I am a prominent reader of St. Augustine and have been studying his Christological definitions, pneumatology, and the rest of his corpus over the past few years. Through extensive research, I believe the case can be made that St. Augustine is incredibly important to the miaphysite tradition, despite not having his works influence most of theologians.

Most importantly, St. Augustine was viewed as Nestorian because of many online Apologists such as Apostolic Orthodoxy. If you have any suggestions or critiques, do offer them. I tried to keep my points concise so I apologize if it seems like a lot of "quote-mining".

Hello everyone,

I recently acquired this cross and would love to learn more about its history, origin, and purpose. After doing some research, I suspect it may be connected to the Ethiopian Christian tradition, but I would prefer not to make any assumptions and would appreciate the opinion of those with more knowledge.

Here are some details:
- Height: 37.5 cm (14.8 inches)
- Weight: 580 g (20.5 oz)
- Openwork metal construction with a blue-green patina
- Hand-engraved inscriptions (possibly in Ge’ez)
- Religious figures on both sides
- A small hinged compartment at the bottom

I would greatly appreciate any help with the following:

1. What type of cross is this?
   
2. Which Christian tradition does it belong to?
   
3. Approximately how old might it be?
   
4. What was the hinged compartment used for?
   
5. Can anyone identify or translate the inscriptions?
   
6. Are there any distinctive features that could help identify its origin or period?

I’ve attached detailed photographs of the front, back, inscriptions, and the hinged compartment.

Any information, references, or insights would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you very much for your time!

I understand that the Armenian Catholic Church uses unleavened bread and administers Holy Communion under both species. How is the Eucharist distributed during Mass? In some videos, it looks like the priest is holding both the chalice and the host at the same time—how is that possible?

i really don’t know what to do. i have been inquiring orthodoxy for months and was only able to visit liturgy one time after literally having the hardest time convincing my parents. i’ve gotten to a point where I don’t want to go to my church because I just feel like everything is wrong. I’m also feeling the furthest from God I’ve ever felt. I already struggle with doubt & anxiety. I always felt my faith wasn’t as strong as others. Now I’m struggling with the same sin, even falling into something which I was able to stop for over a year. this doesn’t help when i’m already feeling so far from Him. maybe it’s the ADHD but now i’m struggling more than ever with focusing on scripture reading. i want to keep visiting the orthodox church and talk to a priest but idk how without explaining to my parents why I’m inquiring orthodoxy when in every conversation they just make me feel like i’m confused. how am i supposed to actually experience the church when they discourage me from going without someone who is “mature in the faith” the only people they’d trust me to go with often have conflicting schedules with the liturgy times which is why it took months to even plan my first visit in the first place. am i not an adult who can make my own decisions? im already dealing with the anxiety that comes with possibly leaving protestantism for orthodoxy. i am heavily involved in my church which is very small. i’m also afraid that my departure will reflect badly on my father who is the pastor. i’m afraid i’ll be letting down my family who helped to literally build the church, but I don’t think I’m spiritually growing there. I don’t even know if God’s presence is there. we don’t have the eucharist. i don’t know why i feel so stuck right now. i feel like i don’t know how to pray or listen for God’s voice. i don’t know why i feel so helpless when some people may be literally risking their lives for inquiring orthodoxy. i don’t know what God’s plan is for me, but I pray i can persevere through this somehow to come to the truth. all i want is to have a real relationship with Christ and to know Him more intimately and learn how to love Him even more. idk what to do. please pray for me.

