejoice in the Lord, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, As it was in the beginning….
Scripture Readings
1st Reading
Daniel 6: 26-27
6:26 I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and steadfast forever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even to the end. He delivers and rescues, and he works signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions. He who receives the prophet the by the name of the prophet, shall receive the prophet’s …
2nd Reading
Titus 3: 8
3:8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men. He who receives the Apostle by the name of the Apostle shall receive the Apostle’s reward. Amen
3rd Reading (Chant)
Psalm 96: 1-2
96:1 O sing to the Lord a new song: sing to the Lord, all the earth. 96:2 Sing to the Lord, bless his name; declarehis salvation from day to day. Halleluiah, stand up and harken to the Holy Gospel, the message of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
4th Reading
The Gospel of St. Luke 18: 9-14
18:9 And he spoke this parable to certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes to heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbles himself shall be exalted. It is easier for heaven and to pass, than one …..
Concluding prayer
O Almighty and eternal God in whom, there is no darkness, no obscurity. We pray that you may fill us and our hearts with the splendour of your light, so that we who have received your holy commandments may walk in safety in your ways and give thanks and praise, now and forever. Amen. Our Father….O my Lady Mary…
Holy Saint Mark
(The Patron Saint of our Church)
Day 19
Evening prayer
In the name of the Father and of the Son …
Opening prayer
O lord our heavenly father almighty and everlasting god, we give you thanks and praise for keeping us safe throughout this day and ask you to defend us from all perils throughout this coming night and keep us safe from the dangers of this night. We make this our evening prayer through our lord Jesus Christ who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen. Our Father… O my Lady Mary…
Psalm 98: 1-end
98:1 O sing to the Lord a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory. 98:2 The Lord hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly showed in the sight of the heathen. 98:3 He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. 98:4 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise. 98:5 Sing to the Lord with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm. 98:6 With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the Lord, the King. 98:7 Let the sea roar, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. 98:8 Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together 98:9 Before the Lord; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, As it was in the beginning….
Psalm 99: 1-end
99:1 The Lord reigns; let the people tremble: he sits between the cherubims; let the earth be moved. 99:2 The Lord is great in Zion; and he is high above all the people. 99:3 Let them praise your great and terrible name; for it is holy. 99:4 The king's strength also loves judgment; thou dost establish equity, thou executest judgment and righteousness in Jacob. 99:5 Exalt ye the Lord our God, and worship at his footstool; for he is holy. 99:6 Moses and Aaron among his priests, and Samuel among them that call upon his name; they called upon the Lord, and he answered them. 99:7 He spoke to them in the cloudy pillar: they kept his testimonies, and the ordinance that he gave them. 99:8 Thou answeredst them, O Lord our God: thou wast a God that forgavest them, though thou tookest vengeance of their inventions. 99:9 Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at his holy hill; for the Lord our God is holy. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, As it was in the beginning….
Psalm 100: 1-5/end
100:1 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all ye lands. 100:2 Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing. 100:3 Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 100:4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful to him, and bless his name. 100:5 For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endures to all generations. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, As it was in the beginning….
Psalm 101: 1-end
101:1 I will sing of mercy and judgment: to thee, O Lord, will I sing. 101:2 I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come to me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. 101:3 I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me. 101:4 A froward heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked person. 101:5 Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer. 101:6 Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walks in a perfect way, he shall serve me. 101:7 He that works deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that tells lies shall not tarry in my sight. 101:8 I will early destroy all the wicked of the land; that I may cut off all wicked doers from the city of the Lord. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, As it was in the beginning….
Scripture Readings
Jacobs Ladder
1st Reading
Isaiah 5: 20-23
Woe to them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe to them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! Woe to them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink: Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him! He who receives the prophet the by the name of the prophet, shall receive the prophet’s …
2nd Reading
Romans 6: 15-23
6:15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin to death, or of obedience to righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity to iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness to holiness. For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit to holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. He who receives the Apostle by the name of the Apostle shall receive the Apostle’s reward. Amen
3rd Reading (Chant)
Psalm. 102:1-2
102:1 Hear my prayer, O Lord, and let my cry come to thee. 102:2 Hide not your face from me in the day when I am in trouble; incline your ear to me: in the day when I call answer me speedily. Halleluiah, stand up and harken to the Holy Gospel, the message of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
4th Reading
The Gospel, St. Luke 18: 20-22
18:20 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour your father and your mother. And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up. Now when Jesus heard these things, he said to him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that you have, and distribute to the poor, and thou shall have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. It is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one ….
