✞And he labored for the service followed by wild beasts day and night. The Saint used to consume a moldy cabbage and water that had changed its color because of his strict austerity for the sustenance of his body.✞One day, our Savior, Christ, appeared and blessed him. And he anointed his body with His holy spittle. And at that moment, the Saint was filled with the Holy Spirit. And contemplating the passions of Christ, Abune Samuel used to prostrate thousands of times a day and lashed his back.
✞And he also fought by tying a chain to his legs. And with these deeds, he humiliated the demons and delighted his Creator. And after a while, Waldiba was filled with monks and disciples became numerous. And from the disciples Abba ZeRufael takes precedence.
✞Abune Samuel had a great love for our Lady. And he used to pray her Theotokia and Anaphora, and he used to praise her wholeheartedly. And while he did this, he used to rise a cubits length from the ground and hover.
✞And when his disciples were hungered, he used to turn water into white bread with the Anaphora of St. Mary.
As the scholar has said,
“While he blessed the water praying your anaphora
Samuel the bloom of faith changed it to bread, he of the desert of Waldiba
So that I speak the mercy and judgment of your miracle
Have my sins forgiven and lessen my trouble
Since Mary you can see to all”
(Mahlete Tsege)
✞And the Mother of Light for his love gave him a white gem, nourished him from a heavenly bread, and gifted him a heavenly incense. And the Saint censed with the Heavenly Priest for 12 years. And while the Virgin Mary had said to him, “I will intercede for him who like you recites the Theotokia and Anaphora (of St. Mary)” the Lord on the other hand blessed his monastery, Waldiba. The Lord had previously blessed the monastery during His flight to Egypt as well. As the accounts of the Saint are numerous, let us stop here for today. The Star of Waldiba, Abune Samuel passed away on this day, Tahisas 12 (December 21) in the year 1395 E.C. He was a 100 years old.
✞Honor is due for the Righteous.
✞✞✞Saints Anicetus and Photinus of Nicomedia✞✞✞
=>These Saints were brothers and the fruits of the Era of Persecution. When I think of their chronicle, it amazes me (the author). In their fiery age, their youth, preserved in faith, the love of Christ blazed upon them.
✞Loving Christ wholeheartedly and not just with the lips is truly what a fortune! The person who loves Christ will also have the love of His Virgin Mother and His beloved saints abundantly but not lessen in love.
✞The Saints Anicetus and Photinus, not being deceived by the life of the world, prepared themselves for martyrdom. And while different types of tortures that could even scare away wild beasts awaited them in line, they were not frightened.
✞First, the persecutors brought forth Anicetus. Then, they lashed him but he was not harmed. They burned him but he was not scorched. And then, they gave him to lions but they prostrated before him. Hence, Photinus, his brother, who was observing the scenes from the side, jumped into the arena of torments.
✞He then shouted out, “My brother is Christ’s; you won’t be triumphant over him.” And at that instant, many of the gentiles that were gathered there said, “The God of these youths is our God.” And the official in charge had the 2 Saints with many of [the converted] people beheaded.
✞And a sinner like I, shall pray in their name as follows.
“I say salutations to the followers of Anicetus
Who completed in fire their contest and race
Aid me to reach the chants of the angelic hosts
So that a destitute youth like me, poor of cognizance
Can beat the drums like the virgins”
(Arke)
✞✞✞May the God of Samuel keep our country from war and its people from flight by his intercession. And may He not deprive us from the Saints’ overflowing blessings.
✞And he also fought by tying a chain to his legs. And with these deeds, he humiliated the demons and delighted his Creator. And after a while, Waldiba was filled with monks and disciples became numerous. And from the disciples Abba ZeRufael takes precedence.
✞Abune Samuel had a great love for our Lady. And he used to pray her Theotokia and Anaphora, and he used to praise her wholeheartedly. And while he did this, he used to rise a cubits length from the ground and hover.
✞And when his disciples were hungered, he used to turn water into white bread with the Anaphora of St. Mary.
As the scholar has said,
“While he blessed the water praying your anaphora
Samuel the bloom of faith changed it to bread, he of the desert of Waldiba
So that I speak the mercy and judgment of your miracle
Have my sins forgiven and lessen my trouble
Since Mary you can see to all”
(Mahlete Tsege)
✞And the Mother of Light for his love gave him a white gem, nourished him from a heavenly bread, and gifted him a heavenly incense. And the Saint censed with the Heavenly Priest for 12 years. And while the Virgin Mary had said to him, “I will intercede for him who like you recites the Theotokia and Anaphora (of St. Mary)” the Lord on the other hand blessed his monastery, Waldiba. The Lord had previously blessed the monastery during His flight to Egypt as well. As the accounts of the Saint are numerous, let us stop here for today. The Star of Waldiba, Abune Samuel passed away on this day, Tahisas 12 (December 21) in the year 1395 E.C. He was a 100 years old.
✞Honor is due for the Righteous.
✞✞✞Saints Anicetus and Photinus of Nicomedia✞✞✞
=>These Saints were brothers and the fruits of the Era of Persecution. When I think of their chronicle, it amazes me (the author). In their fiery age, their youth, preserved in faith, the love of Christ blazed upon them.
✞Loving Christ wholeheartedly and not just with the lips is truly what a fortune! The person who loves Christ will also have the love of His Virgin Mother and His beloved saints abundantly but not lessen in love.
✞The Saints Anicetus and Photinus, not being deceived by the life of the world, prepared themselves for martyrdom. And while different types of tortures that could even scare away wild beasts awaited them in line, they were not frightened.
✞First, the persecutors brought forth Anicetus. Then, they lashed him but he was not harmed. They burned him but he was not scorched. And then, they gave him to lions but they prostrated before him. Hence, Photinus, his brother, who was observing the scenes from the side, jumped into the arena of torments.
✞He then shouted out, “My brother is Christ’s; you won’t be triumphant over him.” And at that instant, many of the gentiles that were gathered there said, “The God of these youths is our God.” And the official in charge had the 2 Saints with many of [the converted] people beheaded.
✞And a sinner like I, shall pray in their name as follows.
“I say salutations to the followers of Anicetus
Who completed in fire their contest and race
Aid me to reach the chants of the angelic hosts
So that a destitute youth like me, poor of cognizance
Can beat the drums like the virgins”
(Arke)
✞✞✞May the God of Samuel keep our country from war and its people from flight by his intercession. And may He not deprive us from the Saints’ overflowing blessings.