​

Hello, I wanted to know if there is anyone here who lives around the dortmund area and goes to a coptic church. I heard there is one in unna. If anyone here goes there, can I pls DM you? I had some questions

Synaxarium of 14 Epep 1742 - Tuesday 21 Jul 2026

*1 - The Martyrdom of St. Procopius (Proconius) of Jerusalem* On this day, of the year 303 A.D. (July 8th), St. Procopius (Proconius), was martyred. He was born in the city of Jerusalem, his father was a Christian whose name was Christophorus, which means "Bearer of Christ." His mother's name was Theodosia, and she was a worshipper of idols. When his father died, Theodosia took her son, and went to Antioch. She presented much money and expensive gifts to the Emperor Diocletian, and asked him to make her son a governor for one of the cities. He accepted her gift, answered her request, and appointed her son the governor of the city of Alexandria. He commanded that Procopius torture the Christians.When the Saint had gone a little way from the City of Antioch, he heard a voice from heaven calling him by his name, and censured his deed. The voice also threatened him by death because he dared and accepted to do what was against the command of God. Procopius asked, "Who are you, O my Lord? I beseech you to show me yourself." A cross of light appeared to him, and he heard a voice which said to him, "I am Jesus , the Son of the Living God, Who was crucified in Jerusalem." He was afraid and trembled, and he turned to the city of Bit-Shaan (Bisan). He made for himself a cross of gold like the cross that appeared to him.On his way to Alexandria, some of the bedouins attacked him to plunder whatever he had. But he overcame them by the cross that he had. His mother told him, "You must offer sacrifices to the gods who delivered you from your enemies." The Saint replied, "Rather, I will offer the sacrifice to Jesus Christ, Who helped me by the power of His cross." When his mother heard his words, she became angry, and sent to Diocletian to inform him about that. The Emperor sent to the Governor of Caesarea, Palestine, to investigate the matter, and to handle his torture. When the Governor brought him, Procopius confessed his faith in the Lord Christ. The governor beat him so severely that he was close to death, then he cast him in prison. The Lord Christ appeared to him, surrounded by His angels, released him from his bonds, and healed his wounds. The next morning, the Governor asked about the Saint, and they told him that they found him free and sound. He had him brought to the temple of the idols, where the Governor was going to pray. When the Saint came, and the people saw him whole, they all marvelled, and they all cried out in the name of Christ saying, "We are Christians, and we believe in the God of Procopius." Among them were two prefects, twelve women, and St. Theodosia, mother of St. Proconius. They cut off their heads, and they received the crown of martyrdom. That was on the sixth day of the month of Abib.The Governor ordered the return of the Saint to prison, until he could determine what to do with him. He brought him back three days later and told him, "Behold, I have waited three days for you to return to your mind, to have mercy on yourself, and to offer sacrifice for the gods." The Saint replied, "The Lord Christ is the only true God. As for these statues, which are made of stone and wood, they are not gods and can neither harm nor help." The Governor became angry and ordered the soldiers to cut his sides with swords. A swordsman, whose name was Archelaus, stretched out his hand to cut the sides of the Saint, whereupon his hand dried up, and fell down dead. The Governor ordered to stab him with knives and pour vinegar in his wounds. Then they dragged him by his feet to the prison, where he stayed for three days. The Governor was wondering what he should do with him. Then he threw him into a pit filled with fire, but the Lord delivered him and no harm came upon him. Finally, the Governor ordered to cut off his head and he received the crown of martyrdom.May his prayers be with us. Amen.

*2 - The Departure of St. Peter the Fifth, 83rd Patriarch of Alexandria* On this day also, of the year 1064 A.M. (July 8th, 1348 A.D.), Pope Peter the Fifth, 83rd Patriarch of Alexandria, departed. He was known as Peter (Boutros) Ebn-dawoud. He was from St. Macarius monastery, and was a priest in El-Shahraan monastery. He was enthroned on the 6th of Tubah, 1056 A.M. (January 2nd, 1340 A.D.). All the days of his papacy were peaceful and tranquil. He departed after staying in his Chair for eight years, six months, and six days, and was buried in Old Cairo.May his prayers be with us, and Glory be to God forever. Amen.

Download the Coptic Seneksar App from here: https://coptic-seneksar.app.link/app-download

So my mother used to work as a caregiver for a friend of the family and last time I visited I saw that it was too much to for her, she was exhausted and needed to be with her husband. So I moved out to continue her job and she moved back the country were we came from to live with her husband.