Concluding prayer
O Lord, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comfort us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God our heavenly Father. AND May your will be done. Amen. Our Father….O my Lady Mary…
The Synaxarium:
THE THE EIGHTH MONTH
Miyazia 06
(April 14)
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT,
ONE GOD. AMEN.
On this day died Saint Mary, the Egyptian, the dweller in the desert. This holy woman was a native of Egypt, and she came from the city of Alexandria, and her parents were Christians. When her days were twelve years, the Hater of good and the Adversary of men seduced her, and led her astray and made her his net wherein he caught innumerable souls, that is to say Satan made her to love fornication. And she gave her body up to fornication, without payment, because of her love for the deadly sin, and she continued in this filthy work for a period of seven and twenty years; and her love for this filthy work increased [with her years]. And by the Will of God, the Lover of mankind, He showed her the men who wished to go and be blessed at the tomb of our Lord Jesus Christ in the city of Jerusalem, and the thought stirred in her mind that she would go with them; and she embarked in a ship, with many people. When they were about to set sail, the sailors said unto her, “Give us the passage money for the ship,” and as she had not the money with her to give them, she gave them her body so that they might take fornication with her in place of the ship’s passage money. When she arrived in Jerusalem, she did the same thing, and played the whore continually. When she wished to go in with the rest of the people through the door of the church of the tomb of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Divine Power prevented her from entering. And it came to pass that when she wished [to fornicate] with the people who were coming [there] the Power of God prevented her from doing so. And when she drew nigh, and the Power prevented her from entering the church because of her filthy deeds, she lifted up her eyes to heaven, to God the Merciful, being sad and sorrowful in her heart, and she saw above her a picture of our Lady, the holy Virgin Mary, the God-bearer. And she wept before it, and made entreaty unto it, saying, “O intercessor for all Christian people, O God-bearer, make a pact with me. If I can go in and celebrate the festival with all the [other] people, I will do everything which thou commandest me.” And saying these words she went quickly into the church of the tomb of our Lord Jesus Christ. And when she had finished the keeping of the feast, she returned quickly to the picture of our Lady the holy Virgin Mary, the God-bearer; and she made long prayers before it, and wept bitterly, and made entreaties before it that the Virgin would send her where ever she pleased, so that she might save her soul. And a voice came out from the picture of our Lady, the holy Virgin Mary, the God-bearer, saying, “If thou wilt go into the desert of the Jordan thou wilt find rest and salvation.” And she accepted the words, and prayed and saluted the picture of our Lady, the holy Virgin Mary, the God-bearer, and then she went forth. When she had gone forth from the church she met a certain man, and he gave her three small coins wherewith she bought bread. Then she crossed the valley (or, river) of the Jordan, and dwelt in the desert of the Jordan for seven and forty years; and she strove strenuously, and Satan fought against her by means of her love for the impure thing, which she had worked formerly. And she lived upon the bread, which she had bought for many days, and every two days she used to fast for two days, and every three days for three days, and little by little she ate up her bread. When the bread was finished she lived upon the herbs in the desert. When the seven and forty years wherein she had wandered up and down the desert had come to an end, the holy priest Zozimas went out into the desert of the Jordan, in order to complete therein the holy Forty Days’ Fast, according to the custom observed in his monastery--now it was the custom with the monks of his monastery to go out each year for the Great Fast (i.e. Lent) into the desert, and to devote themselves to severe ascetic labors, and to fight in the spirit until the end of the Fast. When Saint Zozimas had gone out into the desert of the Jordan, he entreated God to show him, that which would give him consolation. As he was going along in the desert he saw the holy woman Mary in the distance, and he believed her to be Satan himself. And having prayed, it was shown to him that she was a human being, and he went towards her, and she fled from him; and he followed her and ran after her to come up to her, but she still fled from him. Then she called out to him by his name, saying, “O Zozimas, why dost thou want to talk to me; throw me a rag that I may cover myself therewith, for I am naked.” And he marveled exceedingly when she called him by his name, and he threw to her the wherewithal to cover herself; and straightway she came to him and bowed before him, and he bowed before her, and they embraced each other, and she asked him to pray for her, for he was a priest. Then he asked her to tell him the story of her fight, and then she told him everything, which had happened to her from the beginning to the end. Then she asked him to come and visit her each year, and to bring with him the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, and he said unto her, “I