#Feasts of #Tahisas_13
✞✞✞On this day we commemorate Abune Zera Biruk, Abba Macarius and Abba Abracius (Apraxios) ✞✞✞
✞✞✞In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, one God. Amen!✞✞✞
✞✞✞ Abune Zera Biruk✞✞✞
=>Our country Ethiopia
*which is not lucking of the Old and New Testaments (as Judaism had existed here before the introduction of Christianity by the Eunuch and the Apostles),
*which was blessed by Christ and the Holy Virgin as during their flight
*is a refuge of the Saints
*and is a blessed country since she had produced many Saints from her bosom.
✞All parts of our country have produced saints. All parts, East, West, North and South, are the abodes of saints as well. And one of the places that produced Saints in large numbers was the land of Gojjam.
✞And the Righteous Abune Zera Biruk was one of the renowned saints that arose in the area of Gojjam. He was in many ways a unique father. Here are a few of the things that made him distinctive.
1. He has counted the teeth of the 2 great beasts (behemoth and leviathan) which surround the Earth [after being taken up] and returned seeing many mysteries. (Science has not reached this matter with its labors).
2. The Saint, when he was born, did heal the blind. However, he had prayed for himself not to see this world of wickedness, and was blinded.
3. The Holy Bible testifies that St. Joshua had stopped the sun from setting at Gibeon [for a part of the day]. (Josh 10:12-13) Nevertheless, Abune Zera Biruk by the Power of God has stopped the sun on its path for 5 years.
4. The Saint was given 12 wings (spiritual wings) for his purity. In addition to this, he was completely occupied with fasting, prayer, austerity and the preaching the Gospel.
✞The Saint was born in the 16th century in Gojjam. His father was named Deme Kirstos and his mother was called Mariam Mogesa. After his parents prayed to have a child as they were barren, they received this holy fruit. And they called him “Tsega Iyesus” (Gift of Jesus) as Jesus Christ had given them [their son].
✞And the next child they bore, they called “Tesfa Iyesus” (Hope of Christ). And he was the younger brother of the Saint. And over time, by the will of God, the Saint’s name was converted to Zera Biruk from Tsega Iyesus. And from what made the Saint renowned, what he has done during the reign of Emperor Susenyos I takes precedence.
✞What happened was as follows. Emperor Susenyos who became Emperor of Ethiopia in 1598 E.C changed his faith due to his acquaintance with a foreigner and a heretic named Pedro Páez. And he became a Roman Catholic.
✞Later, a thorn named Afonso Mendes came to Ethiopia and discussed with the Emperor in how to make all the people of Ethiopia heretics. For the time being, the nobility around the palace joined [the heresy]. Through time, the news was heard all across the country.
✞Particularly in 1611 E.C, it was heard that the Bishop Simeon was killed at Teda as things had escalated between the Tewahedo faithful and the Emperor. And at that moment, [people from all walks of life,] the farmer came from his field, the woman left her household, the priest arose from his church and the merchant went from the market and all shed their blood for their upright faith.
✞Thousands of Saints came out of their cells and were beheaded. Hence, Abune Zera Biruk of Geshe went as well with his Psalmodia (Book of Psalms) to become a martyr. And when he reached the River Abay (the Blue Nile), he placed his Psalmodia in the river.
✞Then he crossed it and reached the Emperor’s courtyard at Denqez. And during that time, he endured trials as Fikerte Kirstos and Welete Petros did. The Emperor ordered his imprisonment and not death. And while he was jailed in a dark room for 5 years, they used to bring him hot meals.
✞✞✞On this day we commemorate Abune Zera Biruk, Abba Macarius and Abba Abracius (Apraxios) ✞✞✞
✞✞✞In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, one God. Amen!✞✞✞
✞✞✞ Abune Zera Biruk✞✞✞
=>Our country Ethiopia
*which is not lucking of the Old and New Testaments (as Judaism had existed here before the introduction of Christianity by the Eunuch and the Apostles),
*which was blessed by Christ and the Holy Virgin as during their flight
*is a refuge of the Saints
*and is a blessed country since she had produced many Saints from her bosom.
✞All parts of our country have produced saints. All parts, East, West, North and South, are the abodes of saints as well. And one of the places that produced Saints in large numbers was the land of Gojjam.
✞And the Righteous Abune Zera Biruk was one of the renowned saints that arose in the area of Gojjam. He was in many ways a unique father. Here are a few of the things that made him distinctive.
1. He has counted the teeth of the 2 great beasts (behemoth and leviathan) which surround the Earth [after being taken up] and returned seeing many mysteries. (Science has not reached this matter with its labors).
2. The Saint, when he was born, did heal the blind. However, he had prayed for himself not to see this world of wickedness, and was blinded.
3. The Holy Bible testifies that St. Joshua had stopped the sun from setting at Gibeon [for a part of the day]. (Josh 10:12-13) Nevertheless, Abune Zera Biruk by the Power of God has stopped the sun on its path for 5 years.
4. The Saint was given 12 wings (spiritual wings) for his purity. In addition to this, he was completely occupied with fasting, prayer, austerity and the preaching the Gospel.
✞The Saint was born in the 16th century in Gojjam. His father was named Deme Kirstos and his mother was called Mariam Mogesa. After his parents prayed to have a child as they were barren, they received this holy fruit. And they called him “Tsega Iyesus” (Gift of Jesus) as Jesus Christ had given them [their son].
✞And the next child they bore, they called “Tesfa Iyesus” (Hope of Christ). And he was the younger brother of the Saint. And over time, by the will of God, the Saint’s name was converted to Zera Biruk from Tsega Iyesus. And from what made the Saint renowned, what he has done during the reign of Emperor Susenyos I takes precedence.
✞What happened was as follows. Emperor Susenyos who became Emperor of Ethiopia in 1598 E.C changed his faith due to his acquaintance with a foreigner and a heretic named Pedro Páez. And he became a Roman Catholic.
✞Later, a thorn named Afonso Mendes came to Ethiopia and discussed with the Emperor in how to make all the people of Ethiopia heretics. For the time being, the nobility around the palace joined [the heresy]. Through time, the news was heard all across the country.
✞Particularly in 1611 E.C, it was heard that the Bishop Simeon was killed at Teda as things had escalated between the Tewahedo faithful and the Emperor. And at that moment, [people from all walks of life,] the farmer came from his field, the woman left her household, the priest arose from his church and the merchant went from the market and all shed their blood for their upright faith.
✞Thousands of Saints came out of their cells and were beheaded. Hence, Abune Zera Biruk of Geshe went as well with his Psalmodia (Book of Psalms) to become a martyr. And when he reached the River Abay (the Blue Nile), he placed his Psalmodia in the river.
✞Then he crossed it and reached the Emperor’s courtyard at Denqez. And during that time, he endured trials as Fikerte Kirstos and Welete Petros did. The Emperor ordered his imprisonment and not death. And while he was jailed in a dark room for 5 years, they used to bring him hot meals.