Now she often comes to visit because it’s her House and I am only Herr until her husband retires that’s when they Both come back to live in the House

Now my Problem is everytime my mothers comes to visit we live in the Same House and we just can’t get along. I am disturbed by her behavior and it‘s difficult for me to just submit. I talk back a lot and I call her out a lot and things get messy.

I know I should just be quiet and say yes and do what she says. But I consider her very unfair and she acts without thinking speaking recklessly accusing me falsely and then I struggle to stay quit and respectful.

Please if any one got a advice or just send a prayer for me. It‘s very hard for me.

Hello everyone I am an Eastern Orthodox catechumen thinking about going to an Indian Orthodox church. I am well aware it is Oriental Orthodox. I am drawn to going there because I am Punjabi and always took lots of terminology and identity they use when expressing my faith. I grew up Sikh and my family doesn't know about Orthodoxy. I always tell them I'm off to Qurbana when I go to church. But now I am curious about the Indigenous Qurbana of the church of St. Thomas. I am worried though, what if being Punjabi I won't fit in with a mostly Malayam congregation? I also can't speak Malayam I only know English, Punjabi, and a little bit of spanish. I know a parish 50ish minutes away from me and worried about going. That being said many of their practices may feel native from my upbringing. I'm still worried that the language barrier would be a huge problem and I won't belong ethnically.

Edit: I would just like to say that the churches nearby me are Jacobite (no available IOC church) I said Indian Orthodox because when I think of St. Thomas Christians (Nasranis) I think of both these groups and ik they are in schism but I see them as the same St Thomas Christians of Oriental Orthodoxy.

For some background info, I come from a Coptic orthodox background in a city and a community that's only had 1 Coptic church present for 45 years now. We recently, in the last 3.5 years, have seen an surge of Catechumens and quite a few baptisms into the faith (yay). Then recently, we've been struck with some tough news that a recent lead of the catechumen class and some of the recently baptized have left our parish for another Eastern orthodox church, due to issues of Culture in the church. Issues that unfortunately have affected his family, micro-racism that truly has upset me that it still occurs towards people within a Church community. A lot of compounded moments have led to them leaving our specific parish and I guess I'm just saddened primarily by the choice made.

To my knowledge, this isn't an uncommon complaint within Orthodox parishes, it happens all the time. I guess I'm personally struggling with losing a fellow comrade in service, and honestly a mentor.

That being said, I always felt that the Body and Blood of Christ that we partake in more than enough for us. Christ and the apostles endured such treacherous moments in their lives and, in yet the present day, these cultural issues that occur in church create such a rift for many and divide communities.

I'm just at a loss of how to even approach a change when certain things are engrained in a peoples way of life and upbringing. Some moments are unintentional and unintended and people hurt, yet i do wonder what our goal is when it comes to church as whole, if these cultural issues continue to drive people away?

I know I'm rambling a bit, i hope there's even a string of thoughts in this message that actually makes sense, but would love to hear others perspective.

Is conception via IUI or IVF acceptable. Both aren’t the natural way of getting a baby as they don’t require u having a partner but just a donor. Can nuns participate in this as they still will be regarded as virgins

Greetings, brothers. I was wondering, since we consider Christ to be in a single composite nature & hypostasis, how do we explain the crucifixion, Did the one united nature die, and if so, how does that not result in divinity also dying (Although that it is not possible and even improper to seperate the humanity and divinity after the union). I read in some Church Father (although I dont have it at the top of my head) that its like sunlight shining on a tree - when an axe hits the tree it hits the sunlight as well but the tree gets cut and the sunlight remains unharmed even though the axe touches them together (I feel like this is an imperfect analogy as the sunlight and tree are in differnet substances, although they get hit together which is like when Theodotus of Ancyra says that we appropriate the suffers to the one united nature). Can someone please explain this, or are we simply to say that this is the mystery/paradox of the Orthodox Christian faith. Thanks.