will.” When a full year had passed he took some of the holy Body, and the honorable Blood in a cup, and he carried with him figs, and dates, and also lentils for soaking in water. And he came to the bank of the River Jordan, and saw the holy woman coming in the distance, and she was walking towards the River Jordan; and when she came up to him they embraced each other and prayed. Then he administered to her the Holy Mysteries, and he brought forth the dates, and the figs, and the lentils, and asked her to accept them from him; but she asked him to come back to her in the desert in the following year. When the second year was ended, and he went to the valley of the Jordan, he found that the holy woman was dead, and lying near her head was a paper whereon was written, “Bury Mary, the poor woman, in the dust of which she was created”; and he marveled at the writing. And he saw near her feet a lion, which was guarding her, and whilst he was wondering in his mind with what he should dig her grave, the lion came and dug a grave for her; then the holy man prayed over her and buried her. And he returned to his monastery and related to the monks the story of the strife of this holy woman Mary the Egyptian from the beginning to the end thereof, even as she had told it to him; and they all marveled exceedingly, and they praised the glorious and Most High God. And all the days of her life were seven and seventy years. Salutation to Mary, whose dead body was guarded by a lion in the desert.
And on this day our Lord Jesus Christ appeared to Thomas, the apostle, on the eighth day after His resurrection. And Thomas saw the marks of the nails which were in His hands and feet, and he took his hands and laid them in His Divine side, where the spear had pierced it, and he said, “My Lord and my God.” And our Lord said unto him, “Thou hast believed on Me, because thou hast seen Me; blessed is he who shall believe on Me without seeing Me.” In a commentary on the Gospel it saith that when Thomas the apostle laid his hand in our Lord’s side, his hand was burnt with divine fire; and that when he believed in His Godhead his hand was healed of the burn. Glory be to God, and let us beseech Him to have mercy upon us through the prayers of all His holy apostles and righteous ones, forever and ever. Amen. Salutation to the chamber wherein Christ showed His pierced side, and the hand of Thomas was burnt.
And the fathers have commanded us to celebrate the commemoration of the deaths of our father Adam and our mother Eve on this day. Before God created this our father Adam He created the heavens and the earth and all that therein is, and the angels and the archangels. And having planted for him the Garden of Edom containing every kind of fruit pleasant to the taste, and having furnished it with every desirable thing, He created Adam. He took dust from the centre of the earth, that is to say Golgotha, at the third hour of the day of the Eve of the Sabbath (Friday), and He created him out of four things, that is to say, water, fire, air, and dust. And He made him in His own image and likeness, and He breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and He dressed him in the dress of life, and light, and He made him king, and priest, and prophet, and administrator of everything he wished. Then He brought to him all the beasts, and cattle, and birds of the heavens so that Adam might see them, [and give unto] each of them its name, even as he pronounced them, through the Holy Spirit, which was on him. And God having wished to make for him a companion to help him, brought upon him slumber, and he slept, and then He took a bone from his side and filled [the place thereof] with flesh, and set her before him. When Adam woke from his sleep he prophesied, and said, “Bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh, assuredly thou be to me my wife”; and he called her name “Hewan” (Eve). And as Adam was standing [there] on the place of Golgotha, he heard the voice of his God, and behold a cloud of light took him up with Eve his wife and carried them into the Garden of Edom, and the voices of every rank of the angels, the Cherubim and the Seraphim, went before him praising and thanking God because He had done honor to Adam. And God said unto Adam and Eve, “Of every tree which is in the Garden eat, but of the tree which is in the middle of the Garden eat not, for on the day wherein ye shall eat of it ye shall surely die.” And Adam continued to till the Garden, and to eat of the fruit thereof, and he praised [God] with the angels. And when Satan, the Enemy of all good, had fallen from his exalted state and honor, because of his arrogance concerning Adam, and the honor and glory [which God had given him], he went to the place where Eve was, in the form of a serpent, and he persuaded her to eat of that tree which God had set apart, and promised to her the nature of God [if she did so]. And having looked at the tree, and seen that the fruit thereof was good, she ate thereof, and made Adam to eat thereof. And their raiment of light was stripped from them, and they knew that they were naked, and they covered their shame with the leaves of the fig tree. And when God knew their fault, He cursed the serpent, and He made enmity to exist between it and the seed of Eve. And her also He cursed, saying, “In pain conceive and bring forth thy children; and thy turning shall be to thy husband, and he shall serve thee.” And to Adam He said, “Cursed shall the ground be for thy sake. With the