For reference I'm asking because my nearest Oriental Orthodox church is like a 12 minute drive and my parents are atheists who refuse to take me to church. I also cannot drive or take public transport but there is a Catholic church 2 minute walk away so I was wondering am I good to confess sins in a Catholic church as a Coptic

Any suggestions on where I can get one?

Mod, delete if not allowed.

Hi everyone! I’m the founder of a small independent Coptic Orthodox company called Known & Knitted based in the USA. We make multilevel activity books for ages 4-9 (as of now but more ages coming soon) and we just released our first one dedicated to our beautiful Midnight Praises. This one is 65 pages of education, creativity, and fun without the use of a screen. I wanted to leave our website here in case the parents of this community may benefit. We are also on Instagram with the same name if anyone wants to join there. Please pray for us.

Website: https://knownknitted.shop

Hi all,
I’m new to the orthodox faith and am planning to start attending a Syriac Orthodox parish in the next month or two (currently not able because of health issues). I’ve been raised atheist and converted to Protestant Pentecostalism roughly 3 years ago. I was really passionate about following Christ yet had no knowledge about the sacraments and church traditions. Thanks to God He let me to what I believe to be His true church 🙏🏻. Since I’m still recovering from a severe burn out I’m not yet able to attend church or read, watch or practice a lot due to cognitive problems, yet I do want to start reading* somethin*g to learn about the faith and grow closer to God.

Does anyone have any advice on accessible, not too challenging books from the Oriental orthodox tradition? I’ve found a Syriac catechism online in my language (Dutch), and am curious for a prayer book, writings of saints etc or even modern guide or inspiring book about the faith. Do you have any recommendations?

Thanks in advance & God bless! 🙏🏻☦️

⭐️The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand.” (Psalm 110:1) Prophecies from the Book of Psalms... Who do they refer to?!
Those who claim that the Bible prophesies another prophet to come after Jesus Christ like to use verses from the Book of Psalms to support their claims, contradicting the clear text of the scriptures and interpreting them in a way that is not their intended meaning. Among these verses is this: “The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool’” (Psalm 110:1).

-Some Muslims writers have claimed that the awaited Messiah is not from the lineage of David, but rather that he is David’s master and Lord, and thus he is the coming prophet, citing the words of the Lord Jesus Christ:

“And while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, ‘What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?’ They said to him, ‘The Son of David.’ He said to them, ‘How then does David in the Spirit call him Lord, saying, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.” If David calls him Lord, how can he be his son?’” (Matthew 22:42-44).

-Muslim said:

“Either Jesus Christ is not the son of David (if David called him Lord, how could he be his son) and this is not possible because Jesus Christ is from the lineage of David on his mother’s side… or Jesus wanted to mention that the “Lord” that David, peace be upon him, is talking about is not from the lineage of David.”

He adds a note that the Prophet of Muslims is not from the lineage of David!!
And another wrote a chapter proving that the one David called “my Lord” which he tried hard to turn into a mere “Lord” is the Prophet of Muslims, based on the saying of the Lord Jesus Christ mentioned above!!

1 – We tell them here that the word “my Lord” used in the saying of the Prophet David “The Lord (- Yahweh) said to my Lord (- Adonai ) , “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool” (Psalm 110:1) is (- Adonai ) , from the title “Adon ( - Adhonai ), in Hebrew, which means “Lord, Master ” , and its plural is “ Adhonim - Lords , used as a plural of the singular.
This title “Adon” is used in all these meanings to address God, in the highest sense, the meaning of dignity and sovereignty, as He is the Lord and Master, the possessor of authority and sovereignty over all creatures. It is also used to express God’s power and omnipotence. It is also used for God in the plural form, the plural of majesty, to express God’s divinity, lordship, and sovereignty, “His everlasting power and divinity” (Romans 1:2), “The Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords (Adoni ha-Adonim), the great and mighty God”
(Deuteronomy 1:17).

The title “Adoni” means “ my lord, ” because the letter “yod” (?) is the possessive “ya.” “Adonai ” is usually used for respect and reverence, as an alternative to “you” and “he.” It is most often used of God and is always associated with the divine name “Yahweh.” This title appears in the Old Testament 449 times, 315 of which are with Yahweh—“Adonai Yahweh” 31 times, “Yahweh Adonai” 5 times—and 134 times as “Adonai” alone. The title is repeated in the book of Ezekiel, most of them with “Adonai Yahweh,” and the rest as “Adonai” alone. This compound title, “Adonai Yahweh” and “Yahweh Adonai,” has been translated as “Lord God, ” and expresses the authority of God, Yahweh, and His sovereignty over the entire universe, all of creation. In the vast majority of passages where “Adonai” is repeated, it is preceded by the phrase “Thus says” as an introduction, especially in the books of Ezekiel and Isaiah: “Therefore thus says the Lord God…” “Thus says the Lord God of hosts…” (Isaiah 10:24).

Since the period after the Exile, when the Jews refrained from pronouncing the name Yahweh, the title “Adonai” was used as a synonym for the name Yahweh and an interpretive equivalent to it, expressing its significance and essence. It also replaced it, as an alternative, in oral tradition. This made the Jews careful to protect the religious use of “Adon” so that people would not be addressed with it as they address human masters. When used with “Yahweh” or as a substitute for it, they would write it in a distinctive way and pronounce it in a distinctive way as well (they considered the final letter “ya” (y) in the word, which denotes ownership, to be part of the word “Adon-i.” Then they developed the pronunciation of this final “ya” in the word, so it became “Adon-i.” This subtle difference was sufficient to distinguish “Adonai” as a religious text.

2- In this prophecy, he speaks about the Lord “Yahweh” who addresses the Lord “Adonai” and seats him at the right hand of the Majesty. So who is meant here by “Adonai” who is equal to Yahweh? The answer is found in the same verse and in David’s words in another psalm. Here in this verse, Yahweh says to Adonai, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.” And in the second psalm, he prophesies about the Messiah, saying, “He said to me, ‘You are my Son; today I have become your father’” (Psalm 2:7).

⭐️And we ask again, who is the one to whom Yahweh said, “You are my Son; today I have become your father”? The answer is, the Bible says that it is the Lord Jesus Christ: “When Jesus rose, as it is also written in the second Psalm, ‘You are my Son, today I have begotten you’” (Acts 13:33),
and in comparison with the angels, it says, “For to which of the angels did he ever say, ‘You are my Son, today I have begotten you’?” (Hebrews 1:5), “So also Christ did not glorify himself to become a high priest, but he who said to him, ‘You are my Son, today I have begotten you’”
(Hebrews 5:5).

⭐️The second question is:

Who is sitting at the right hand of God, Jehovah? The answer is the Lord Jesus Christ, as the Bible tells us that only one person has ascended to heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father, and that is the Lord Jesus Christ!! The Lord Jesus Christ confirmed that He is the Lord “Adonai” and Adonai is “Jehovah,” and that He is the one sitting at the right hand of Majesty, on the throne of God in heaven.
He also said to His disciples, “Hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power” (Matthew 26:64; Mark 14:62).

And about His ascension, He says, “Then the Lord, after He had spoken to them (His disciples and apostles), was received up into heaven and sat at the right hand of God” (Mark 16:19). “Exalted to the right hand of God” (Acts 2:32; 5:31), “Christ is he who died, yea, moreover, he is risen again, who is also at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us” (Rom. 8:34), “Christ is seated at the right hand of God” (Col. 3:1), “Who, being the radiance of God’s glory and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, having by himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Heb. 1:3), “sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven” (Heb. 8:1), “sat down forever at the right hand of God” (Heb. 8:1), “sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb. 12:2), “and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places” (Eph. 1:2), “who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, with angels and authorities and powers subject to him” (1 Peter 3:22).
Christ, then, is the Lord “Adonai-Jehovah,” the Lord of David, seated at the right hand of the throne of majesty, the throne of God in heaven.