sweat of thy face eat thy bread; dust thou art and to dust thou shalt return.” And he made for them tunics of hide, and they put them on, and they went forth from the Garden of Edom, at the turn of the evening, after seven years of joy and delight. In the morning, at sunrise, he used to smell the smell of incense, and perfume, and water of frankincense, and aromatic herbs. And Adam dwelt in the land of Elda and tilled the ground according to what he had learned in the Garden of Edom, and he knew his wife Eve and she bore him Kayl (Cain) and after him Abel. When Kayl (Cain) slew Abel in his jealousy. And Adam continued to lament the death of his son for seven (?) years, and then Seth was born unto him in exchange for Abel his son, in whom stood his memorial, and after him came many children (?). When Adam went forth from the Garden, God saw his tears and his repentance, and He gave him the promise of a hope of salvation, and He said unto him, “In five thousand and five years I will come into the world, and I will be born of what is in thee, and I will deliver thee in a wide place, and I will redeem thee by My Cross.” And Adam took from the Garden gold, and myrrh, and incense, and gave them to his son Seth, and he wrote for him, saying, “In the last days the Son of God shall come, and He shall be born of a virgin, and then the Magi shall bring (as) gifts unto Him this gold, and myrrh, and incense.” And this writing after begin handed down from generation to generation came to our Lady, the holy Virgin Mary, and she gave it to our father Peter, and Peter gave it to Clement. When our father Adam knew his death was near he called his son Seth, and Seth drew nigh unto him in the Cave of Treasures. And Adam said unto him, “Make thy children and thy children’s children to come unto me before I die.” When Seth heard the words of his father Adam, he went forth from his presence, with the tears flowing down his cheeks, and he gathered together his children, and his children’s children, and brought them to him. When Adam saw them he wept because of his [approaching] separation from them, and when they saw him weeping they all wept together before God, and they fell down upon their faces, saying, “How can the earth cover thee, and hide thee from our eyes?” Then our father Adam blessed all his children, and he said unto Seth, “O my son, this world is full of weariness; preserve righteousness and purity; let us trust in God. And incline not to the voice of Satan, and his wiles, which he will make apparent to thee. When I die take my body, and prepare it for burial with myrrh and cassia and stacte, and bury me in the cave of a store-chamber. And there shall come a water-flood, and it shall drown every created thing, and only eight souls shall be left. Be thou a protector of thy people. Watch over them and protect them in the fear of God, and teach them the way of salvation, and take care of them so that they may not be in subjection to Satan, and that he may not destroy them. Separate thy children and thy children’s children from the children of Kayl (Cain), and do not let them mix in any way, and they shall draw nigh neither to their works nor their fables.” Then Adam turned to Seth his son, and to Eve his wife, and he confided to their care the gold, and the myrrh, and the cassia, so that they might bury them with him. And he said unto them, “In the days wherein the Water-flood shall come, they shall take my body into the ark, with the gold, and the myrrh, and the cassia, and shall lay them in the middle of the earth. After many days [enemies] shall capture this country, and they shall [not] take the gold, and the myrrh, and the cassia, together with the [other] spoil, but they shall be preserved here until the time when the Word of God shall become flesh, when kings shall take them and bring them unto Him--gold because of His kingship, and incense because He is God of heaven and earth, and the myrrh is the symbol of His Passion.” And when Adam was nine hundred the thirty years old (Genesis v, 5), in the 135th year of the life of Mahalaleel, he died, at the ninth hour of the day, on Friday, the day on which he was created, now the hour in which he died was that in which his going forth from Paradise had taken place; at that moment hosts of angels gathered together to his children. And they prepared his body for burial carefully, and they anointed him with scented unguents of every kind, which are [found] in the trees of the Holy Mountain. And they laid his body facing the east of the Cave, and they set a lighted lamp before him, and they laid by his side the gold, and the myrrh, and the cassia; and they sealed the doors of the Cave with the seals of Adam and Eve and Seth. And Seth and his children continued to minister unto the body of our father Adam, until the Water-flood came. Then Noah took Adam’s body into the ark, and by the command of God he carried it with him until he brought it to Mount Ararat. Then Shem and Melchisedek, an angel of the Lord guiding them, took it from this place and buried it in the “place of a skull”; and Melchisedek continued to minister unto it with incense and offerings. And when the Son of God came, and was born of Adam’s daughter, He redeemed Adam by His death, and restored him to his former inheritance, for he was the father of the prophets and apostles, and the father of the saints and martyrs, and through him the Son of God came into the world. Salutation to Adam, the first man created, and salutation to Eve, a bone of him.