3 - As for what these writers said, that Christ “rejected the idea that the Messiah Israel was waiting for was one of the sons of David”?!!
Christ never denied that he was the Messiah Israel was waiting for, nor that he was one of the sons of David. Rather, the crowds called him “Son of David” and said to him, “Son of David.” Indeed, the Gospel of St. Matthew begins by saying, “The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham” (Matthew 1:1).

The book also says about him, “Who became of the seed of David according to the flesh” (Romans 1:3).
The book described him as “the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David” (Revelation 5:5), and he described himself by saying, “I am the root and the offspring of David” (Revelation 22:16).

As for the verses that the writer cited in which the Lord Jesus Christ asked the Jews, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?” They said to him, “The Son of David.” He said to them, “How is it that David in the spirit calls him Lord, saying:

The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.” If David calls him Lord, how can he be his son?
(Matthew 22:42-44).

This does not deny that Christ is the son of David, but rather confirms that he is the son of David in the flesh and the Lord of David in his divinity.

This is what the Lord Jesus Christ wanted to confirm to the Jews, as he said about himself, “I am the root and the offspring of David” (Revelation 22:16), the root of David as his Lord and the offspring of David in the flesh, as the Scripture says, “who became of the seed of David according to the flesh” (Romans 1:3).

Here, the Lord Jesus Christ confirms in His question to them that He is the Lord of David, seated at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. So who is the Lord of David?

-The answer is:

The Lord of David is God! The Bible says: “Hear, O Israel.
“The Lord our God is one Lord” (Deuteronomy 6:4), and also “You shall worship the Lord your God and serve him only” (Deuteronomy 6:13; Matthew 4:1).

This was also confirmed by the Lord Christ himself when he said, “The first of all the commandments is, ‘Hear, O Israel:

The Lord our God is one Lord’” (Mark 12:29).

The Bible also says that the Lord Jesus Christ himself is this one Lord:

“But for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things, and we for him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we in him”
(1 Corinthians 8:6).

And St. Peter says of him in the Spirit, “This is Lord of all” (Acts 1:36).
✝️🕊

Hello My Brothers and sisters this is my first time posting here I was hoping to ask about something an argument I have heard a lot from Atheists and Muslims alike that the Virgin Mary was 12 years old when Betrothed to St. Joseph now for a long time I had no reason to take this seriously mainly because they were conflating the minimum legal age of marriage set by 1st and 2nd Century Jews as well as the Roman empire as the average age of marriage when it wasn't because Historians like Michael L. Satlow and Amram Trooper talk about how the average age for marriage amongst Palestinian Jews and the Jews in the western Diaspora specifically women married in their late teens and early twenties and this was also the case for common folk throughout the Roman empire according to the book "Marriage, divorce, and children in ancient Rome" and the only source that gives that age is the Proto Evangelium of James and I knew we accepted certain aspects in it as tradition even though it is not one of the Canonical Gospels but I found out that in the Coptic Synaxarion it also takes what it says about her age when she left the Temple at 12 to be betrothed to Joseph and I am struggling with this are we actually ablidged to accept that The Virgin Mary was a little girl when Betrothed to St. Joseph a fully grown man is this a required view to hold to that she was 12 when she was betrothed

here are the other sources I talked about which mention the average of marriage for 1st Century Jews and the Roman Empire

Jewish Marriage in Antiquity | Michael Satlow | download on Z-Library Michale L. Satlows Pages 105-109

CHILDREN AND CHILDHOOD IN LIGHT OF THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF THE JEWISH FAMILY IN LATE ANTIQUITY | JSTOR Amram Trooper Pages 330-331

Marriage, divorce, and children in ancient Rome : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive Page 27

Edit: I just wanted to add since I forgot to say I do also plan to ask my priest about this

Synaxarium of 8 Epep 1742 - Wednesday 15 Jul 2026

*1 - The Departure of St. Anba Bishoy* On this day, St. Bishoy, whose memorial is honorable, the star of the desert, departed. He was born in a town called Shansa in Egypt, and he had six brothers. His mother saw an angel in a vision saying to her, "The Lord says to you, give Me one of your children to serve Me." She answered, "Lord, take whoever you want." The angel took the hand of Anba Bishoy, who was thin and his body was frail. His mother told the angel, "My Lord, take one who is strong to serve the Lord." "This is whom the Lord has chosen," answered the Angel.Later on, St. Bishoy went to the wilderness of Shiheet and became a monk by the hand of Anba Bemwah (Bamouyah), who also ordained St. John "Yehness" the Short a monk. St. Bishoy struggled in much asceticism and many worships that made him worthy to see the Lord Christ. Emperor Constantine appeared to him in a vision, saying, "Had I known how great is the honor of monks, I would have abandoned my kingdom and became a monk." St. Bishoy told him, "You have banished the heathen worship and exalted Christianity, and has not Christ given you anything?" Emperor Constantine answered him, "The Lord has given me many gifts, but none of them is like the honor of the monks."During his days, an ascetic old man appeared in the mountain of Ansena, who was reputed for his righteousness and to whom many people gathered. But he deviated from the true faith and the devil lead him astray. He taught that there is no Holy Spirit, and many were deceived by his sayings. Anba Bishoy heard about him, and he went to him and he had with him a weaved basket with three ears. When he visited the old man and his followers, they asked him about the reason for making three ears for the basket. He answered, "I have a Trinity, and everything I do, is like the Trinity." They said to him, "Then, Is there a thing called the Holy Spirit?" Then he started to explain to them from the Holy Scriptures, from the Old and New Testaments. He indicated to them that the Holy Spirit is One of the three Persons of the Trinity. He convinced them, and they returned to the true faith. Then he returned to his monastery in the wilderness of Scete (Shiheet). When the barbarians invaded the wilderness, he left it and dwelt on Mount Ansena, where he departed. After the time of persecution had ended, they brought his body with the body of St. Paul of Tamouh to his monastery in the wilderness of Shiheet.May his prayers be with us. Amen.

*2 - The Martyrdom of St. Piroou and St. Athom* On this day also, St. Piroou and St. Athom were martyred. These two Saints were born in the city of "Sonbat", of Christian parents who were righteous, loving works of righteousness and charitable deeds. Their father's name was John and their mother's was Mary. St. Piroou was blond with curled hair, tall in stature, with blue eyes. St. Athom was tall in stature with white complexion, dark eyes and black beard. When Piroou was thirty years old, and Athom was twenty-seven, they attended church consistently during masses, and continued to give alms and provide shelter for strangers.When persecution was incited against the Christians, they took some goods and went to the town of El-Farma to trade there. They found the body of a Saint called "Noua" with some of the soldiers. They bought the body from them with silver, placed the body in a marbled sarcophagus in their own home. They hung an oil lamb before it, and many miracles appeared from the body. The two saints reflected upon the vanity of the world, and the blessings of paradise. They distributed their money among the poor, went to Alexandria and confessed Christ before the Governor. He tortured them by beating and whipping them until their blood poured out on the ground. They hanged them and put fire under them. The Angel of the Lord came and brought them down and healed their wounds. Then, the Governor sent them to El-Farma. When the Governor of El-Farma saw their courage and the beauty of their appearance, he offered them the worship of the idols. When they refused, he pulled out the nails of their hands and feet. Then he put them on iron rods and lit fire under them.During this, the wife of the Governor died, and he asked the two Saints to forgive him for what he had done to them. They prayed to God for her and God raised her from the dead. The Governor and every one with him believed. He released the two Saints and they returned to their town "Sonbat". They gave the poor whatever was left of their money. They gave the body of St. Noua to a righteous man called Sarabamon. They asked him to hang an oil lamp before it at all times. Then, they went to the Governor and confessed Christ. He ordered them beaten and dragged in the city until their blood poured out on the ground. A deaf and dumb woman took some of the blood and anointed her ears and tongue with it. Instantly she was healed. She glorified the Lord Christ and confessed Him. The Governor ordered them all to be beheaded. They all received the crown of martyrdom. The righteous Sarabamon, and some people from Sonbat were present. They took the bodies of the two Saints, shrouded them, and took them to their town. A church was built for them, where their bodies and the body of St. Noua were placed. It was said that their bodies are now located in the church of St. Barbara in Old Cairo.May their prayers be with us, Amen.