And on this day were born Noah and David, the king, the father of Solomon.
Glory be to God Who is glorified in His Saints. Amen.
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The Sixth Sunday in the Holy Lenten Fast
"Abye Tsome"
Miyazia 02 - April 10
A Short Reflection On This Sunday's Scripture Readings
Over the past few weeks, alone, U. S. national news should be enough to convince us that we live in a society that has gone mad. We send soldiers to the other side of the world to fight terror, while terror reigns from shore to shore at home. Meanwhile, as we near the end of the Great Fast, today's appointed Scripture readings ought to remind us of the progressive commitment required of all who say, "Thy Kingdom come."
St. Paul taught believers at Rome, some had been Jews before accepting Christianity, and some had been studying to join them in observing the Law of Moses, when they heard about Christ, while others had been pagans before accepting the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Today's excerpt, from this sixteen chapter letter, explains the tentative nature of that Law given through Moses, and that Christ came to fill up everything that such laws had never accomplished. For God created humans to discover "new life in the spirit," rather than an old law codes. Those laws were simply a divinely appointed means to and end, and that end is Christ.
St. John's epistle teaches, "We love* because he first loved us." Honestly practicing this lesson enables us to dispel every fear based legalistic approach to doing God's will on earth, as it is done in heaven.
St. Luke tells reminds us that suffering humiliation is better than to daring to oppose God's will. St. David reminds us that to be rid of unrighteousness, our hearts must be tried by fire, so that we might learn not to dwell on human behavior.
Nicodemus' story provides an excellent case of the point, that followers of Christ are only gradually transformed. Six weeks ago, we read from St. John's Gospel, about the conclusion of Nicodemus evening lesson with our Saviour. Today we read Jesus' personal challenge of this elder: it indicates that one must first learn earthly lessons from His teaching, before ever accepting the heavenly reality of His coming kingdom. This week, hymns from St Yared's Tsome Degwa remind us that two weeks from now, we will be commemorating how St. Nicodemus took Jesus' challenge to heart, becoming a quick study; he courageously collaborated with St. Joseph of Arimathea to bury our Lord's body after taking it down from the Cross.
The Commemoration of Saint Christopher
SUNDAY
Miyazia 02 - April 10
The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church venerates the memory of Saint Christopher the Martyr on this Second day of Miyazia (Ethiopian calendar) the Tenth of April (Western calendar).The Martyrology tells us that St. Christopher was a Canaanite; that not only was he a tall man, (he was five cubits in height, about Seven and a half feet tall), but that he also had a fearsome face. In many traditions and early icons he is depicted as having the face of a dog - he obviously must have had some very pronounced facial features.
We know that the Saint had received the Good News of the Gospel from his youth. Tradition says that St. Christopher grandfather had originally heard the Good News of the Gospel from the Apostle St. Matthew. Since then, his family had been Christians, devote in their service to Christ Jesus.
While serving the king of the Canaan, a battle occurred between the kingdom of Canaan and the Roman Imperial Army. St. Christopher was among those captured. But not understanding either Greek or Latin (the vernacular at that point in history) he did not believe the words of the men who made him captive. Therefore, the Saint prayed to Almighty God and He opened St. Christopher tongue, so that he could speak the same language as these Roman soldiers. This amazed and frightened them; the Saint then rebuked the soldiers for having taken part in the ill treatment and persecution of Christians. When they arrived at the Roman soldier camp, these men informed their Commander of the events. The Commander in turn sent a message to the Emperor Decius (reigned 249-251 A.D.) who at that time was in Antioch in Syria. The Emperor sent two hundred soldiers to bring the Saint to him.
During their travels from the region of the mentioned battle, the soldiers ran out of bread. St. Christopher prayed and there was bread in abundance for all to eat. The soldiers, who marveled at this miracle, came to believe in The Lord Jesus Christ. When they arrived at Antioch, they asked for Christian Baptism of Abba Paul, the Christian Bishop of Antioch.