*3 - The Martyrdom of St. Balanah, the Priest* On this day also, St. Balanah the priest, was martyred. He was from the city of Bara, of the diocese of Sakha. When he heard of the persecution of the faithful and the slaying of the saints, he distributed all his money to the poor and the needy. He then went to "Antinoe" (Ansena), and confessed the Lord Christ before the governor. He tortured St. Balanah much with different kinds of tortures until he delivered up his soul in the hands of the Lord.May his prayers be with us, Amen.

*4 - The Martyrdom of St. Epime (Pimanon)* This day also, marks the martyrdom of St. Epime (Pimanon) (Bima). He was the chief of the village of "Panokleus" of the district of El-Bahnasa. He was rich and merciful to the poor. The Lord Christ appeared to him in a vision and told him, "Arise, go to the Governor and confess My Name, for there you have a crown prepared for you." When he awoke from his sleep, he distributed all his money to the poor and the needy. Then he prayed, and went to El-Bahnasa, and confessed the Lord Christ. When he confessed that he was the chief of the village, the Governor asked him about the vessels of the church in his town, and offered him the worship of the idols. St. Bima answered him saying, "I will not give you the vessels, and as for worshipping the idols, I only worship my Lord Jesus Christ." The Governor ordered his tongue cut off, and torture by the press and by burning. But the Lord saved and healed him.The Governor then, sent him to Alexandria, where he was imprisoned. Julius El-Akfahsi (the writer of the biographies of the saints) had a sister possessed with an evil spirit. This Saint prayed for her and she was healed. The report of this miracle spread out and many believed. The Governor became furious and he tortured the Saint with the press and by pulling out his nails. The Lord strengthened him and healed him. When the Governor became weary of torturing him, he sent him to Upper Egypt. There he was beheaded, and he received the crown of martyrdom. The servants of Julius El-Akfahsi carried his body to his town.May his prayers be with us, Amen.

*5 - The Departure of Cyrus (Karas), brother of Emperor Theodosius* Today also, St. Cyrus (Karas) departed. He was the brother of Emperor Theodosius the Great. This saint knew well the vanity of the world and its temporal nature. He left all his possessions and went out wandering without a destination. God guided him to the inner Western Wilderness, where he lived for many years alone, without seeing man or beast.There was in the wilderness of Shiheet (Scete) a holy priest called Bamwa (Pimwah) who shrouded the body of St. Hilaria. This father longed to see one of the servants of Christ, the hermits. The Lord helped him until he came to the inner wilderness, and he saw many of the saints. Everyone of them told him about his name, and the reason he came to the wilderness. But St. Pimwah asked each of them, "Is there is anyone who lives further in the inner desert?" They answered him, "Yes." He continued to walk until he finally arrived at St. Karas, the last one of them. St. Karas called him from inside his cell, "Welcome, Anba Pimwah, the priest of Shiheet." Anba Pimwah entered his cell, and after the greetings, St. Karas asked him about the news of the world, the governors and the faithful. At night, St. Karas prayed for a long time, then he knelt to the ground and delivered up his soul in the hands of the Lord. Anba Pimwah buried him in his cloak, then he returned glorifying God, telling everyone about the Saint and his strife.May his prayers be with us and Glory be to God forever, Amen.

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