When St. Christopher came before the Emperor Decius he frightened him, and Decius tried to persuade him to deny Christ. He sent two very beautiful women to the Saints lodgings, for he thought they would be able to make him to fall into sin with them; but the Saint admonished them, and shared with them the Gospel of Christ. These women repented and went and received Baptism as well. Later they too would become Martyrs for Christ.
The two hundred soldiers likewise confessed The Lord Jesus Christ, as the Living God before the Emperor Decius. The Emperor commanded that these soldiers to be executed by having their heads cut off, and they cut off their heads with swords, and the soldiers received Crowns of Martyrdom in the kingdom of the heaven.
St. Christopher testified against the Emperor, and he warned him that he was the puppet of Satan and to repeat and believe the Gospel. The Emperor was furious, and he commanded his soldiers to cast the Saint onto a huge iron grill and to light a fire under him, and they did so, but no harm whatsoever came to him as they wished. On the contrary the Saint taught the people while he was lying tied to this iron grill. When the people saw that he was speaking and teaching and that he was whole and unharmed, they marveled exceedingly, and they believed on The Lord Jesus Christ; and they lift St. Christopher whole and unharmed from the griddle.
The Emperor Decius became full of rage he commanded his soldiers to hang a great stone from the neck of St. Christopher, and to cast him into a pit, and they did as the Emperor commanded. An Angel of The Lord carried the Saint out of the pit, whole and unharmed. When the Emperor was tired of torturing the Saint he commanded them to cut off his head with the sword; he received the Crown of Martyrdom on this date in the year 250 A.D.
The Commemoration of St. Abba Yohannes
Bishop of Jerusalem
MONDAY
Miyazia 03 - April 11
On this Third day of the month of Miyazia (Ethiopian calendar) the Eleventh of April (Western calendar) the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church venerates the memory of Saint Abba Yohannes, Bishop of Jerusalem.St. Abba Yohannes was born to Jewish parents (his Hebrew name was Levi) who kept the Law of the Moses. They instructed and taught him well and he excelled in understanding the Law given by God through His Prophet Moses. He argued and disputed with the Christians until he became convinced (by the teaching of St. Justus II, Bishop of Jerusalem) that the Messiah had come in the person of The Lord Jesus Christ, and that He was truly God Incarnate. St. Justus instructed him in the Christian faith and then baptized and ordained him a Deacon. Because of his knowledge, and virtues the Clergy and Faithful elected him as Bishop of Jerusalem after the death of St. Abba Justus II, circa 127 A.D.
When the Roman Imperial Governor of Jerusalem, Andrianus held Office, he began work to rebuild the ruined parts of the city, which had been damaged. He built a tower on the western gate (The gate of the Jewish Temple) and he hanged an engraved tablet with his name on the door of that gate. He prevented the Christians from praying at Golgotha and even passing through it. The Jews and the Gentiles (Romans - Greeks) became powerful and troubled the Christians much. Because of that many tribulations and sorrows befell this Saint, so he asked God that He might receive him. His supplication was accepted and he departed in peace. He was Bishop of Jerusalem for only a period of two years, departing on this date in 129 A.D.
Wisdom from the Church Fathers
A brother said to Abba Serapion, "Give me a word." The old man said to him, "What shall I say to you? You have taken the livelihood of widows and orphans and put it on your shelves." For he saw that they were full of books.A provincial magistrate heard about Abba Moses (the Ethiopians) one day and he went to Scetis to visit him. They told the old man. When he heard it, he got up and fled towards the marsh. Along the way, the magistrate and his entourage met him and said, "Old man, can you tell us where the cell of Abba Moses is?" He said to them, "What do you want with him? He's a fool and a heretic!" So the magistrate continued to Scetis and said to the brothers, "I heard people talking about Abba Moses and I wanted to see him, but there was an old man going into Egypt who crossed our path and we asked him where Abba Moses' cell was, and he said to us, 'What do you want with him? He's a fool and a heretic.'" When they heard this, the brothers were greatly scandalized and said, "What sort of an old man was it who dared to speak like that about the holy man?" He said, "He was an old man wearing a tattered cloak, a big black man." They said to him, "That was Abba Moses himself. He spoke like testioned and honored by you." And the magistrate went away greatly edified.
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